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AN  /^//^ 


aAIDHEAL; 

PAIPEIR-NAIDHEACHD 

-AQVS 

LEABHAR-SGEOIL    GAIDHEALACH, 


AN    COiaEAMH    LEABHAR. 

<'AlREAMH  49  GU  60.) 


"  Mar  ghath  soluis  do  m'  anam  fein 
Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fhalbh." — OiSEAN. 


EDINBUKGH : 
MACLACHLAN     AND      STEWART, 

18  76. 


Edinburgh: 

l-rinted  by  duncan  grant  and  co. 

forrest  road. 


''■>  1958  .- 


CLAR-INNSIDH. 

(Contents  of  Vol.  V.) 


Taobb 


Am   britheamh    Leoghasach — Don. 

MacLeoid 
An  Ceannaiche  Eadailteach — eadar. 

le  I.  Macillebhain  .  273-300 

An  dilleachdan  bochd — Sgiathanach       264 
Am  piobaire  aosda  agns  a  phiob- 

Sgiathanach 
Beinn  an  eòlais — Z>.  B.  B.    . 
Blackie    (Professor),    eachdraidh 

bheatha,  's  a  dhealbh 
Blàr  Chà.irinnis — Iain 
Blàr  na  cagailt — eadar.  le  Greannan 
Ceol  nr  . 

Comharran    . 
Conihraidh — Alastair  Ruadh 

11,  40,  70,  105,  196,  251 
Damon  agus  Pitias — eadar.  le  Mas- 

Mkarcuis  . 
Dia  hvèìge  nan  Hinduach — Rosach 
Doimbneacbd  a'  chnain — /.   JF. 
Doimacbadh  mor  Cbinntàile— ^awTi- 

SàUcach     » 
Dònull  mac  Fhionnlaidh — Diarmad 
Donull-n  in-iall — Abraeh 
Eacbdraidh  Iain  Fost 
Eirionnaicb  'us  Albannaich — D. 
Facal  do  ar  lucbd-leugbaidb — /.  IV. 
Fein-oilein — Mac  Mharcuia 
Gacb  ni  na  tlrràth — Syiathanach 
Litir  bbo  "Nether  Lochaber  " 
Litreacbas    . 

Litreacbas  nan  Gaidbeal — D.  M'K. 
I.  Xa  Laoidhean 
II.  Na  Laoidbean 

III.  Na  Laoidbean 

IV.  Na  Laoidbean 
Malairt   ann  an  GàidbKg — Argath- 

alian 
Mu  tbuarasdal — Ahrach 
Mu  bbruadair— cac^ar.  le  Abraeh 
Mu  ioma  ni  a  tbreig — Munra 
Na  Ban-bbaird 
Niidur,  &c.,  dibhe-Mdii—P.  M'Griogair 

129,  193,  321 
Na  Gàidbil  romb'n  dile — Sean  n  ramh  9  7 
Na  seacbd  cadlaicbean — Hearach  .  Ill 
Naidbeacbd  fbirinneach — Camus  a' 

Charra      .  .  .  .172 


47 


19 

169 

67 
309 
231 
136 
151 


211 

208 
328 
8 
143 
289 
151 
238 
268 
163 
136 

1 
33 

225 
353 

150 
17 

299 
50 

177 


Para  Ruadb  Mac-Griogair — eadar.  le 

Mac-Mkarcui$       .  .  .271 

Samblaidhean  .  .  .138 

Seana-Cbleasan  Gaidbealacb — Fionn       291 

Seanfbacail   .  .  .  .115 

Seumas  Dauson        .  .  .175 

Sgeul  matb  mu  Innseanach  .       270 

Sgialacbdan — DonuU-nan-iall  .         1 5 

Sealg  dbeirionnacb  Oisein  45 

Mac-Cruimein  .  83 

Donull  Mac-Tbormaid      202 

Sir  Falbb-o-Corn        .       261 

Sop  as  gacb  seid,  44, 115,  151, 211,  242,  277 

Taibhse  a'  Mbanse   .  .  .165 

Taibbseareacbd         .  .  .78 

Tomas  Eeumair — Diarmad  .       295 

Tunis  Mara  .  .  .       161 


DAIN  AGUS  GRAIN. 

Am  bard  agus  an  l^igh       ,  .         101 

Andealacbadb  Gaidbealacb — eadar. 

le  Mairi  iVic  JEallair        .  .         231 

Gn  Gkidbeal  air  leaba-bhkis — le  E. 

W.  .  .  .  .         261 

An     Gkirnileir      GaUda     do      'n 

JMbaigbdinn        Gbkidbealaicb — 

Dunnachadh  mac  Uilcein  .         109 

An  tim  a  bb'  ann  bbo  sbean  .         243 

Atbobuinge  air  son  l\icbd-mara — 

eadar  le  A.  M'l.  .  .         268 

Blkruabeitba        .  .  .201 

Cam  na  cuimbne    .  .  .110 

Cnuasacbd  Caillicb  Dbunnacbaidb 

mbic  UiUeim — Cai^tein  Mac  an 

t-Saoir     ....  806 

Comunn    nam    Fior    Gbkidheal — 

Eobhan  MacLachainn      .  ,  7 

Crònan— £'o6Aa7i  Mac  CoUa  .         341 

Cumba — Mrs.  Fraser  of  Culbogie    .  47 

Cumba    Flòiri   Nic-Dbombnuill — 

eadar.  le  E.  W.  .  .  .269 

Ciunba      Mbic  -  a'  -  Pbearsain — E. 

Mac-Colla  .  .  .360 

Diteadb    Mbic-an-tòisicb — /.    Mac 

GilV-Eathain       .  .  .262 

Dòcbus — eadar.  le  Mac-Oidhche     .         175 


yS.U  ^'^SCLAE.INNSIDH. 


Taobh 

Taobh 

DonuU  Gorm— ^.  Mac  GUle-Mhich- 

An  Cath 

117 

eil            .             .             .            . 

68 

lorram  na  h-imrich  chuain 

152 

-Effidh     bhkn      Chòire-Clinàimh— 

Thainig  sgeula  mo  Chniadail. 

180 

Eobhan  Mac-Colla 

276 

Maighdeann  Chois-a'-bhile      . 

212 

Iain  Lom — 

Mo  Eun  Geal  dileas     . 

244 

lorram  do  Mhac  Gill-Eathain 

Heman  Dubh  . 

279 

Dhubhart— Oran    do     Mac 

Tha  mo  ran  air  a'  Ghille 

312 

Gill'-Eathain  —  Gilleasbuig 

Oran  a'  Fhrionnsa 

342 

Gruamacli  agus  Iain  Lom 

74,76 

Na'm  faighinn  gille  ri  'cheann- 

Iain   Euadh  AoT&ch—Niall  Mac- 

ach  .... 

370 

Ealair      .... 

104 

Oran  do  thobar— 3/àm  Nic-Ealair 

39 

Laoidh — eadar.  le  Gilleasbuig  Mac- 

Oran  na  Comhachaig 

831 

Faidein  .... 

51 

Oran  na  Samhna    . 

293 

Laoidhean     Shealma  —  eadar.     le 

Fòsadh  Loehial       . 

164 

Abrach    . 

SI 

Eannan  do  dhealbh  mathar — eadar. 

Luinneag  Anna  nic-Ealair 

116 

le  A.  Sinclair 

206 

Marbhrann   do    Shir  loseph  Ead- 

Sgialachd  na  Troidhe 

237 

c\iSe—Uilliam  Mac-Coinnich      . 

299 

Teachdaireachd     bais    Dhàbhaidh 

Mort  Ghlinne-Comhann — eadar.  le 

Mhio  Gill-Eathain— Jfac-OirfAcAe 

174 

DonuU  mac  Callum 

142 

Tha  mo  un  mor  an  ròs — eadar.  leis 

Nigheau  bhan  Achadh-Luachrach 

173 

a'  bhard  Luideagach 

324 

Grain  le  'm  Fuinn — 

Thill  an  t-earrach — eadar.  le  Mac 

An  t-Ailleagan 

22 

Mharcuis 

2$1 

Cumha  Hirteach 

54 

Uaighean  ram  Fiann 

52 

TaUa  Mhic-Leoid 

85 

IN  13  EX 

TO  ENGLISH  DEPAETMENT  OF  VOL.  V. 


Page 
156 


Blackie,  Professor,  On  Ossian 
Buchanan's    Skull,    translated    by- 
Professor  Blackie 
Carn-na-cuimhne,  translated 
Carric-Thura,  from  the  Gaelic 
Celtic  Cbair,  Lines  on — Prof.  Blackie 
Celtic  Chair  Fund 
Emigration  Lament 
Gael,  The,  in  the  Far  West— iJcw. 

Dr.  Masson 
Gael,  Western :  his  Character  and 

Pride  of  People    . 
Gael,  To  the  Eeaders  of 
"Gàidheal,"  The    . 
Gaelic  in  Highland  Schools 
ought  Gaelic  to  be  Taught 

in  Highland  Schools — Prof.Blachie 
Guma  slàn  a  chi  mi,  from  the  Gaelic 
Highlands,    The  present  condition 

of  the       .  .  .  119,  153 

Hunting  Song,  The,  of  the  Children 

of  Fionn — James  A.  Campbell     .  28 

lona  Cross  .  .  .         .128 

Jacobite  Marching  Song — Alary  E. 

Macpherson  .  .  .         299 

Old   Celtic   World,    from    a    new 

stand-point — D.  B.         .  .29 


55 
128 

181 
128 
124 
159 

315 

192 

215 

245 

23 

343 

352 


Our  Grammarians — I  Le  Gonidec 

—  W.  R.  B.        .  .  .         313 

Reviews —    • 

An  t-oranaiche  .  .  320 

Buchanttan,  Dugald,  Remi- 
niscences of  the  Life  and 
Labours  of   .  .  .  94 

Burt's  Letters  .  .         283 

Celtic  Scotland.     By  F.  Skene       248 
Ereuna  ...  62 

Language  and  Literature  of 
the  Scottish  Highlands. 
By  Professor  Blackie  .         371 

Lewsiana  .  .  .158 

Lord  Macaulay  .  ,  217 

MacBean's  Gaelic  Lessons  281 

Memoir  of  Norman  Macleod, 

D.D.  ...  87 

My  Circular  Noteig.     By  J.  F. 

CampbeU     .  .  .281 

Stewart's  Gaelic  Grammar  .  281 
Rory  Vic  Savari — Professor  Blachie  247 
Stone,    bronze,    and    iron    ages — a 

Lecture  .  .  .  .159 

Translation — extracts  from  an  un- 
published Lecture  .  .         188 


AN 


G^^II^HE^L 


Mar  ghath  solids  do  m'  anamfein 

Tim  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh^  fhalbh." — Oiseax. 


V.  Leabh.]       TEEAS  MIOS  A'  GHEAMHEAIDH,  1876.      [49  Air. 


LITREACHAS  NAN  GAIDHEAL. 
I.    XA  LAOIDHEAX. 

Cha'n  fhiosracli  mi  gun  d'tliug- 
adh  fatliasd  oidliearp  'n  ar  canain 
fein  air  cimntas  a  thoirt  seachad  mu 
Litreachas  nan  Gaidheal  an  Alb- 
ainn.  Ged  nacli  'eil  aireamh  nan 
Ughdar  a  gbleidli  seanaclias  air 
chuimhne  'n  ar  raeasg  ro  lionmhor, 
agu3  ged  nacb  'eil  saothair  nan 
Ughdar  an  comlmuidli  ionmholta, 
tha  mi  meas  gur  airidh  am  bannal 
so  air  an  Eacbdraidb  iunseadli  'n  an 
cainnt  fein.  Cba'n  'eil  an  turn  air 
aon  cbor  soirbh  a  dheanamh.  Is 
ami  's  a  Bbeurla  a  rinneadh  na 
cbaidb  a  dbeanadb  's  an  ratbad  so  ; 
agus  eadbon  anns  a'  Bbeurla  cba  'n 
'eil  cunntas  coimblionta  againn  mu 
Litreacbas  ar  Sluaigb.  Cba'n  e  mo 
run  an  t-àite  falamb  a  lionadb. 
Ma  tbig  aon  air  aghaidb  a  gbabhas 
OS  laimh  an  obair  so  a  tboirt  gu 
cricb  sboirbbeacbail,  bbitbinn  taing- 
eil  na  'm  faigbeadn  e  anns  na  leanas 
cuideacbadb  'n  a  sbaotbair;  agus 
cbuirinn  an  cidmhne  mo  Lucbd- 
dutbcha  an  Sean-fbocal  fior :  "Is 
trian  obair  toiseacbadh."  Toisicb- 
eamaid,  ma  ta,  leis  na  Laoidhean. 

Tba  mi  'n  docbas  gi.i'n  gieidb  an 
Leugbadair  air  cbuimbne  nacb  e  mo 
run  a  bbi  toirt  bretb  air  a'  gbnè 
tbeagaisg  a  gbeibbear  ann  an  Laoidb- 
ean  no,  mar  theirear,  Dàin  spiorad- 
ail  ar  Dutbcba.  Co-dbiu  tba  'n 
teagasg  fallain  no  mi-fballain ;  co- 
dliiu  sbabbas  na  beacbdan  a  tba  air 


an  toirt  far  combair  anns  na  Dain 
so  cotbromacbadh  ris  na  Sgriob- 
turaibb  Xaomba,  ri  Aidmheil  a' 
Cbreidimb,  ri  Leabbar  Aitbghearr 
nan  Ceist,  no  nacb  gabb ;  cba  'n  e  so 
an  t-àm  no  'n  t-àite  gu  bbi  fiosracb- 
adb.  Air  tim  iomcbuidb  agus  ann 
an  àite  freagarracb,  is  e  dleasdanas 
gacb  neacb  againn  a  bbi  "  ullamh 
I  chum  freagradb  a  tboirt  do  gacb 
uile  dbuine  db'  iarras  oirnn  reusan 
an  docbais  a  ta  annainn  "  ;  agus  cba 
nacb  'eil  teagamb  agam  nacb  biodii 
Ugbdair  nan  Dan  so  ullamb  gu  leoir 
a  dbion  am  beacbdan  fein  ;  acb  cba 
'n  'eil  mi  meas  gu'n  d'tbainig  fatbasd 
an  t-àm,  no  gur  e  so  an  t-àite,  airson 
a  bbi  'g  an  ceasnacliadb  anns  an 
ratbad  so. 

A  ris,  ge  b'e  air  bitb  mo  bbarail 
mu  tbimchioll  Bardacbd  ar  Laoidb- 
ean,  agus  mu  tbimchioll  nam 
buaidhean  a  bbuineadh  do  Ugbdair 
nan  Laoidh,  is  ann  le  mor  urrain 
agus  le  mor  mheas  a  bu  mbaitb  learn 
luaidb  a  dheanamh  air  na  daoine  so, 
agus  air  an  rim  leis  an  d'tbug  iad 
an  smuaintean  fa  chombair  an  t- 
Sluaigh.  Cba'n  e  mo  tboil,  agus 
cba  b'e  mo  cbomain,  -a  bbi  labbairt 
suarach  mu  na  sgriobbaidbean  so. 
Cba  cbuis  fharmaid  esan,  saoilidh 
mi,  a  ni  dimeas  air  Dain  a  tha  co- 
clieangailte  'n  a  inntinn  ri  cuimhne 
air  dachaidh  a  cbaidh  ma  sgaoil, 
cairdean  sgapte'  feadh  an  t-saoghail, 
parantan  's  an  t-siorruidheacbd ; — 
Dcàin  a  neartaich  gu  trie  creidimb  's 
a  ruaig  eu-dochas  Aitbricbean  ri  am 
trioblaid  'us  ambghair,  's  a  chuidich 


AN    GAIDHEAL.        Treas  Mios  a"  Gheamliraidh,  ISTC. 


solus,  fann  feudaidh  e  bbi,  a  thilg- 
eadli  air  an  t-slighe  dhuaichnidh  sin 
a  tha  suibhal  trid  "  gleann  dorcha 
sgail  a'  bhais  " ;  ged,  ma  db'  f  baod- 
te,  an  uair  a  cbuireas  e  gloine- 
ambairc  a'  Sgrndaire  ri  sbiiil,  a 
sbaoilease  gu  bbeil  smiiain  nan  Dan 
air  iiairean  lag,  's  gu  bbeil  an  rann 
air  uairean  mearachdacb. 

'S  e  mo  run,  an  tratbs,  a  bbi  'g 
amharc  air  na  Laoidbean  mar 
Bhardacbd  agus  air  an  Ugbdair  mar 
Bbaird,  agus  cba'n  ann  aon  cbuid 
mar  tbeagasg  no  mar  eisempleir  ;  a 
bbi  feucbainn  ri  sboni'ucbadh  ciod 
an  t-àite  a  bbuineas  do  Laoidbean 
na  Gaidbealtacbd  agus  d'an  Ugbdair 
am  measg  Bardacbd  agus  Baird  nan 
Gaidbeal ;  agus  a  bbi  cur  mo  bharail 
fein  gu  saor,  agus  cbo  soilleir  's  is 
aitbne  dbomb,  fa  cbombair  an 
Leugbadair. 

Tba  e  air  aitbris  gu  trie  mar  ni 
iongantacb,  ged  nacb  'eil  dream  am 
Breatunn  no,  ma  db'  fbaodte,  's  an 
Eoinn-Eorpa  cbo  crabbacb  ri  Gaidb- 
eil  na  b-Alba  agus  cbo  toigbeach 
air  ceol  riu,  gidheadb-  nacb  'eil  an 
Laoidbean  acb  gann  ann  an  aireamb 
agus  anmbunn  ann  an  cumbacbd. 
A'  bbeil  an  radb  so  uile  gu  leir  fior"? 
Cba  tig  e  dbuinne  bbi  'g  aicbeadb 
gu  bbeil  na  Gaidheil  crabbacb,  agus 
tba  fios  againn  gu  bbeil  iad  ceol- 
mbor ;  acb  cba  'n  eil  mi  cbo 
dearbbta  gu  bbeil  ar  Dàin  Spioradail 
aon  cbuid  cbo  gann  no  cbo  anmbunn 
's  a  tbeirear  gu  trie  a  tba  iad.  Acb 
'n  a  dbeigb  so  uile  is  e  mo  bheacbd 
nacb  'eil  ar  Laoidbean  cbo  lionmbor 
ann  an  aireamb  agus  gu  sonruicbte 
nacb  'eil  iad  cbo  urramacb  ann  am 
buaidb,  's  a  db'earbamaid  a  crabbadb 
's  a  ceol  nan  Gaidbeal.  Feudar 
aobbar  no  dbà  fbaotainn  airson 
gainue  agus  gu  sonruicbte  airson 
laige  nan  Laoidbean  Gaidbealacb. 

Cluinnidb  sinn  air  uairean  nacb 
'eil  an  creidimh  Protestanach,  mar 


tbeirear,  agus  gu  b-araid  a'  mlieur 
de'n  cbreidimb  sin  a  tba  sinne  'g 
aideacbadb,  fabbaracb  airson  eiridinn 
spiorad  na  Bardacbd  am  measg  an 
t-Sluaigb.  Tbeirear  gu  minic  ged 
nacb  'eil  na's  fearr  na  Leabbar 
Aitbgbearr  nan  Ceist  airson  cuimbne 
gbeuracbadb  's  inntinn  a  neartach- 
adb  gu  bbi  giulan  eolas  spioradail 
air  a  dbeagh  cbnr  an  ordugb,  gu 
bbeil  an  t-iunnsacbadb  so  a  tba 
neartacbadb  comas  reusonacbaidb 
na  b-inntinn  a'  claoidb  nam  buaidh- 
ean  a  tba  feumail  do'n  Bbàrd.  Cba 
'n  'eil  mi  meas  gu  bbeil  moran  firinn 
's  a'  bbeacbd  so ;  agus  ged  bbitbeadb 
tuillidb  coire  ri  cbur  air  an  Leabbar 
uraamacb  so  na  shaoileas  mi  a 
tboilleas  e,  cba'n  ann  air  Gaidbealt- 
acbd acb  air  Galldacbd  na  b-Alba  a 
bu  cboir  dol  a  sbireadh  toradh 
teagaisg  Leabbar  nan  Ceist.  Tha 
mi  meas  gu'm  bitbeadh  e  na  b'usa  a 
dbearbbadh  o  Eacbdraidb  na  b-Eorpa 
gur  e  'n  t-atbarracb  tba  fior.  Is 
ann,  tba  mi  meas,  anns  na  riogh- 
acbdan  Protestanach  is  mo  a  gbeibh- 
earde  Bhardacbd,  agus  gu  sonruicbte 
de  Bhardacbd  Spioradail.  Ann  am 
Breatunn  's  e  gun  teagamb  Milton 
is  airde  buaidhean,  is  farsuinge  eolas, 
's  is  doimhne  faireachduin  d'ar  Baird 
Spioradail.  Rugadh  'us  thogadb  'us 
chaith  esan  a'  bheatha  am  measg  an 
aon  dream  a  bha  riamh  an  Sanunn 
a  bu  cboltaicbe  'n  an  aidrabeil  's  'n 
an  caitbe-beatha  spioradail  ri  Gaidh- 
heil  Phrotestanach  na  b-Alba. 

Acb  tha  aobbar  eile  ann  a  tha  mi 
meas  is  cudthromaiche  gu  sonruicbte 
air  son  laigead  nan  Laoidbean 
Gaidbealacb,  agus  's  e  sin  am  beachd 
a  tb'aig  na  Gaidheil  agus  aig  na 
Baird  fein,  anns  na  linnibh  deireann- 
ach  so  co-dbiu,  air  oifig  no  dreuchd 
a'  Bbaird. 

Tba  fios  aig  gach  neacb  a  rinn  a 
bheag  no  nihor  de  rannsachadh  m.u 
tbimcbioll  eacbdraidh  na  Gaidb- 
ealtacbd, ged  tba  moran  de'n  eacbd- 


Treas  ilios  a'  Gheamliraiclli,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


raidli  sin  's  an  dorcha  oirnn,  gu'n 
robh  na  Baird  o  shean  ann  an  inbhe 
àrd  am  measg  an  t-sluaigh.  Blia  àite 
urramach  aig  a'  Bhard  am  measg 
mhaithean  na  rioghachd,  cha'n  ann 
a  mhain  air  son  nam  feartan  Bardail 
a  bhuineadh  dha,  acli  air  son  a 
ghliocais,  fhoghluira,  's  a  gbluasaid. 
Bu  dreuchd  a'  Bhardachd  ris  an 
ambairceadb  an  t-oganach  Gaidh- 
ealacb  air  agbaidh  mar  dhreuchd  air 
son  am  b'  fhiach  a  bbi  stri,  cia  air 
bith  cho  urramach  a  staid  no  cbo  ard 
a  bhuaidhean.  Cha  'n  'eil  neach 
Bar  measg-ne  a  nis  a  choimeasar  ann 
an  cumbachd  ris  a'  Bhard  anns  "  na 
linnibh  a  dh'  aonV  Fear-teagaisg 
anns  an  t-seadh  a  b'  airde,  fear- 
eachdraidh,  comhairHche,  breith- 
eamh ; — bha  gach  dreuchd  dhiu  so 
co-cheangailte  ri  dreuchd  a  Bhaird. 
Cha  robh  e  faiasda  an  t-ainm  a 
bhuannachd.  Dh'  fheumadh  an 
t-oganach  leis  am  bu  mhiann  an  t- 
urram  a  chosnadh  dearbhadh  a 
thoirt  air  na  feartan  inntinn  a  tha 
freagarrach  do'n  dreuchd,  agus,  dh' 
fheumadh  e  na  buaidhean  so  a 
ghiullachd  's  a  neartachadh  le  iunn- 
sachadh  dian  a  bha  leantuinn  roimh 
mhoran  bhhadhnachan.  Do  bhrigh 
's  gu'n  robh,  mar  gum  b'eadh, 
eanachainn  na  rioghachd  gu  leir  's 
an  dreuchd,  's  gu'n  robh  an  shaagh 
o  hi,  gu  la  'n  am  fianuisean  air  com- 
asan  gach  ball  de'n  dreuchd,  feudar 
f  haicinn  gu  soilleir  gur  ann  le  cumb- 
achd, stri,  'us  faicill  a  ghleidht  e'  aite- 
toisich  am  measg  nam  Bard.  Bha  'm 
Bard  a  lathair  aig  gach  cruinneach- 
adh,  a'  dol  a  mach  's  a  steach  o  la 
gu  la  am  measg  uaislean  'us  mhaith- 
ean na  rioghachd.  An  comhnuidh 
aig  cuirt  an  righ,  bha  'inntinn  air  a 
fosgladh  's  air  a  neartachadh  le  bhi 
coinneachadh  dhaoine  urramach  o 
rioghachdan  eile.  An  comhnuidh 
an  cuideachd  an  airm,  bu  duine  am 
Bard,  a  reir  a  latha,  "  a  chunnaic 
moran  dhaoiue  's  moran  bhailtean." 


Ach  an  uair  a  bhriseadh  aonachd 
na  Gaidhealtachd,  's  a  dh'fhàs  gach 
Ceann-cinnidh  na  Righ  thairis  air 
na  b'urrainn  dha  cheannsachadh, 
dh'  islicheadh  gu  mor  fior  chumhachd 
nam  Bard.  Cha  do  lughdaich  an 
aireamh,  oir  bha  nis  Bard  a'  leantuinn 
gach  Ceann-cinnidh,  ach  dh'  islich 
am  meas  mar  dhreuchd.  Cha  bu 
rioghachd  ach  cinneadh  am  measg  a 
robh  urram  a  nis  ri  fhaotainn.  Gu 
li-iosal  an  diugli  's  an  uachdar  a 
maireach,  bha  'n  Ceann-cinnidh  a 
ghnath  'n  a  namhaid  d'a  choimhears- 
nach,  's  bha  'm  Bard  'n  a  namhaid 
do  Bhard  namhaid  a  Chinn-cinnidh. 
An  aite  a  bhi  seirm  cliii  na  gaisge, 
an  treuntais,  's  nan  deadh-bheus,  ge 
b'e  aite  am  faighteadh  iad,  b'e  nis 
fior-dhleasdanas  a'  Bbaird  a  bhi 
moladh  a  Cheann-cinuidh  's  a  chaird- 
ean,  's  a'  di-moladh  gach  neach  eile 
fo'n  ghrein.  Agus  an  lorg.  so, 
gheibhear  a  nis  gu  minic  an  aite  nam 
buaidhean  ard,  na  h-inntinn  fhar- 
suing  's  a  ghitilain  uasail,  criontachd, 
cuingeachd,  brosgul. 

Thainig  gun  teagamh  am  anns  an 
d'eirich  moran  de  na  fineachan 
Gaidhealach  mar  aon  duine  a  sheas- 
amh  coir  nan  Stuibhartach,  anns  an 
do  leig  iad  dhiu,  re  tarauill,  an 
naimhdeas  do.  chach  a  chèile,  agus 
gheibh  sinn  's  an  am  so  a'  Bhardachd 
a'  togail  a  cinn.  Ach  ma  gheibh,  's 
ann  le  sgàil  na  gloire  chaidh  seachad 
a  dli'  eirich  na  Baird.  Leugh  thairis 
saothair  an  dithis  is  ainmeile  a  sheinn 
's  an  am  so — Mac  JMhaighstir 
Alastair  agus  Donnachadh  Ban  J\Iac- 
an-t-Saoir — agus  chi  tbu  an  dealach- 
adh  mor  a  tha  eadar  anOrain-sanagus 
a'  Bhardachd  a  chaidh  a  ghiulan  a 
nuas  o  chein  air  meodhair  an  t- 
sluaigh,  's  a  tha  nis  air  a  h-ainmeach- 
adh  air  Oisean.  Gheibh  thu  ann  an 
Oisean  inntinn  mhòr,  fharsuing,  ag 
amharc  os  cionn  fuath  'us  farmad  'us 
mi-run  an  t-saoghail,  ag  eirigh  gu 
buadhmhor   os   cionn  gach  ni  beag 


AN    GAIDHEAL.        Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876. 


agus  faoin,  's  'g  a  ceangal  fèin  ri 
gaisge  's  ri  luach,  co-dhiu  a  gheibhear 
iad  am  measg  chairdean  no  naimh- 
dean.  Fior  f  hear-teagaisg  cha  'n  ann 
a  mhain  d'a  dhream  's  d'a  linn  fein, 
ach  do'n  t-saoghal  gii  ruig  a  chrioch. 
Mac  righ  gun  teagamli— ach  mac  a 
choisinn  dha  fein  coir  nach  aich'ear 
air  righ-chathair  na's  urramaiche  na 
bhuannaiclideadh  an  fliuil  is  gloine 
's  am  feaclid  is  cumhachdaiclie  ,s  an 
Eoinn-Eorpa  dha.  Fior  Bhard  a  dh' 
amhairc  le  sùil  gheur  's  a  ghlac  le 
greim  teann  laghannan  a  chruthach- 
aidh  mu'n  cuairt  d'a,  'us  nadur  an 
duine  an  taobh  a  stigh  dlieth ;  a 
sheall  air  ais  agus  air  thoiseach  air, 
mu'n  cuairt  d'a  'us  os  a  chionn,  's  a 
shleuchd  anam  lo  h-ioghnadh  'us  le 
h-uamhas  an  lathair  nan  cumhachdan 
a  bha  do-thuigsinn  dha-san  ; — Bard 
a  fhuair  urram  uapa-san  d'andeanadh 
righi"ean  umhlachd,  's  a  th'air  a 
leughadh  anns  gach  cearn  de'n  Eoinn- 
Eorpa  ach  an  Gaidhealtachd  na  h- 
Alba  a  mhain. 

Ma  thiunndas  tu  o'n  Bhardachd 
so  gus  a'  Bhardachd  Ghaidhealaich, 
mar  gheibhear  i  ann  an  "  Sàr  obair 
nam  Bard  Gaidhealach,"  agus,  ann 
an  tomhas  mor,  ann  an  cruinneach- 
adh  an  Ridire  Mhic-Griogair,  Deadh- 
an  Lis-mh-òii',  mar  theirear  gu 
cumanta  ris,  saoilidh  tu  gu  bheil  thu 
ann  an  saoghal  eile.  Cha  'n  f  haigh 
mi  doigh  air  an  dealachadh  a  chur 
an  ceill  na's  fearr  na  radh  gu  bheil 
Oisean  mor,  agus  gu  bheil  na  Baird 
eile  beag.  'S  e  steigh  Oisean  cliù, 
cùis,  'us  coir  a'  Shluaigh  ;  's  e  steigh 
nam  Bard  eile,  anns  a'  chuid  is  mo, 
an  cùis  's  an  coir,  's  an  cliù  fein,  no 
co-dhiu  an  cairdean  's  am  fine  fein. 
Gheibh  sinn  air  gach  taobh-duilleig 
de  Oisein  morachd,  irreadhnachas, 
'us  oirdhearcas  cho  maith  ri  maise  ; 
ann  an  saothair  nam  Bard  eile 
gheibhear  maise  gu  trie,  ach  gheibh- 
ear ceart  cho  trie  fuath  'us  fiirmad, 
tvgus  na's  trice  crioatachd  'us  beag- 


adas.  A  chum  ar  n-eolas  àj:  inntinn 
an  duine  a  mheudachadh,  tha  'n 
obair  buannachdail ;  ach  a  chum 
teagaisg  is  eigin  aideachadh  gu 
bheil  beatha  agus  saothair  a  mhor 
chuid  diu  na's  feumaile  airson  rabh- 
aidh  na  tha  iad  airson  eisempleir. 
An  aite  bhi  "  chum  dioghaltais  do 
luchd  deanamh  an  uil^  ach  a  chum 
cliii  dhoibhsan  a  ni  maith,"  nach 
faighear  moran  d'ar  Baird  'n  an 
gràisg  chunnartach  le  teangadh 
sgallaiseach, —  'n  am  madaidh  thabh- 
annach  air  am  feumadh  daoine 
còire  cnaimh  a  thilgeadh  mu'n 
siubhladh  iad  rathad-mor  an  t-saogh- 
ail  le  sàiltean  shàn.  Cha  b'iongant- 
ach,  ma  ta,  ged  shealladh  an  Eaglais 
le  sùil  chlaon,  amhurusach  air  an 
leithidibh  so  de  dhaoine,  's  ged 
thigeadh  na  Baird  fein  gu  bhi  creid- 
sinn  gu'n  robh  iadsan  neo-airidh  air 
laoidli  mholaidh  a  sheinn. 

'S  i  mo  bharail  gu'n  robh  am 
beachd  tha  againn  o  chionn  moran 
bhliadhnachan  's  a'  Ghaidhealtachd 
air  dleasdanas  luchd-aideachaidh  a 
cuideachadh  na  Baird  a  chumail  a 
mach  a  fion-lios  nan  Laoidh.  Cha'n 
'eil  aon  'n  ar  measg  aig  nach  ed  fios 
gu  soilleir  gu  bheil  na  Gaidheil,  'n 
ar  latha-ne  co-dhiu,  moran  na's  cur- 
amaiche  na  na  Goill  gu  bhi  cumail 
an  dleasdanais  spioradail  tur- 
dhealaichte  o'n  dleasdanais  's  an 
toilinntinnean  aimsireil ;  agus  gu 
bheilear  ag  agairt  bho  luchd-aid- 
eachaidh 's  an  Airde-tuath  gluasad 
moran  na's  faicilliche  na  thàtar  's 
an  Airde-deas.  Cha  tig  e  dhomhsa 
dol  a  thoirt  breth  co  tha  ceart  no  co 
tha  cearr,  no,  mar  bu  choir  a  radh, 
CO  is  ceirte  de'n  dha ;  ach  cha'n  'eil 
neach  a  chomhnuidh  's  an  da  aite 
nach  'eil  làn-fhiosraoh  gu  bheil  a' 
chuis  mar  so. 

A  thuillidh  air  so,  agus  ma  dh' 
fhaodte  do  bhrigh  so,  bha  cleachd- 
uin  Ughdair  nan  Laoidh  a'  cumail 
nam   Bard   air   an  ais  o  bhi   seinn 


Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1S7C.        AN    GAIDHEAL. 


Dhàn  Spioradail.  Mur  deanadh 
Fear-nan-orau  Laoidh  cha  deanadh 
Fear-nan-laoidli  Oran.  Chaidh  mar 
so  an  caolas  a  tlia  dealachadh  fearann 
nan  Oran  agus  fearann  nan  Laoidh 
a  leudachadh  's  a  dhoimhneachadh 
leis  an  hichd-aiteachaidh  o'n  da 
thaobh.  Cha'n  f  haighear,  do  bhrigh 
so,  's  a'  Ghaidhlig,  mar  a  gheibhear 
's  a'  Bheurla  's  ann  an  Canainean 
eile  na  Eoinn-Eorpa,  Laoidhean  cho 
binn  's  cho  miaghail  's  a  tha  air  an 
seinn,  air  an  cur  ri  cheile  leis  na 
Baird.  Tha  na  h-aobhair  so,  saoihdh 
mi,  L\n-chumhachdach  air  son  ar 
Laoidhean  a  bhi  na's  gainne  agus 
gu  sonruichte  na's  laige  na  dh'  earb- 
adh  coigreach  a  crabhadh  's  a  ceol 
nan  Gaidheal. 

Ach  tha  'n  t-càm  a  bhi  'g  amharc 
air  na  Dàin  fein  j  is  mithich  an  tir  a 
rannsachadh,  's  a  lomnochd  f  haicinn 
ma's  e  's  gur  ann  lomnochd  a  tha  i. 

Anns  na  Laoidhean  Gaidhealach, 
chithear  dealachadh  mor  ann  an 
cumhachd  Bardachd,  's  ann  am 
foihlum  's  an  inbhe  nan  Ughdar. 
Am  measg  L^ghdar  nan  Dan  so 
gheibhear  am  bochd  's  am  beairt- 
each,  an  t-àrd  's  an  t-iosal,  an  scan  's 
an  t-òg ;  an  t-eolach  's  an  t-aineolach, 
an  deoraidh  's  an  gaisgeach,  agus, 
nach  feud  mi  radh,  am  Bard  's  am 
Burraidh.  ■  Gheibhear  a'  bhantrach 
do  nach  aithne  a  Biobull  a  leughadh, 
'n  a  bothan  falamh,  a'  taomadh  a 
mach  a  gearain  ann  an  rann,  a' 
tilgeadh  a  h-uallaich  Airsan  a  gheall 
a.  bhi  'n  a  Athair  d'a  dilleachdain,  's 
a  briseadh  a  mach  le  buaidh-chaith- 
ream  an  sealladh  tonnan  buaireasach 
lordain  a'  bhàis ;  gheibhear  an 
Diadhair  cho  àrd  buaidhean  's  cho 
farsuing  eolas  's  a  chunnacas  de'n 
fhuil  Ghaidhealaich  'n  ar  latha-ne, 
a'  caoidh  nan  Laoch  treun  nach 
maireann,  's  a'  curearail,  achmhasan, 
'us  aobhar-dochais  fa  chonihair  a 
cho-pheacaich  ann  an  Dan. 


Tha  triuir  nithean  gu  sonruichte, 
a  reir  mo  bheachd,  anns  a'  bheil 
Bardachd  Spioradail  na  Gaidhealt- 
achd  easbhuidheach.  Aon  diu  so 
i  dh'  ainmich  mi  cheana,  agus  's  e  sin 
,  nach  do  sheinn  ar  Baird  is  ainmeile 
Laoidhean.  Is  gann  a  gheibhear 
i  anns  a'  Bheurla  Bard  ainmeil  nach 
I  do  chuir  ri  cheile  a  bheag  no  mhòr 
de  Laoidhean.  Tha  fios  aig  gach 
'neach  gu'n  robh  cuid  de  na  Dàin 
'  Spioradail  cho  miaghail  's  a  th' 
againn  anns  a'  Bheurla  air  an  dean- 
amh  le  Scott,  Addison  agus  eadhon 
le  Byron.  Ach  anns  a'  Ghaidheal- 
;  tachd  cha'n  f  haighear  Bard  fior 
I  ainmeil  a  sheinn  Dan  spioradail  a 
mach  o  na  Baii'd  Spioradail  fein. 

Aris  cha'n  f  haighear  am  Bardachd 
Spioradail  na  Gaidhealtachd  Dan 
mor  no  Epic,  mar  theirear  's  a' 
Bheurla.  Gheibhear  gun  teagamh 
Laoidhean  a  tha  glè  fhada  mar  tha 
"  Latha  Bhreathanais"  Dhughaill 
Buchanain  agus  aon  no  dha  de 
Laoidhean  an  Ollamh  Dhomhnall- 
aich  ;  ach  ged  a  fhreagradh  an 
steigh  a  roghnaich  Dughall  Buch- 
anan air  son  a  leithid  so  de  Dhàn, 
agus  ged  is  icnmholta  air  gach  doigh 
a  dh'oibrich  Dughall  a  mach  a  run 
fein,  cha'n  abair  neach  gu  bheil  an 
Laoidh  urramach  so  a  lionadh  an 
àite  tha  fathasd  falamh  'n  ar  Bard- 
achd Spioradail.  A  mach  o  Oisean 
cha'n  'eil  Ejiic  's  a'  Ghaidhlig  idir 
againn ;  agus  tha  e  comharraichte 
mu  thimchioil  na  Bardachd  sin,  cho 
beag  's  a  tha  d'a  fior  chumhachd  an 
crochadh  ri  saoghal  nan  Spiorad. 
Ma  sheallas  sinn  a  stigh  anns  a' 
Bhardachd  is  glòirmhoire  a  chuala 
an  Saoghal  riamh,  chi  sinn  gu  bheil 
i  ann  an  tomhas  mor  'n  a  Bardachd 
Spioradail.  Sgrùd  a  mach  a  Daibh- 
idh,  a  Homer,  a  Virgil,  's  a  Milton 
oibreachadh  nan  cumhachdan  a  tha 
riaghladh  's  an  t-saoghal  neo-fhaic- 
sinneach  agus  cha  mhor  is  fiach  na 
theid  fhagail;  ach  ged  bheir  thii 


AN   GAIDHEAL.        Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidli,  1876. 


air  falbh  a  Bardachd  Oisein  na 
■tha  'n  crochadh  ri  oibreachadh  nan 
dè  cha  bhi  air  aon  chor  a'  chuis  mar 
so.  Tha  gun  teagamh  Oisean  a 
feoraicli  mu  tliimcliioll  nan  ceistean 
cudthromach  a  tha  cuairteachadh 
beatha  an  duine  'n  so  'bhos ;  ach  is 
ann  lelamh  chritheach  athae  tarriiing 
a  thaobh  a'  bhrat.  tha  comhdachadh 
na  diomhaireachd  so,  is  an  le  sùil  lb 
sgleò  tha  e  sealltuinn  roimh  'n  tiugii 
dhorchadas  a  tha  niu'n  cuairt  d'a  : — 

Cia  as  tha  sruthan  na  bha  ann  ? 
C'uin'  a  thaomas  an  t-am  'tha  'falbh  ? 
Cath-Loduinn,  Diian  Hi.  1-2. 

"  Tha  astar  nan  taibhs'  air  neòil," 
Thuiit  Conall  'bu  mhor  ciall, 

"  Air  gaoith  chithear  suinn  nach  beò  ; 

Tha  'n  tuineailh  'an  cos  nan  sliabh  ; 

'N  am  fios  bi'dh  an  sanas  ri  'cheile, 

'S  an  labhairt  mu  bhks  nam  fear." 

Fionnar/iial,  Duan  ii.  fc9-94. 

Ach  ged  is  ait  leinn  gu'n  robh  na 
smuaintean  sohiimte  so  a  lionadh 
inntinn  priomh-Bhard  ar  duthcha 
mar  a  lion  iad  inntinn  gach  fior 
Bhardo  thoiseach  an  t-saoghail,  cha'n 
urrainn  duinn  a  radh  gur  Bard 
Spioradail  Oisean.  Cha  'n  eil  "  ciod 
a  bha  sinn"  no  "ciod  a  bhitheas 
sinn,"  "  cia  as  "  no  "  c'àite  " — ar  tùs 
no  air  triall — a'  dearbhadh  ciod  is 
coir  dhuinn  a  dheanamh  : — 

"  Lean-sa  cliu  na  dh'  aom  a  chaoidh, 
Mar  d'  aithraichean  bi-sa  fein  ; 

'N  an  oige  bhuail  iad  am  blàr 
An  duanaibh  'nam  Bard  tha  'n  cliu  " 
Fionnarjhal,  Duan  Hi.,  430  435. 

'S  e  SO  an  comhnuidh  am  priomh- 
aobhar  gu  deadh  dheanadas. 

Tha  aon  ni  eile  'tha  mi  'g  iunn- 
drain  à  Laoidhean  na  Gaidhealt- 
achd,  agus  's  e  sin,  nach  eil  a  bheag 
dhiu,  ma  tha  aon  idir  ann,  a  ni  greim 
air  inntinn  cheolmhor  le  fior-mhaise 
agus  le  ceolmhoireachd  na  roinne. 
Tha  gun  teagamh  cuid  d'ar  Laoidh- 
ean binn,  ach  cha  'n  'eil  e  'm  chom- 


as  aon  ainmeachadh  a  thig  a  nios 
ann  a  fior  mhilseachd  ciuil  ri  muraii 
de  na  h-Orain  a  chluinnear  anns  na 
h-Eileanan  an  lar.  Cha  'n  aidich 
mi  idir  gur  e  mo  chridhe  cealgach 
is  coireach  gur  e  so  mo  bheachd; 
oir  tha  mi  meas  gu'n  aontaicheadh 
na  Baird  Spioradail  fein  learn  anns 
a'  chuis.  Cha  'n  eil  neach  a  shiubh- 
las  an  t-Eilean  Sgiathanach  no 
Eileanan  Mhuile  's  Thirithe  's  na 
cearnan  sin,  's  a  chi  an  oigridh 
cruinn  aig  banais  no  aig  feill,  's  a 
chumas  a  chluas  fosgailte,  nach 
cluinn  Grain,  gunfhiosco'nUghdair, 
anns  a'  bheil  barrachd  ciuil  na  's 
urrainn  domhsa  fhaotainn  anns  an 
aon  is  binne  d'ar  Laoidhean.  Cha 
'n  'eil  teagamh  nach  bi  maise  na 
nighinn  duinn  a  sheinneas  an  t-Or- 
an  a'  cuideachadh  ceol  na  duanaig 
'us  toilinntinn  an  luchd-eisdeachd  a 
mheudachadh  ;  ach  as  eugmhais 
a  chul-taice  thaitneach  so,  tha  e 
fathasd  fior  nach  tig  ar  Laoidhean 
a  nios  r'ar  n-Orain  anns  a'  cheum 
so.  Feudaidh  e  bhi  gur  ann  leis  an 
oigridh  is  mo  tha  de  na  duanagan 
so  air  an  deanamh  (oir  co  nach  d' 
fheuch  ri  duanag  a  dheanamh  mu'n 
robh  e  fichead  bliadhna  a  dh'aois) ; 
agus  gur  ann  leis  an  aosda  is  mo  tha 
de  na  Laoidhean  air  an  deanamh, 
agus  tha  fios  gur  i  n-oige  is  ceol- 
mhoire ;  achciaairbithant-aobhartha 
chuis  mar  so.  Cluinn  mar  a  their 
an  t-òganach  ris  a'  mhaighdinn  a  tha 
car  moiteil  ri  bhriodal : — 

"  A  nionag  a'  chuil  duinn  n^ch  fan  thu, 
'S  fios  's  an  tir  gur  mi  do  leannan," 

agus  faigh  ann  an  Laoidh  aobhar  'n 
a  àite  fein  cho  freagarrach  agus  fonn 
cho  ceolmhor,  D.  M'K. 


Treas  Alios  a'  Gheambraidli,  1S7C. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


RAXX  DO  CHOMUNX  NAM  FIOE 
GHAIDHEAL. 

'An  Inbhear  Lochaidli  nam  mfir, 
Chunncas  an  t-Ur-Ghaisreadh  cruinn  ; 
Thaisbean  iad  an  >  liù  bu  bheus  : 
Sud  an  sgeul  a  b'  èibhinn  leinn, 
B'ioma  Ceann-Tighe's  Fear  feachd, 
B'ioma  Gaisgeach  meamnach  mdr, 
B'ioma  Flath  agus  Triath  sluaigh, 
A  thuinich  'n  Stuaigh  nan  corn. 
Gaidheil,  an  Comunn  gun  f  heall, 
Lan  nidhea  u  Ghaidheal  m'an  Dream  ; 
Ghleiisadh  sud  teanga  gu  fonn, 
X'am  b'eòlach  air  dheilbh  nan  rann. 

Sealladh  clia'n  f  hacas  air  blkr 
A  dh'ardaicheadh  càil  do  clilt^ibh, 
Mar  thriall  nan  Cath-Laoch  nach  clith, 
An  earradh  an  sinnsridh  fein. 
Eoineid  ghorm,  an  t-èideadh  cinn, 
Ite  riombach  nan  dos  trom, 
Air  iom'-chrith  'n  a  babaibh  grinn, 
Tliair  iirlainn  mheachair  nan  sonn. 
Trast  mu  gbuaillibh  gach  fir  threin, 
Feileadh  ball-bbreac  nan  cèud  cuach, 
ISIar  bhogha  frois  ann  's  a'n  Sp^ur, 
'S  grian  ag  ^iridli  aii-  feur-chluain. 
Lann  chosgTuidh  's  'an  truaill  air  bhoinn, 
Loinntreach  le  h-airgiod  's  le  h-or  ; 
Mar  bheithir  dhealain  'n  a  suain, 
]Mu'n  dui.sg  a  bhruaidlein  's  na  neoil  ! 
Fuaighte  ri  feileadh  nam  pleat, 
Tha  sporan  iallach  a'  bhruic  ; 
'S  trie  a  dhioladh  as  do'n  bhocbd, 
Bbo  làimh  phailt,  le  gnilis  gun  stuirt. 
Geal  us  Corcur  a  comh-gbleacbd 
'San  Osan  ghearr,  beairt  nan  cos  ; 
Bròg  bbileach  dhubh  bu  ghrinn  snas 
M'an  troidh  nach  dean  feur  a  lot. 
Ingeal  nan  srann-dhos  a  seinn 
Caismeachd  a  b'àrd-ghloii-each  pong^ 
Pronnduil  lùth'or  nam  mean  roinn, 
'Chur  aigneadh  air  ghoil  gu  glonn. 

A'  tuil-dhortadh  as  gach  taobh, 
Faicibh  Uaislean  nan  Saor  Chlann! 
Sud  coille  nam  mile  miagh 
Nach  d'aitreabh  "a  chrionach  cham. 
Dòmhnullaicb  rioghail  nan  sròl ; 
Stiùbhartaich  da'n  còirbhreith  Buaidh  ; 
Clann-Cham'roin  'an  streup  nan  arm 
Cho  teann  ris  an  ailbhinn  chruaidh  ; 
Lacbannaich    chlis  nan  gl(?us  dlùtli ; 
Leodaich  nam  b^um  driiidhte  trom  ; 
Leathainich  bu  luaithe  lamb 
'Am  boile-cbath  gair  nan  sonn  : 
Granntaich  is  trie  a  f  huair  cis, 
Sliochd  nam  milidb  bho  thaobh  Speith  ; 
Clann-Choinnich  bu  phronntach  ar 
'Xuair  dh'  tìreadh  àrd  Cròc  an  Fbèidh  : 


lonmliuinnich  euchdach  bho'n  t-Srath  : 
Sliochd    ]Mhic    Rath     Dhuibh    bu    gheal 

gniomh ; 

Aitim  Ghriogair  nan  colg  cruaidh, 
Romh  bhorb-shluagh  nachgabhadhsniomh; 
Siol  Diarmaid  nam  faobbar  nochd, 
A  mharbh  an  Tore  'an  Gleann-Sith  ; 
Fraisealaich  bhras  bho'n  Taobh-Tuath, 
A  dhruin-leanadh  ruaig  's  a'n  strith  ; 
Clann  J-Sola  bho'n  Apuinr  ghuirm  ; 
Siosalaich  nach  fuilgeadh  tàir  ; 
Sliochd  an  Toisich  *  bu  mhor  luaidh 
Fo  Chalum  iol-bhuadhach  aigh. 
Ceann-Suidhe  Comuiun  gun  mheang, 
Mac-Oighre  Eigh  Innse-GaU, 
Ard-Fhlath  an  t-Slòigh  ud  SiolChuinn, 
Alastair  uasal  nan  Gleann. 
Tha  'n  caidreamh  Comuinn  nam  buadh^ 
Gach  Subhailc  luacb'or  bu  choir, 
Firinn  mhoi--aigneach  Hach  striochd 
Ah-  rahuillein  do  mhiltibh  òir. 
Dearbhaidh  na  Feumaich  am  baigh 
Mar  Ghi-ein  aigh  's  a  cheitein  chimin, 
Madainn  òg  a'  sileadh  bhraon, 
'S  Gach  raon  a'  dealradh  fo  dhriuchd. 
Eagl  !ch  do'n  Bhiubhaidh  tha'n  gruaim, 
Mar  chaonnaig  uaimbrich  nan  Spèur 
Braghadaich  an  toruinn  chruaidh 
'Cur  luasgain  fo'n  chruinne-che  ! 

'S  ni  nach  iongnadh  gioir  mo  dhain  ; 
'S  dualchuis  do'n  bhkrr  g-naths  an  t-sil ; 
A  freumhaich  abhaill  nan  seud 
Cha  bhrisd  Geug  à  Crithinn  chrin. 
Bho  gharg  leoghunn  nan  tosg  fiar, 
'Choidhch  cha  shiolaich  am  meann  tais, 
'S  cha  bheir  lair  pheallach  a'  chlèibh 
Cruith-each  aluinn  nan  leum  bras. 
Eannsuichear  gach  sgeul  bho  shean : 
Bha'n  deagh  Ghaidheal  riamh  gun  chron, 
An  Fhionain  dhearc-thoireach  ghlan, 
Do'n  aon-bhrigh  bho  bhàrr  gu  bun. 
Sliochd  Chuchulainn,  Chaoilt',  us  Fhiun, 
Oscair,  us  Oisein,  us  Ghuill, 
'S  High  nan  ceud  cath  gam  b'ainm  Conn  ; 
'S  cian  a  bhios  luaidh  air  na  suinn. 

Ge  b'ard  na  Roimbich  'an  Gleus, 
'S  a'  Mhagh-thir  gu  leir  fo'n  ceann  ; 
Thug  Saorsa  buaidh  ann  's  a'  strith, 
'S  ghleidh  i  dhi  ftìn  Tir  nam  Beann. 
Cha  shnaoidh  an  Gaidheal  an  teinn  ; 
Treuntas  a  dhaingneach,  's  cha'n  fhoill  ; 


*  The  Progenitor  of  this  valiant  Clan 
was  Shaw,  who  obtained  an  extensive  pro- 
perty in  Moray,  for  his  active  ser\'ices  in 
suppressing  a  Rebellion  that  had  broken 
out  in  that  County.  He  was  a  son  of  Dun- 
can Thane  of  Fife,  and  flourished  in  the 
reign  of  ]Malcolm  IV. ,  about  the  middle  of 
the  Twelfth  Century.  Toiseach  signifies 
General. 


AN    GrAIDHEAL.        Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1S7C. 


Cha  mheal  am  fior-Ghaisgeach  tàir, 
'S  annsa  leii  ana  Bas  na  'Chuing. 
'S  trie  thug  Lochlann  ionnsuidh  chlith 
Gu  siol  Mhili  'chuàr  fo  smaig  ; 
Fhuair  i  'n  Albainn  èug  is  uaigh, 
JSeilbh  is  buan  dith  gu  la  bhra. 
Na  criochan  Eorpach  gu  leir, 
Innsidh  sgeul  air  Laoich  nan  Sliabh, 
Am  buillsgein  oach  deannail  chruaidh 
Mar  cliuireadh  iad  ruaig  gu  dian. 
'S  mairionn  an  alladh  's  giir  clan, 
Fad  's  a  sliiùbhlar  foun  us  cuan, 
Bho'n  Tir  's  am  mosgail  a'  Ghrian, 
Gu  'tamh  niar  air  chul  nan  stuadh. 

'Stiuir  Napoleon  am  mor-chath, 
Aig  bruaich  Niluis  nan  seachd  sruth, 
Sbeall  e,  's  'intinn  fo  throm  clieal, 
Air  reang  nam  Fear  bu  chaoin  crutb. 
"  'S  Gaidheil  iad  sud,"  os  an  sonn, 
"  Gaisgich  chliuiteach  nan  Tuath-Bheann  ; 
Dearbhaidh  torunu  an  geur  lann 
Mar  chogadh  Oscar  us  Fionn." 
B'fhior  a  bhriathar. — Las  am  Blar  ; 
Thionnsguinn  Spairn  nam  brocladh  searbh; 
Dh'fhas  na  Do-cheannsuich  gun  chlith  ; 
Cho-chaill  iad  an  ni  's  an  t-ainm. 

Fhuair  iad  ath-dhiachainn  a  chraidh 
Aig  Bhatarlàidh  f  nan  àr  trom, 
Cho  dluth  's  ga'n  robh  mheatailt  aigh 
Ga'n  comhdach  bho  bharr  gu  bonn. 
Bhèuchd  Leoghunn  Bhreatann  le  sgairt . — 
"  As  oirbh,  a  Chuileinean  graidh  ! 
Gheibh  sibh  thall  ud  sealg  gu  pailt, 
Glacuibh  us  casgruibh  bhur  sath." 
Sin  for  an  robh  spoltadh  truagh  ! 
Lannan  luatha  'bruanadh  chnamh, 
Closaichean  pronn,  plod-fhuil  ruadh 
A'  dearg-dhath  gach  cluain  do'n  bhlar. 
'Leagh  a  meall  cruadhach  gu  l^ir, 
Eomh  mhaoim  theinntidh  nan  Treun  mòr, 
Amhuil  baideal  do  cheò  ciar 
A  sgapas  a'  ghrian  mu  nòin  ! 
'Na  lorg  sud,  tha  meas  us  agh 
Air  Clann-Ghaidheal  nan  colg  geur  ; 
Bidh  cliù  gach  linn  air  an  gniomh, 
Fhad  's  a  dh'iathas  Grian  mu'n  sp^ur. 

Mile  beannachd,  mile  buaidh 
Air  Comunn  Uaislean  mo  ruin: 
Cha  shnisnich  Breatann  le  fiamh 
'S  sibhse  mar  dhian  air  a  cùl. 
Thog  Albainn  a  ceann  le  h-uaill: 
Dh'fhuasgladh  a'  Ghailig  à  snuim  ; 
Tha  coir  gach  saorsainn  gu  ferm 
Aig  Sliochd  Ghaidheal  nam  beus  grinn. 
Thig  Sonas,  us  Bliochd,  us  Maoin, 
Fialachd  us  This,  Faoilt,  us  Baigh  ; 
Sgaoilidh  'n  am  miltibh  bhur  siol, 
Mar  rainich  nam  fiadh-ghleann  fas. 

t  Waterloo. 


Eiridh  Gaisreadh  Ghallan  tir 

A  dhian  Bhreatann  mar  mhilr  prais  ; 

'S  'an  Ifrinn  loisgich  nam  pian 

Taisgear  Folachd  f  o  chiad  glas. 

Bidh  Eolus  us  creideamh  fior 

A'  sti'iradh  nan  gniomh  le  beachd  ; 

'S  tionnsgnaidh  an  Aois  Oir  'an  sith, 

Mar  a  dh'orduich  Eigh  nam  feart. 

Thus'  a  las  an  aidhbheis  chian 
Le  saoghaluibh  's  le  grianuibh  iùil  ! 
Didinn  Ban-Iompair'  a  Chuain, 
Gu  la  luain,  mar  chloich  do  shùl. 
Coisrig  i  deas  agus  tuath, 
Coisrig  gach  sluagh  tha  fo  reachd  ; 
Am  boilich  nan  deubhadh  garg, 
Treoruich-sa'  gu  sealbh  a  Feachd. 
Deonuich  d'ar  Prionns'  oirdheirc  aigh, 
Saoghal  aoibhinn  's  gach  ard  bhuaidh  ; 
Deonuich  sar-ghliocas  d'a  chuirt. 
Chum  's  gu'n  dearbh  iad  iùil  do'd  shluagh. 
Naomhaich  ar  lagh,  gleidh  ar  coir, 
Gun  cham-fhoirneart  ga  buin  d'inn 
'S  aig  Morachd  Bhreatann  biodh  barr 
Fo  d'shaor-ghras,  bho  linn  gu  linn  ! 
EoBHON  Maclachuinn, 
Eùnaire  Comuinn  nam  Fior  Ghaidheal. 

'All  Sean'-Bhaile  Ohair-readhain, 
La  Samhn'  ur,  1815. 


DONULL-NAN-IALL. 

Ged  nacli  robh  moran  de  'n  t- 
saoghal  aig  Dònull-nan-iall  bha  e 
gu  math  sicir  'n  a  dhòigh  fhein. 
Bha  e  dichiollach  gun  teagamh,  ach 
a  chionn  nach  robh  a  làmh  ro  gliriiin, 
snasmhar,  cha  robh  a  thighinn  a  stigh 
ro  mhòr.  Chuireadh  e  breabainean, 
us  sàiltean,  us  ceireinean,  airbrògan 
mar  nach  b'  olc ;  ach  duine  a  bheir- 
eadh  tomhas  a  choise  dha  aon  uair 
cha  tugadh  e  da  uair  dha  e,  air 
fheobhas  's  g'  an  dùraigeadh  e 
Dònull  air  a  chothrom. 

Mar  a  thuirt  mi,  ma  ta,  cha  robh 
tighinn-a-stigh  Dhònuill  ro  mhor. 
Dichiollach  's  mar  a  bha  e  cha  robh 
a  phàidheadh  ris  a'  ghnoihuch  ach 
eigneach.  Bha  a  bhean  stuama, 
caomhantach,  ach  bha  e  ionann's  a' 
fairtleachadh  oirre  iomfhnasgladh  a 
ghleidheadh  dhaibh  fhein  le  cheile 
agus  dh'  an  triùir  chloinne.  Cha'n 
fhaodar  àicheadh  ge  ta,  mur  biodh 


Treas  >Iios  a' Gheamhraidh,  1S7G.       AjST   GAIDHEAL. 


Dònull  cho  trom  air  a'  phiob  's  air 
an  òl  nach  biodh  fuigheall  us  foghn- 
adh  aca.  Ach  bha  e  ag  obair  goirt, 
agus  cha  b'  f  huilear  dha  '  rud  beag ' 
'n  a  uaireannan  a  chumail  speirid  's 
na  seann  nilt.  Is  e  sin  beachd  a 
bli'  aige  fhein  co  dhiubh.  Acli  bha 
an  '  rud  beag '  ag  cost  tri  sgillinnean 
Sasunnach  a's  t-seachdain  da,  agus 
cha  bu  bheag  an  cuideachadh  a 
dhianadh  sin  ris  a'  mhuirichinn. 

Am  pcàisde  bu  shine — Maireag, 
bha  i  nise  mu  dheicli  bliadhna  dh' 
aois.  Bha  i  'n  a  caileig  ro  lurach, 
caoimhneil,  ach  bha  i  riamh  anfhann, 
breòite.  B'i  àilleagan  an  tighe  i, 
agus  cha  robh  an  dealachadh  eadar 
i  fhein  's  a  h-atliair.  Eachadh 
]\Iàireag  a  h-uile  latha  do  cheann 
eile  an  tighe  far  am  biodh  e  ris  a' 
ghriasachd  a  chumail  cuideachdais 
ris,  agus  dh'  fhanadh  i  fhios  cuine 
comhla  ris  ag  cnacas  cho  seanagarra 
ri  seann  duine.  'X  a  uaireannan 
thigeadh  greis  thinnis  oirre,  agus 
shineadh  i  i  fhein  air  an  ùrlar,  agus 
bu  bhuidhe  leatha  blii  'sealltainn  'n 
a  aodunn.  Cha  bhiodh  i  toilichte 
ach  an  uair  a  bhiodh  i  comhla  ris, 
agus  cha  bu  cliualag  an  obair  airsan 
f  had's  a  bhiodh  i  mu  'choinneamh. 

Bha  mios  us  mios  a'  dol  seachad, 
's  bha  Maireag  uidh  'n  uidh  a' 
snaidheadh  as.  A  gruaidhean  a' 
dol  an  tainead  's  an  glaisead,  's  a 
siiilean  a'  dol  am  miad  's  am  mairbh- 
ead,  agus  a  casan  ag  call  an  lùis. 
Thàinig  oirre  mu  dheireadh  nach 
b'  urrainn  d'i  urad  's  dol  do  cheann 
eile  an  tighe  gun  taice  ;  an  sin  rinn 
a  h-athair  àrd-leaba  dh'i.  Bhiodh 
i  nise 's  an  leabaidh  greis  a'  bruidhinn 
ris,  agus  greis  ag  amharc  'n  a  aodunn. 
Mar  so  bha  an  nine  dol  seachad,  ach 
a  dh-aindeoin  a'  ghaoil  a  bh'  aig  air 
Màireig  agus  air  a  theaghlach  uile, 
cha  do  leig  Dònull  dh'  e  an  t-òl  's 
an  tombaca.  Agus  mar  sin  cha 
robh  annas  no  àilleis  aca,  agus  ciamar 
a  bhitheadh  ;  cha  robh,  aig  Màireig 


I  fhein  ged  a  bha  i  cho  beadrach  ri 
ubhal  òir  aige.  Bha  tuilleadh  's  a 
b'  urrainn  d'  i  mharachadh  aig  a 
Imhnaoi  ri  dhianamh  buntàta-gun- 
I  dad  us  cearban  aodaich  fhaighinn 
daibh  gun  tighinn  air  aunas  no 
j  àilleas. 

Beag  no  mòr  g'  an  coisneadh 
Dònull  dh'  f  heumteadh  an  aon  suim 
I  a  chur  air  leth  gach  Sathurna  mu 
i  choinneamh  an  oil  's  an  tombaca, 
1  agus  cho  cinnteach  'us  sin  rachadh 
gach  bonn  annta  dh'e.  Bha  Donull 
Ian  chinnteach  'n  a  bheachd  fhein 
mur  f haigheadh  e  an  '  rud  beag ' 
nach  rachadh  aige  air  an  obair  a 
dhianamh  —  cha  do  smaoinich  e 
riamh  ciamar  a  bha  a  bhean  ris  a' 
'  ghnothuch  gun  chupa  ti — agus  mur 
fhaigheadh  e  toth  de  'n  pliiob  an 
deaghaidh  gach  tràth  bìdh  bha  e  an 
duil  nach  b'  ion  da  bhi  strith  ris  an 
t-saoghal ;  air  chor  's  gu  'n  robh  na 
sgilKunean  Sasunnach  gu  riaghailt- 
each  a'  dol  's  a'  cheathra'-bhodach 
agus  's  a'  phiob.  Na  'n  tuiteadh  do 
na  timeannan  a  bhi  na  b'  fliearr  air 
uair,  bu  tricid  Donull  an  tigh-an- 
ribidh  's  cha  bu  ghoinnid  a  spliucan 
e.  Ach  an  uair  a  cliuireadh  e  a 
làmh  'n  a  phòca  's  a  gheobhadh  e 
a'  chorra-pheighinn  ri  falach-fead 
innte,  dh'  fheumadh  e  àill  air  n-càill 
an  stuaim  a  chleachdadh.  Mar  so 
bha  beairtean  'g  an  cur  ah  gniomh 
bho  sheachdain  gu  seachdain  's  bho 
mhios  gu  mios — Donull  ''s  an  '  rud 
beag '  's  a'  phiob  cho  muirneach  mu 
'cheile  's  a  dh'  fhaodadh  iad,  agus 
an  lorg  sin,  a'  mhuirichinn  'g  an 
cuaradh  fo  eire  na  h-aimbeirt. 

Bha  Maireag  a'  dol  an  laigead  's 
an  laigead.  Cha  b'  urrainn  d'  i  fios 
ciod  è  de  'n  bhuntàta-gun-dad  a 
ghabhail,  agus  na  ghabhadh  i  dh'  e 
is  ann  a  bhiodh  e  tighinn  'n  a  h- 
aghaidh.  Is  gann  a  bha  i  ag  iche 
na  bha  cumail  na  beatha  innte. 

"  Mo  ghaol  beag  i,"  os  a  màthair 
madaiun  a  bha  'sin,  "  cha  bhi  i  beo 


10 


AN    GAIDHEAL.        Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamliraidh,  1876. 


maoirneinean  boga  buntàta  sin  a' 
toirt  a'  chridhe  aiste.  Ochoin  mise, 
nach  anil  agam  a  blia  beagan  de  na 
til'  aig  na  h-uaislean  thair  a'  choir  's 
ag  cur  an  domail." 

"  Tha  mollaclid  a'  ruith  na  boclid- 
ainn  co-dhiù,"  osa  Dònull  le  gribheig 
iiacli  bu  chleachdadli  leis,  's  e  seallt- 
ainn  air  Màireig  ag  cur  bhuaipe  a' 
bhidh,  's  a  tuar  ag  innse  tuilleadh 
s'  a  b'  urrainn  d'i  a  cliur  an  ceUl. 
"  Mollaclid  alee "  os  esan  a  ritliist, 
"  mo  phàisdein  beadrach  a'  dol  bcàs 
leis  an  dubheireachd  's  gacli  ni  gu'n 
ailleas  aig  clann  nan  uaislean." 

Einn  DònulU  blio  cliian  inntinn 
leagte  ris  a'  ghriasachd,  's  leis  an 
aon  shurdan  a  bin  aige  leis  a'  mliin- 
idli  's  leis  an  èill  blio  mlioch  gu 
dubh,  clia  robh  gnothuch  righ  no 
riglieaclid  ag  cur  ioniagain  air,  air 
clior  's  gu  'n  robh  socair-inntinn 
nacli  bu  bheag  aige.  Bha  e  Ian 
tlioilichte  leis  a'  bhuntàta-gun-dad, 
no  le  salunn  na  'm  biodh  e  ann, 
agus  cha  dianadh  e  tàrmas  air  bog 
no  cruaidli  a  cliuirteadh  'n  a 
tliairgse.  Acli  bu  doclia  leis  Màir- 
eag  na  ni  fo  'n  glirein,  agus  a  bhi  'g 
a  faicinn  ag  cur  cuil  ris  an  rud  a  b' 
annasaicli  a  b'  urrainn  da  cbur  'n  a 
tairgse,  thug  e  sniomli  air  a  chridhe, 
's  cha  bu  lugha  leis  na  tòiseachadh 
air  monmhur  an  aghaidh  a  chrann- 
chuir.  Ach  's  an  am  cha  robh  e 
faicinn  gu'n  robh  dòigli  aige  air  a' 
chuis  a  leasachadh. 

"  Nach  urrainn  dut  dad  idir  is 
f  hearr  na  so  f  haotainn  do  Mhaireigl" 
OS  esan  ri  mlinaoi,  's  e  ag  cur 
bhuaithe  a  mhiodair  mu'n  robh  e 
leth-bhuidheach. 

"  Cha'n  eil  dòigh  air "  os  ise  le 
h-osna.  "  Air  chp  saor  's  g'an 
ceannaich  mi,  's  air  clio  caomhant- 
ach,  grunndail,  's  g'am  beil  mi,  is 
gann  is  urrainn  domh  an  eiginn 
bhochd  so  fhein  a  chur  cruinn." 

Dh'  eirich  Dònull  bho  'n  bhòrd  's 


thug  e  ceann  eile  an  tighe  air  's 
chaidh  e  air  seilbh  na  h-oibre. 
Thuit  a  chridhe  gu  tur.  Cha  do 
chuir  e  a'  phiob  air  ghleus  ann, 
theirig  an  tombaca  dha  an  raoir, 
mar  gu'm  b'eadli.  Blia  aon  pheigli- 
inn  de  dh-airgiod-odhar  aige,  agus 
chuir  e  roimhe,  cho  luath  's  a 
chàireadh  e  na  brògan,  tombaca 
cheannach  's  an  tigh-òsda,  air  a  dhol 
seachad  a'  dol  dachaidh  leotha.  Ach 
cha  do  chuir  e  ach  greim  no  djià 
tra  a  dh'  fhairich  e  Màireag  ag 
glaodhaich  air.  Dh'  eirich  e  g'  a 
h-iarraidh  agus  thog  e  gu  muirneach 
air  a  ghualainn  i — b'i  sin  an  ulaidii 
bu  luachmhaire  a  bli'  aige  ris  an 
t-saoghal,  agus  bu  glioirt  a  chridhe 
ag  cuimhneachagh  nach  b'  f  hada  gus 
am  biodh  "  leac  us  uir  eatarra." 
Chuir  6  'n  a  sineadh  's  an  leabaidh 
làmli  ris  i  agus  thòisich  e  leis  a' 
mhinidh.  Chuir  uireas  us  easlainte 
na  caileige  luasgan  fo  shocair-inn- 
tinn  Dhonuill.  Thoisich  a  smaoint- 
ean  car  tiota  air  co-ghleachd  amliuil 
's  ian  an  sàs  fo  cheis  a'  sgiathais  ri 
aisnean  a'  chlèibh  an  ti  air  teicheadh, 
iadsan  'n  a  chliabh-san  a'  bualadh  ri 
daor-aisnean  na  h-èiginn. 

Mu  dheireadh  chàirich  e  na  bròg- 
an,  agus  le  iotadh  na  pioba  ghreas  e 
air  dhachaidh  leotha.  Air  an  rathad 
faicear  butli-mhilseinean,  agus 
cuimhnichear  air  Màireig. 

"Nach  truagh  nach  b'  urrainn 
duinn  ruighinn  air  roinn  de  so  dh'i," 
OS  esan  ris  fhein,  "  bu  bhiadli  's  bu 
leigheas  e.  Ach,  o,  nach  gòrach  mo 
cheann — tha  sinn  bochd!  bochd! 
Cha  ruig  clann  na  dubh-bhochduinri 
a  leas  duil  a  bhi  aca  ri  ailleas  no  annas 
de  'n  t-seorsa  so,  cha  ruig,  cha  ruig." 

Chum  e  air  's  ràinig  e  an  tigh- 
osda  a  cheannach  an  tombaca. 
Sheas  e  aig  an  dorus,  mar  a  chuir  e 
a  làmh  'n  a  phoca  a  ruracli  na  peigh- 
inn  mu  dheireadh,  thàinig  fotha — a 
chiad  uair  bho'n  a  rugadh  e,  srian  a 
chur  ri  an-mhiann. 


Treas  5Uos  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1S76.        AX    GAIDHEAL. 


11 


Os  esan  ris  f hein  "  Gheobhadli  so 
milsein  do  Mhàireig,  ach  cbuireadli 
sin  gun  tombaca  mi  an  diugli  's  am 
màireacli,  cha'n  fhaigh  mi  Pcàidlieadh 
nam  bròg  so  gu  oidhche  Disathurna 
an  uair  a  gbeobli  Eoblian  Aongbais 
a  thiiarasdal." 

Tbug  e  greis  's  an  iolraig  mar  sin 
air  an  dalla  làimh  e  faicinn  iombaigh 
Mcàireig  us  tuar  a'  bliàis  oirre,  's  air 
an  làimh  eile  'g  a  fhaicinn  fheiu  gu 
tromsanach,  domh,  gun  totb  pioba 
fad  da  latha.  Shaoileadh  duine  na 
'mbiodh  fior-ghaol  aige  air  a  leanabh, 
nacli  leigeadli  a  chridhe  leis  a  bin 
urad  's  leth  tiota  an  iom-chomhairle 
mu'n  cbuis.  Shaoileadh  gun  teagarah, 
agus  bha  sin  aige  oirre  ;  ach,  "  an 
car  a  bhios  's  an  t-seana-mhaide,  is 
duilich  a  thoirt  as."  Duine  a  ni 
droch-cleachdadh  sa  bith  dha  fhein, 
mar  a  rinn  Dònull,  cha  mhor  nach 
'eil  e  oho  duilich  dha  sheachnadh  no 
a  leigeadh  dh'e  ri  ball  sa  bith  dh'  a 
choluinn ;  oir  tha  e  ionann's  a' 
talmhannachadh  'n  a  nàdur. 

Bha  a'  sgillinn  aige  eadar  a  dha 
mhiar  's  thug  e  ceum  thun  an  tigh- 
òsda  ;  ach  thainig  iomhaigh  Màireige 
cho  riochdail  eadar  e  's  an  dorus 
agus  gu'n  do  stad  e.  Ged  nach  robh 
aige  ach  an  aon  pheighinn  ri  chost, 
dh'èirich  spairn  nach  bu  bheag  'n  a 
iuntinn.  Gaol  ]\làireig  air  an  dalla 
làimh  agus  an  droch-cleachdadh  air  an 
làimh  eile  'g  a  theumadh  ionann's 
nach  gabhadh  e  diult. 

B'  i  pheighinn  mu  dheireadh  a  bh' 
aig  Dònull  eadar  a  mheòir.  Na  'm 
biodh  dithis  aige  cha  bhiodh  an 
diachainn  cho  ro  chruaidh,  cheann- 
aicheadh  e  milsein  leis  an  dalla  tè, 
agus  tombaca  leis  an  tè  eile.  Ach 
cha  robh ;  agus  cha  robh  aige  air, 
ach  e  fhein  a  bhi  gun  tombaca,  no 
Màireig  a  bhi  gun  mhilsein.  Gun 
a'  chuis  a  shocruchadh  's  an  am  sin, 
thuirt  e  ris  fhein,  "  Chi  mi  tra  a 
thilleas  mi  air  m'  ais,"  agus  togar  air 
dhachaidh  leis  na  brò2;an. 


COMHRADH 

EADAR  MUEACHADH  BAN  AGUS 
COINNEACH  CIOBAIR. 

M.  — "  C'àit  am  bheil  thu,  a 
Bhean-an-tighe,  cait  am  bheil  thu." 
Tiuguinn  gu  h-ealamh,  oir  tha  litir 
agam  an  so,  o  d'  charaid  caomh 
Coinneach  Ciobair.  Thig-sa  gu  grad 
gus  an  cluinn  thu  ciod  a  deir  do 
ghoistidh.  So  agad  mata,  a  bhriath- 
rar  càirdeil. — 

An  Goirtean-Fraoich,  an  161a 
deug  de  cheud  mhios  a  gheamhraidh, 
1875. 

A  Mhurachaidh  ionmhuinn, 

Choisinn  Sir  Seumas  an  la^;h  ann 
an  Ardchuirt  r.a  rioghachd,  far  an 
d'  thug  na  ]Morairean  Mòr  a  dh'aon 
inntinn,  binn  a  maca  an  aghaidh  an 
t-Sasunnaich,  agus  anns  gach  puing 
air  taobh  Shir  Seumas.  Eàinig  an 
naigheachd  thaitneach  sinn  air  feas- 
gair  an  de,  agus  ochan  !  cha  chluinn- 
ear  an  so  ach  eigheach  agus  aoibhneas 
air  gach  cnoc.  Tha'n  caisteal  a' 
fuaim  le  ceòl  agus  aighear,  agus 
shaoileadh  neach  gu'm  bheil  eadhon 
na  h-ainmhidhean  fein  air  na  raoin- 
tibh  ri  luath-ghair.  Tha  na  beannta 
mu'n  cuairt  a'  lasadh  air  an  oidhche 
le  teineachaibh-aoibhneis,  agus  tha 
na  cnuic  air  gach  taobh  a'  boisgeadh 
soluis  anns  an  dorchadas.  Thao- 
ghail  Sir  Seumas  air  a  chosaibh  fein 
's  a'  Ghoirtean-Fhraoich  o  cheann 
tiota  beag,  agus  thubhairt  e,  "A 
Choinnich,  tha'mhiann  ormsa  an  ath- 
sheachdain  a  chur  seachad  le  bhi 
'deanamh  siigraidh  agus  gàirdeachais 
aig  a'  chaisteal,  agus  chum  na  criche 
sin,  tha  mi  'cur  romham  gach  mac 
màthar  agus  nighean  athar  air  an 
oighreachd  a  chruinneachadh  cuid- 
eachd  mar  aon  teaghlach  mòr,  agus 
cuirmean  freagarrach  a  dheanamh 
air  an  son.  Feuch  gu'n  cuir  thu 
fios  air  do  chcàirdibh  agus  do  luclid- 
dàimh  as  a'ach  àite  chum  na  mor- 


12 


AN    GAIDHEAL.         Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamliraidh,  1S7C. 


chuideaclid  a  mheudachaclh,  agus  na 
dean  dearmad."  Uime  sin,  a  Mhur- 
achaidh,  tha  mi  'cur  na  litreach  so 
ad  ionnsuidh  le  Alasdair  Mac  Aon- 
gliais  Mhic  Uilleim,  agus  feuch  gu'n 
tig  thu  fein  agiis  mo  bhan-ghoistidh, 
agns  a'  mlieud  dhe  'n  òigridh  's  is 
urrainn  am  baile  fhcàgail,  agus  sin  le 
run  fantuinn  re  na  li-ath-slieachdain, 
clium  co'-roinn  a  ghabhail  anns  gach 
siigradh  a  bhios  anns  na  criochaibh 
so.  Cha  gbabh  mi  diùltadh  uait, 
uime  sin,  dean  deas,  oir  cha  bheag 
an  solas  a  nithear  le  Seònaid  agus 
leamsa,  an  uair  a  cliith  sinn  ar  cair- 
dean  aon  uair  eile  's  a'  Glioirtean- 
Fhraoich.  Le  mile  beannachd,  is 
mi  do  charaid  dileas. 

COINNEACH   ClOEAIR. 

"  Ciod  i  do  bharail  mu'n  litir  sin, 
a  Bliean-an-tighe  Ì  Cha'n  'eil  maith 
Coinneach  Ciobair  a  dhiùltadh,  oir 
tha  e  'g  ràdh  nach  gabh  e  diiiltadh, 
uime  sin,  cuiridh  mi  fios,  le  focal- 
beòil  d'a  ionnsuidh  le  Alasdair  Mac 
Aonghais  Mhic  Uileim,  gu'n  ruig 
sinn  e  co  tràtli  's  a  bhios  'nar  comas 
air  Diluain." 

"  Gle  mhaith,  a  Mhurachaidh, 
deir  Bean-an-tighe,ach  ciamar  fo'n  t- 
saoghal  a  nithear  deisealachd  air 
son  sin  ann  an  tri  làithibh  goirid  Ì 
Is  fhurasda  duit-sa,  agus  do.d'  leithid 
sud  agus  so  a  dheanamh,  agus  a 
shuidheachadh,  oir  tha  gach  ni  air  a 
dheasachadh  chum  do  làimh ;  ach 
cha'n  ionann  sin  's  mise,  agus  na 
nigheannan,  oir  tha  fichead  ni  a 
dhith  oirnne.  Cha'n  'eil  brògan  aig 
Seònaid  agus  Isiobail,  agus  cha'n  'eil 
na  gùintean  agus  na  bonaitean  aca 
's  an  fhasain.  Air  an  làimh  eile, 
cha'n  'eil  deiseachan  freagarrach  aca 
chum  iad  fein  a  nochdadh  ann  an 
leithid  sin  do  chuideaclid,  agus  cha'n 
'eil  ùiue  ann  chum  an  deanamh 
suas." 

M. — "  Eisd  rium,  a  Bhean  mo 
ghràidh,  tha  thusa  ceart  direach  air 


do  thoirt  gu  taobh  le  cleachdan- 
naibh  amaideach  an  t-saoghail,  cos- 
mhuil  ris  na  miltibh  mu'n  cuart 
duit.  Tha  thu  'g  iarraidh  a  bid  an 
tòir  air  an  fhasan,  uair  nacli  comus 
duit  idir  ruigheachd,  agus  bu  mhiann 
leat  do  chuid  nighean  a  bhi  cosmhuil 
ris  na  dealana-dè,  air  an  càireamh 
suas  ann  an  sgeudachadh  de  gach 
dreach  agus  cumadh  gogaideach  fo'n 
ghrein.  Cha  fhreagair  sin  idir  do 
nigheannaibh  Mhurachaidh  Bhàin, 
agus  cha'  n  fheudar  a  cheadachadh. 
Nach  leoir  giulan  amaideach  na 
h-òigridh  aig  Fear  Bhaile-na-Cille, 
chum  sùilean  gach  tuathanaich  f  hos- 
gladh  gu  bhi  stuama,  measarra,  agus 
glicl  Tha  cleachdanna  mòran  slu- 
aigh  anns  an  am  a  ta  làthair,  a 
thaobh  sgeudachaidh  agus  greadh- 
nachais  o'n  leth  a  muigh,  ni's  leoir 
chum  cianalas  a  dhùsgadh  ann  an 
cridhe  duine  chiallaich  sam  bith. 
Air  an  la  an  diiigh,  cha'n  fhcàgar 
caileag  òg  anns  a'  chumachd  a 
dheònaich  an  Cruithear  Beannaichte 
air  a  son,  ach  o  bhàrr  gu  bonn,  tha 
i  air  a  sniomh,  agus  air  a  teannach- 
adh  le  h-uchd-èididh  chruaidh  o'n 
leth  a  stigh,  agus  o'n  leth  a  muigh, 
tha  i  air  a  gramachadh,  air  a  pacadh, 
agus  air  a  ceangladh  suas  le  piollag- 
aibh  agus  cluasagaibh-gaoisde,  leis 
an  nociidar  i  mar  dhealbh  an  t  sean- 
gain.  Agus  cha'n  e  so  a  mhàin,  ach 
tha  a  folt,  air  a  chasadh  agus  air  a 
thoinneamh  suas  le  bian  ròineach 
a  bhuic,  no  le  craaidh-bhadanaibh 
gaoisid,  gus  am  faicear  e  mar  thuraid 
air  a  ceann,  agus  gu-h-àrd  air  mull- 
ach  nan  uile  tha  carraigeag  bheag 
bhonaid  air  a  ceangladh  le  geill- 
chriosaibh  a  ta  foluichte  'san  f  holt ! 
Ochan  !  cha  b'i  an  ribhinn  ghlan  òg, 
mu'n  do  sheinn  am  bard  an  uair  a 
thubhairt  e  : — 

"  Tha  do  leadan  'na  dhualaibh, 
Tolach  màillean  do  chluasaibh, 
'S  a'  tearnadh  mu  d'  ghuaillibh. 
Mar  thuaimean  de  'n  or. 


Tieas  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidli,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


13 


'S  òìgh  uasal  air  chinnte, 

An  ribhinn  ghlàn  òg; 

Chan  m-rainn  domh  luaidh  clhuibh, 

Gach  buaidh  th'air  au  òigh." 

Tha  i  so  ann  am  maise  agiis  an 
dreach,  a  reir  mar  a  dhealbhadli  i, 
agus  cha'n  'eil  i  air  a  truailleadh  'n 
a  pearsadli  le  laimh  sgaitich  an 
fhasain.  Agus  cha'n  e  mbain,  mar 
a  tlmbhairt  mi,  gu'm  bheil  a'  chol- 
uinn  agus  an  ceann  air  an  cur  as  a' 
chumadli  nàdurra,  ach  mar  an  ceud- 
na  na  casan.  Tha  iad  sin  air  an 
sniomhadh  a  stigh  ann  am  brògaibh 
biorach,  aimhleathan,  caol,  air  am 
bheil  sailtean  corrach,  àrda,  nach 
'eil  CO  mòr  ann  am  meud  ri  bonn 
sgillinne.  Air  domh  a  bhi  'dol 
seachad  an  la  roimh  air  Baile-na- 
Cille,  rug  Bran  air  seann  bhroig,  a 
bha  'n  a  luidh  ri  taobh  gàraidh, 
agus,  gun  teagamh,  bha  iongantas 
air  a'  chù  fein  an  uair  a  chunnaic  e 
an  t-sàil  a  bha  mar  chrioman  air  a 
ghearradh  de  dhos  na  piob-mùire, 
agus  aira  shuidheachadhaigdeireadh 
na  bròige.  Chuir  an  sealladh  mulad 
orm,  a'  cuimhneachadh  air  amaid- 
eachd  nan  nighean  aig  Fear  Bhaile-na 
cille,  oir  gun  teagamh  bu  bhròg  le  te 
dhiubli  a  thogadh  o'n  lar  leis  a'  chù. 
Cha'n  abrainn  na  h-uiread  mu'n 
chùis  so  na'ni  b'  iad  na  fior  bhantigh- 
earnan  a  mhàin  a  bhiodh  a'  gnàth- 
achadh  nan  cleachdannanmi-chiatach 
so  ;  ach  cha'n  iad,  oir  tha  iad  sin 
ni's  stòldta  gu  mòr  'n  an  eididh 
na  tha  na  ban-sheirbhisich  aca. 
Chithear  na  searbhantan,  caileagan 
gòrach,  aig  nach  'eil  feudaidh  e  bhi 
leiue  m'an  drùim,  a'  dol  a  mach  air 
an  t-Sàbaid  a'  marcachd  air  a 
chnàimh  a's  àirde  de'n  fhasan. 
Ach  is  i  a'  cheist,  c'àit  no  ciamar  a 
ta  iad  'g  a  f  haotuinn  I  Cha'n  f  had 
a  theid  an  tuarasdal  aca  chum  an 
riomhachas  sin  a  cheannachadh,  agus 
an  deigh  sin  tha  iad  'g  a  f  haotuinn. 
Ach  leis  na  nithibh  so  uiie  a  ta  fad 
OS  ceann  an  staid,  tha  iad  co  àrdan- 


ach,  uaibhreach,  eas-tmihal,  'us  nach 
'eil  a  chridhe  aig  na  ban-mhaigh- 
stirean  aca  iarraidh  orra  ni  sam  bith 
a  dheanamh  ach  mar  a  thogaireas 
iad  fein.  Is  iad  fein  na  ban- 
mhaighstirean  a  nis,  agus  dh'  fhalbli 
an  daimhealas,  agus  an  dillseachd  a 
bha  roimh  so  a'  co-sheasamh  eadar 
na  maighstirean  agus  an  cuid  sheii'- 
bhiseach.  Uime  sin,  a  bhean  mo 
ruin,  èisd  rium,  agus  cuimhnich, 
fhad  's  a  bhios  INIurachadh  Ban  beo 
air  ceann  a'  theaghlaich  fein,  cha 
cheadaich  e  d'a  chuid-nighean  iad 
fein  a  nochdadh  ach  gu  stòlda, 
stuama  'n  an  eididh,  agus  'nan 
giùlan  aig  gach  am,  agus  ann&  gach 
comunn.  Air  an  aobhar  sin, 
deanamaid  uile  deas  gu  dol  leis  a' 
chàrn  agus  an  gearran  dubh,  air 
maduinn  Diluain,  le  beannachd  'na 
thoiseach,  dh'  ionnsuidh  a'  Ghoirteau- 
Fhraoich,  a  dh'  fhaicinn  Choinnich 
agus  a'  theaghlaich. 

Mar  so  thàinig  cìiisean  gu  crich ; 
aig  cromadh  an  anmoich  air  an 
la  sin,  ràinig  Murachadh  Ban  agus 
a  bhean,  maille  ri  dithis  nighean, 
agus  dithis  mhac,  an  Goirtean 
Fraoich,  agus  air  doibh  a  dhol  a 
steach  rinneadh  mòr-ghàirdeachas 
ri'm  faicinn. 

M. — "Fair  do  làmh,  a  Sheonaid, 
fair  do  dha  laimh,  agus  innis  domh,  a 
Bhan-ghoistidh,  ciamar  tha  Coin- 
neach  agus  na  paisdean  air  fad  ì " 
Fhreagair  Seonaid  gu'n  robh  iad  gu 
lèir  'nan  slàinte,  ach  gu'n  tigeadh  e 
air  ball. 

C. — "Fhir-mo  chridhe,  a  ghràidh 
nam  fear,  cha'n  'eil  e  'n  am  chomas 
solas  mo  chridhe  a  chur  an  ceill,  an 
uair  tha  mi  'faicinn  teaghlach  eireach- 
dail  mo  charaid  ionmhuinn  fo  m' 
chleith  an  nochd.  Greas  ort,  a 
Sheonaid,  agus  faigh  ni  eigin  a  thogas 
an  cridhe  au  deigh  an  turais  fhada. 
Tha  fuachd,  acras,  agus  sgios  orra 
gu  leir,  ach  taing  do'n  Fhreasdal, 
sheibhear  leigheas  air  ball  air  son 


14 


AN    GAIDHEAL.        Xreas 


a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876. 


nan  galar  sin.  Cuir  car  dhiot,  a 
bhean,  agus  feuch  ciocl  a's  fearr  a 
th'agad." 

M. — "Dean  foighidinn,  a  Choin- 
nich,  dean  foighidinn,  dh'  fliuirich 
do  mhàthair  rid'  blireith,  agus  cha'n 
ibulnghacabhag, — tha  Seònaid  tràth 
ni's  leòir,  cia  dìiiu  cha'n  'eil  aobhar 
a  bhi  'tilgeadh  an  tighe  bun  os  ceann. 
Ach  ciod  na  cùisean  mòr  a  ta  'dol 
air  an  aghaidh  aig  a'  Chaisteal  an 
dingh?  Chunnaic  mi  rèultan  a' 
sguabadh  nan  speur,  agus  a'  bois- 
geadh  mar  dhealanaich  a  thall  'sa 
bhos,  an  uair  a  bha  mi  'dluthachadh 
ris  a'  Ghoirtean-Fhraoicli  a  chi- 
anamh,  agus  chuala  mi  ceòl,  èigh- 
each,  agus  luath-ghair  air  na  raoin- 
tibh." 

C. — '•'  Cha'n  'eil  teagarah  agam, 
oir  bu  mliòr  an  la  a  bh'  ami  an 
diugh.  Riiin  corr  is  tri  cheud  suidh 
sios  aig  an  dinneir  's  an  talla  nihòr, 
agus  Sir  tSeumas  fein  air  an  ceann  ; 
agus  b'i  sin  an  dinneir  !  Cha'n  f  hac 
mise  a  leithid  riamh,  agus  cha'n 
f  haic.     Mar  a  thubhairt  am  filidh  : — 

'N  talla  'n  fhir  flidU, 
Bha  piob  is  dan  ; 
Lasair  de'n  ch^ir, 
Sithionn  beinne, 
'S  deochan  an  cein, 
O  thir  ro  bhlkth, 
'N  kros  an  tsaoidh, 
Cha  robh  gainne. 

M. — "  Ach  ciod  a  bha  iad'  dean- 
amh  re  an  latha  Ì  " 

C. — "  Ciod  nach  robh  iad  a'  dean- 
amh?  A'  ruith  air  na  cnocaibh;  a' 
leumadh,  a'  tilgeadh  na  cloich-neart, 
a'  cur  a'  chabair,  agus  ag  iomairt 
gach  cleas  eile.  Bha  òighean  agus 
òganaich,  mnathan  agus  clann,  aith- 
richean  agus  mathairichean,  gach 
inbh  agus  aois  a'  ruith  air  feadh  a' 
chèile,  agus  Sir  Sèumas,  le  'bhreacan 
an  fhèile,  'sa  bhonaid  bhinnich, 
'gam  brosnachadh  chum  iad  fein  a 
dheanamh  toilichte.  Eè  an  latha 
bha  oach  goireas  air  a  sgaoileadh  a 


macli  ann  an  clàraibh  air  an  raon, 
aran  de  gach  gne, — caise, — deochan 
mills, — gach  seòrsa  fiona, — tog- 
saidean  leanna, — buidealan  de  'n 
uisge  bheatha,— agus  lionmhorachd 
nithe  air  nach  do  chuir  mi  sùil  riamh, 
— agus  an  cleigh  sin,  cha'n  aithnichte 
air  neach  gu'n  d'  òl  e  boinne.  An 
uair  a  thuit  an  oidhche  thòisich  iad 
iad  air  oibrichean-teine  a  bha  da 
rireadh  ro  mhiorbhuileach,  a  rinn- 
eadh  le  cuideachd  a  thainig  a  baile 
Ghlaschu  ;  ach,  a  ghràidh  mo 
chridhe,  chith  thu  fein  na  nithe  sin 
uile  am  maireach,  agus  uile  laithean 
na  seachdain.  Cosdaidh  iad  na 
miltean  do  Shir  Seumas,  ach  is 
comadh  leis  sin,  air  da  buaidh  a 
thoirt  air  an  t-Sasunnach,  olc  air 
mhaith  leis  e." 

M. — "  Is  cinnteach  mi  gu'm  bheil 
sgios  ort,  a  Choinnich,  an  deigli  co'- 
roinn  a  bhi  agad  dheth  na  nithe  sin 
uile,  agus  cha'n  e  sin  a  nihain,  ach 
bha  thu  gun  teagamh  'nam  measg- 
san  a  bha  'riaghladh  nan  ciiise,  agus 
'gan  cur  ann  an  òrdngh." 

C. — "  Labhair  Sir  Seumas  ri  corr 
is  fichead  'nar  measg,  chum  sùil  a 
bhi  againn  gu'm  biodh  gach  ni  ceart, 
agus  gu'm  biodh  pailteas  aig  na  h- 
uile,  gun  dearmad  air  an  aon  as 
lugha.  Ach  rinn  an  t-òganach  so, 
am  ballach  ban  so,  cuideachadh  mòr, 
leinn.  Is  Graundach  a  Srathspe  e, 
— caraide  dhomhsa,  a  thainig  gun 
f  hios  gun  aire  a  shealltuinn  oirune 
an  de,  agus  cha'n  fhag  e  sinn  re  na 
seachdain.  Ma  tha  deigh  agad,  a 
Mhurachaidh,  air  oran  Gaidhealach, 
tha  deagh  chàil  aige,  agus  mar  an 
cèudna,  deagh  aireamh  de  dh'  òr- 
anaibh  ro  thaitneach." 

M. — "Bhiodh  oran  laghach  gle 
thaitneach  agus  gun  dolaidh  sam 
bith,  ma's  i  toil  an  òganaich  aon  a 
shèinn  duinn." 

C. — "  Cuir  ruit,  a  Sheuraais,  agus 
thoir  duinn, — 
'  Cumhadh  an  òigfhir  air  son  a'  leannaia'. 


Treas  ilios  a' Gheamhraidh,  1S7G.        AN    GAIDHEAL. 


15 


SGIALACHD. 

Bha  ròcas  ann  roimlie  so  a  bha 
air  tòir  cobhartaicli  dha  fhein,  agus 
air  a  thurus  goidear  mulchag-cliàise 
a  uinneig  tigh-àiridh  ;  agus  càite  an 
deach  e  'g  a  li-iche  ach  do  bharr 
craoibhe.  Einn  e  gurach  air  spic  ; 
agus  siiil  g'  an  d'  thug  e,  ciod .  a 
chunnaic  e  shios  fotha  ach  gugarlach 
mor  losgainn  'g  a  bhlianadh  fhein 
an  hib.  Bha  siiilean  an  losgainn  'n 
am  faoban  eitidh  a'  sginneadh  romh 
'chlaigeann — bha  e  'n  a  sheaUadh, 
air  leis,  cho  ro  ait 's  gu'n  do  chuir  e, 
ri  faiciun  an  spliutaire  shliomaich, 
thruaigh,  sphug  de  bhraoisg-ghàire 
air — an  seòrsa  spliug  sin  nach  tig 
ach  do  'n  ròcas  's  e  thoradh  a  ghean. 
Goirid  bho  'n  losgann  bha  soidear- 
hvch  de  dhamh  coir,  sultmhar,  ag 
ionaltradh  ;  baidnein  nan  ag  chiain- 
eis  mu  'n  àilein,  agus  greis  mu  seach 
aca  air  snodadh  bhileagan  feòir  agus 
bhhiithean. 

Co  a  bhuail  a  stigh  do  cheann  shios 
na  cuithe  ach  gu  'm  b'  e  madadh- 
ahuidli.  Sgeadaich  e  e  fhein  cho 
seòlta  an  deise  de  chuhiidh-chaorach, 
's  nach  d'  aithnich  na  h-uain  cò  a 
bh'  aca ;  cha'n  e  mhàin  sin,  ach  fear 
dhiubh  a  bha  an  uilebheist  tiotan 
beag  roimhe  sin  an  deaghiiidh  a 
mhàthair  iche  agus  a  craiceann  a 
shuaineadh  mu  a  ghuaihiean,  ruith 
e  gu  soganacli,  neochiontach,  'n  a 
choinnimh  an  dùil  gn  'm  b'è  a 
mhàtliair. 

"  Hi-hì !  "  OS  an  sionnach  's  e  ag 
ialadh  timchioU  a'  ghàraidh  an  ionad 
a  bha  fo  sgail  na  craoibhe  air  an 
robh  an  ròcas  'n  a  ghurach  ag  gabhail 
beaclid  air  an  losgann  ag  coimhead 
air  an  damli  le  da  spliachd-shùil  a 
bha  an  impis  sgàineadh  le  farmad  's 
gu  bhi  tachdteleròcuil  sglamhrainn. 
"  Nach  baoth  na  h-uain  fhein.  Seall 
thus'  air  a'  bhalcaire  fhaoin,  mhèal- 
anach  ud  nach  eil  ag  aithneachadh 
a'   mhadaidh-allaidh   fo    chraiceann 


na  caora  !  An  seann  chealgaire  sin 
a  dh'  ich  màthair  ciorraidh  an  de  's 
a  dh'  icheas  e  fhein  an  nochd — hi- 
hi  !  " 

Bha  comhachag  am  falach  'n  a 
suain  an  cos  an  stoc  craoibhe,  agus 
's  na  cuir  a  bh'  ann  dùisgear.  "  Pii- 
u-hù,  fhir  a  th'  ann,  ged  nach  eil 
mi  g'  ad  lèirsinn  tha  mi  'g  ad  fhair- 
eachdainn !  Ma  's  toigh  le  cuid 
de  dh-fheadhainn  na  h-uain,  tha 
feadhainn  ann  air  nach  beag  na 
geòidh,"  OS  a'  chomhachag. 

"Agus,  a  ghràidh  nam  ban,  is  toigh 
leatsa  an  luch,"  os  an  sionnach. 

"  Bidh  muinntir  China  'g  an  iche, 
tha  iad  ag  ràdh,"  os  a'  chomhachag, 
"  agus  leugh  mi  an  leabhar  air  choir- 
eigiun  gu'm  beil  iad  fuathasach 
deigheil  air  feòil  chon,"  os  an  t-seana 
bhean  choir  a  rithist. 

"  0,  tra  nach  do  sgrios  iad  gach 
mac  madaidh  dhiubh  bharr  aghaidh 
an  talmhainn  ! "  os  an  sionnach. 

"  Agus  leugh  mi  cuideachd  an  ait 
eiginn,  gu  'm  bi  na  Frangaich  ag 
iche  nan  losgann,  os  a'  chomhachag. 
"  Ambeilthu  'sid,  a ghoistidh  Ì.  Nach 
ann  againn  a  bha  cho-sheirm  bhinn 
cheileiridh  an  raoir !" 

"  ]\fa  bhios  na  Frangaich  ag  iche 
mo  chineil-sa,  bidh  na  Sasunnaich 
ag  iche  mairt  fheoil,"  os  an  losgann 
le  ròchd — "  bithidh  daimh  mliòra, 
mhosach,  dhreallach,  Ghallda." 

"  Pu-u-hu  !  "  OS  a'  chomhachag, 
"  air  learn  gu  'n  cuala  mi  sin,  gu 
dearbh,  agus  nach  beag  orra  bon- 
nach-an-t-soduil." 

I  "  Ach  CO  riamh  a  chuala  gu  'm 
biodh  iad  ag  iche  nan  comhachag, 
I  no  nan  sionnach,  a  bhean  choir  ?"  osa 
I  gille-nan-car.  "No  idir  gu  'n  suidh- 
i  eadh  iad  sios  a  chreim  ròcais,''  os  an 
'  t-uasal  a  rithist  's  e  ri  beic  do  'n  t- 
seann  ròcas  a  bha  'n  a  ghurach  's  a' 
chraoibh  's  an  càise  aige  'n  a  ghob. 
"  Is  triuir  sinne  nach  cuirear  am  poit 
a  leasachadh  ruidht  no  ròic  dhaoine 
— tha  sinn  os  cionn  sin." 


16 


AN    GAIDHEAL.        Treas  Mìos  a' Gheamhraidh,  isre 


"  Is  mise  ian  a'  ghliocais,"  os  a' 
cliomhachag,  "  bha  mi  fhein  's  an 
Seana-Gbàidheal  'n  ar  companaicli ; 
gheobliar  gu  trie  mo  dhealbh  air  a 
ghearradh  air  cnirn  's  air  tùir  na  h- 
Eiphid." 

"  Gu  dearbh  cbunnaic  mi  gu  trie 
e  air  a  ghearradh  air  càrd-dhorsan 
shaibhlean  air  a'  Ghalldachd,"  os  an 
sionnach  's  e  cur  braoisg  air  fhein. 
"  Tha  thu  'd  dheagh  bhan-sgoileir, 
a  bhan-ghoistidh.  Is  aithne  dhomhsa 
rud  no  dhà  mi  fhein,  ach  is  eudar 
dhomh  aideach  naeh  eil  mi  'm  sgoileir 
— is  gnothaichean  an  t-saoghail  is 
mo  tha  tighinn  fosnear  dhomh — is 
fear  mi  a  tha  tighinn  suas  air  mo 
luim  fhein — duine-uasal  bhàvr  na 
diithcha,  mar  gu'n  abradh  tu." 

"  Is  ann  a'  fochaid  air  a  sgoileir- 
eachd,"  os  a'  ehomhachag,  's  fàite- 
fanaid  air  a  h-aodann  àidh. 

"  Bidh  mise  ri  mòran  leughaidh 
a's  t-oidhche." 

"  Bithidh,  a  cheist,  an  uair  a  bhios 
mise  ri  sgoileireaclid  air  feadh  nan 
cearc  's  nan  coileach  air  an  spiris," 
OS  an  sionnach. 

"Ach  coma,  is  bochd  nach  'eil 
sgoil  agad  :  na  'm  bitheadh  bheir- 
eadh  an  deile  so  os  mo  chionn  beagan 
fiosrachaidh  dhut." 

"  De  tha  i  'g  ràdh,"  os  an  sionn- 
ach. 

"  Cha'n  urrainn  domh  leughadh 
ri  sohis  an  latha,"  os  a'  ehomhachag, 
's  chaidh  i  's  a'  mhianaiiaich  air  a 
h-ais  do  chòs  ua  craoibhe  a  chadal 
gu  feasgar. 

"  Phnnbas  buntàta  air  a  dubh- 
fhacail,  b'e  sin  è,"  os  an  sionnach  's 
e  sealltainn  suas  ris  an  ròcas. 

"  Saoil,  nach  ann  a  tha  phròis  'n 
ar  ban-choimhearsnaich  !  cha  b' 
ioghnadli  learn  ach  i — ag  gabhail 
oirre  gliocas  an  t-saoghail  a  bhi  aice 
— clod-cheann  dall  na  caillich-oidhche 
— gu  dearbh  na  'n  abradh  i  na 
ròcais." 

An  iiair  a  bha  an  conaltradh  so 


a'  dol  air  adhart  eadar  na  càirdean 
ud,  bha  an  damh  gu  soimeach  ag 
iche  an  fheòir  's  an  losgann  a'  dùr- 
bheachdachadh  air  le  leithid  de  dh- 
eud  ri  'mhiadachd  's  gu  'n  sptitadh 
e  nimh  air  na  'm  b'  urrainn  da,  agus 
gu'n  sgàineadh  e  le  neart  farmaid 
mur-bhith  nach  robh  sin  'n  a  chomas. 
Bha  'n  tuainein  gun  fhiamh,  gun 
amharus,  'n  a  shineadh  ri  taobh  a' 
mhadaidh-allaidh ;  a  thaobh  gu  'n 
do  ghabhesana  shath  dhe  mhàthair 
cha  do  ghabh  e  fhathast  gnothach 
ris.  Ach  coma,  bha  laiseadh  a' 
tighinn  'n  a  shùilean  's  toiseach 
aige  air  'fhiaclan  a  chasadh  agus 
dh'  eirich  gurt  us  greann  air  ri 
cuimhneachachadh  gu  'm  b'fhèairrde 
e  uain-fheoil  gu  'shuipeir. 

"  A  !  nach  mòr  na  sùilean  a  th' 
agaibh,"  os  an  t-uan  's  e  's  a'  mhèilich. 

*'  Is  ann  is  fhèarr  a  chi  mi  thu, 
eudail" 

"  A  !  nach  mòr  na  tuisg  a  th' 
agaibh." 

"  Is  ann  is  fhearr  a  dh'  ich ." 

Mu'n  robh  am  facal  uile  mach  as 
a  bhial,  thainig  an  ran  deistinneach 
ud  air  feadh  na  cuithe,  's  chlisg  gach 
beò  a  bh'  innte  leis  an  eagal.  Ciod 
a  bha  'n  so  ach  asal  a  f  huair  fàth 
letubaistairchoir-eiginn,airboiceann 
leòghainn  a  chur  uimpe,  agus  a' 
tighinn  'n  a  still  a  stigh  air  bealach 
a  bh'  air  a'  ghàradh,  us  daoine  's 
clann  ag  cur  rithe  le  maidean  's  le 
gunnaichean. 

An  uair  a  chuala  am  madadh- 
allaidh  an  raoic  a  rinn  an  asal  a  bha 
'm  boiceann  an  leòghainn,  shaoil 
leis  gur  h-e  righ  mòr  an  fhàsaich 
e  fhein  a  bh'  ann,  's  thug  e  as  cho 
luath  's  a  leigeadh  a  dhejse  leis.  An 
uair  a  chual  an  damh  an  fhuaim 
thug  e  le  clisgeadh  cuibhleadh  romh 
'n  lub,  agus  saltrar  air  an  losgann, 
a  bha  'g  a  dhubh-chàineadh,  's  cuirear 
a  chnaimhean  air  a  chèile.  An  uair 
a  chunnaic  an  ròcas  daoine  a'  tighinn 
le  gunnaichean,  ghrad-lcig   e   as   a' 


Treas  Mios  a'  Glieamhraidh,  1S76.        AX    GAIDHEAL. 


17 


mhulchag  's  gliabh  e  na  sgiathan. 
An  uair  a  cbunnaic  au  sionnach  a' 
mhulchag  a'  tuitean,  thug  e  g'  a  h- 
ionnsuidh — dh'  aithnich  e  raoic  na 
li-asaile — agus,  's  an  leum  a  thug  e 
tuitear  an  gòisinn,  agus  caillear  an 
t-earrball  ris.  B'  eudar  dha  riamh 
tuille  an  saoghal  imeachd  as  'aonais, 
ag  gabhail  air,  a's  droch-uair,  gu'n 
deachaidh  nah-earrbaill  as  an  f  hasan, 
agus  gur  h-cxnn  bu  mhisde  na  sionn- 
aich  orra  iad. 

Anns  na  cuir  a  bh'  aun  thàinig 
balchan  's  leadair  e  an  asal  le  bata 
gus  an  robh  i  's  an  raoicil  aige.  Cha 
b'  urrainn  am  madadh-allaidh  mòr- 
chabhag  a  dhianamh  leis  gu  'n  deach 
craiceann  na  caora  mu  chasan,  agus 
's  e  bh'  ann  gu'n  d'  thug  fearr  de 
na  daoine  an  aire  dha  's  gu'n  do 
thilg  e  e.  An  uair  a  dh'  f  hairich  a' 
chomhachag  a'  bhodhar-fhuaim  a 
bh'  ann  chaidh  i  'n  a  breitheall,  "s 
leis  a'  bhoile  leum  i  a  cos  na  craoibhe 
's  buailear  i  am  buachaille  au  cLàr 
an  aodainn,  agus  mharbh  e  i  le 
cuaille  bata.  Thàinig  'n  a  am  f  hein 
am  feoladair  agus  thug  e  leis  an 
damh  's  an  t-uan ;  agus  f  huair  an 
tuathanach  an  t-earraball  's  a' 
ghòisinn,  agus  chuir  e  am  bràigh  an 
teinteiu  e,  's  cha  robh  duine  thig- 
eadh  air  cheilidh  air,  nach  innseadh 
e  dha  am  miomhadh  a  f huair  e  ag 
cur  gu  bàs  an  t-sionuaich. 


MU  THUAEASDAL. 

Cha  'n  e  an  t-aon  thuarasdal  a 
gheobli  a  h-uile  seòrsa  cosnaiche. 
Gheobh  saor  tuilleadh  ri  sgalaig, 
agus  gheobh  òrcheard  tuilleadh  ri 
saor ;  agus  cha  'n  e  fear  a  bhi  'g 
oibreachadh  na's  goirte  na  fear  eile 
dhiubh  is  coireach  ris  a  chaochladh- 
thuarasdail. 

Tha  obair  na  h-iuntinn  air  an 
aon  chur-h-uige  ri  obair  a'  chuirp. 
Cleireach  a'  phinn,  air  oho  goirt  's 


g'an  oibrich  e,  cha  'n  eil  a  thuar- 
asdal clio  mor  ri  pàidheadh  fir-lagha 
no  lighiche. 

Uime  sin  tha  e  soilleir  nach  ann 
a  reir  goirtead  na  h-oibre,  ach  a  reir 
a  iuach,  a  tha  tuarasdal  a'  chosn- 
aiche, 

Ciamar  ma  ta  a  mheasar  Iuach 
oibre  Ì 

Tha  Iuach  oibre  mar  Iuach  badh- 
air  no  rud  sa  bith  eile ;  tha  e  mor 
no  beag  a  reir  a'  mhiagh  no  na 
foighneachd  a  bhios  oirre ;  is  e  sin 
a  reir  cho  duilich  's  a  tha  e  a  faot- 
ainn.  Na  'm  b'  e  's  gu  'm  faigh- 
teadh  punnd  òir  air  cho  beag  dragh 
us  costuis  ri  punnd  luaidhe  bhiodh 
an  luaidhe  cho  luachmhor  ris  an 
or. 

Ach  ciod  is  coireach  òrcheird  us 
lighichean  a  bhi  na  's  goiune  na 
saoir  us  sgalagan?  Am  briathran 
eile ;  carson  a  tha  e  na  's  dorra  de 
dhuine  faotainn  a  bhi  'n  a  òrcheard 
na  'n  a  sgalaig  Ì 

Is  e  bonn  a'  ghnothuich  gu  'm 
beil  an  t-ionnsachadh  a'  tighinn  gu 
tuilleadh  costuis.  Cha  'n  fhuilear 
do  dhuine  iiine  mhor  a  thoirt  ag 
ionnsachadh  a  bhi  'n  a  òrcheard  no 
'n  a  lighiche  mu  'm  bi  a'  chèaird  no 
an  ealaidh  aige  air  a  làimh.  Air 
chor  's  mur  bi  gu  leòir  aig  duine  gu 
cost  air  fhein  re  na  h-ùine  sin,  agus 
a  thuilleadh  air  sin  gu  'oid'-ionnsuich 
a  phàidheadh,  nach  dian  e  an  gnoth- 
uch.  Agus  cha  chostadh  duine  sa 
bith  air  a  mhac  ag  ionnsachadh  a 
bhi  'n  a  òrcheard  no  'n  a  lighiche, 
ged  a  bhiodh  e  'n  a  chomas,  mur 
biodh  dùil  aige,  an  lorg  sin,  gu'n 
coisneadh  e  tuilleadh  ri  saor — nach 
d'fhimir  idir  uibhir  a  chost  ris  ag 
ionnsachadh  na  saorsainneachd. 

'N  a  uaireannan  air  a  shon  sin 
meallar  air  duine  'n  a  dhiiil.  Mur 
bi  togail  aig  gille,  no  ma  bhios  e 
gun  dicheall,  gun  suim,  cha  'n  ionn- 
suich  e  cèaird  no  ealaidh,  co  dhiu 
ach  lethchearbach ;    air   dhòigh  's 


18 


AN"   GAIDHEAL.        Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876 


gur  call  gnn  bhuannaclid  na  cliostar 
ris  'g  a  li-ioniisachadh.  Ach  cha  'n 
.e  na  cliostar  ri  lighiclie  ionnsachadh 
is  coireacli  gu  'm  pàidhear  tuilleadh 
dha  air  son  dnine  chur  's  a'  glilun, 
na  a  pbàidliear  do  shaor  air  son  cas 
a  chur  am  bòrd-bìdh,  ach  na  ligh- 
ichean  a  bhi  gann.  Leis  an  ionns- 
achadh a  bhi  costail,  cha  'n  eil  ach 
àireamh  chuibheasach  a'  dol  a  dh- 
ionnsachadh  na  h-ealaidhe.  Tha  sin 
a'  fàgail  nan  lighichean  gann  :  iiime 
sin  is  e  goinnead  nan  lighichean  a 
tha  a'  togail  am  pàidhidh. 

Bho  na  thuirt  mi,  ma  ta,  tha  e 
soilleir  gur  h-ann  a  reir  pailtead  no 
goinnead  na  h-oibre  a  tha  a  luach, 
cleas  gach  rud  eile. 

Còrr-Liair  tha  tàlann  a'  seasamh 
do  dhuine  an  àite  costuis.  Mar 
shamhladh  air  sin,  Piobaire  no  fear- 
ciiiil  sa  bitli  nach  eil  Ntàdur  lombais 
ris  mu  'n  alt  a  bhuileachadh  air, 
bidh  a  dheich  urad  foighneachd  air 
ris  an  dreangan  a  fhuair  a'  cheart 
uibhir  ionnsachaidh  ris  agus  a  tha 
an  ealaidh  ag  cur  mòran  taillidh  de 
spàirn  air.  Ach  cleas  gach  oibre 
eile,  is  e  goinnead  luchd  nan  tàlann 
is  coireach  an  tuarasdal  a  bhi  na  's 
motha.  Tha  luchd  nan  tàlann 
gann  :  uime  sin  tha  an  obair  am 
barrachd  miagh. 

Ach  a  thuilleadh  air  na  dh'  ainm- 
ich  mi  tha  oibrichean  ann  nach  e 
costus-ionnsachaidh  no  tàlann  a  tha 
togail  an  tuarasdail.  Is  ann  diubh 
sin  obair  sa  bith  a  tha  ainnartach, 
no  neo-fhallain,  no  mì-thaitneach. 
Mur  biodh  an  tuarasdal  math,  cha'n 
f  haighteadh  duine  idir  a  ghabhadh 
OS  làimh  iad. 

Tha  feadhain  ann  a  tha  'n  dull, 
ma  thuiteas  dhaibh  a  bhi  ag  obair 
na  's  goirte  na  feadhain  eile,  gur  h- 
ana-ceartas  e  mur  fhaigh  iad  tuill- 
eadh tuarasdail  riutha.  Agus  cha 
'n  eil  teagamh  nach  anaceartas  e, 
agus  nach  eiieas  ri  ainneart  orra,  ma 
tliathas  a'  toirt  orra,  gun  an  coire 


fhein,  oibreachadh  air  thuarasdal  a 
thograr  a  thoirt  daibh,  amhuil  's  na 
traillean  a  tha  aca  ri  oibreachadh  a 
bhidh  's  aodach.  B'  ainneart  e  mar 
so  na  'n  tugaiunsa,  mar  gu'm  b'  eadh, 
air  urra  sa  bith,  rud  sa  bith — obair, 
badhar,  barr,  no  spreidh,  a  reic  rium 
ge  b'  oil  leis,  air  a'  phris  a  thograinn 
fhein.  Ach  cha  'n  ana-ceartas  e, 
agus  cha  'n  ainneart,  a  thoil  fhein  a 
thoirt  do  dhuine  a  tha  reic  no  ceann- 
ach  >  ma  's  ann  a'  reic,  iarradh  e  a' 
phris  a  thogras  e ;  ma  's  ann  ag 
ceannach  tairgeadh  e  na  chi  e 
iomchuidh.  Is  reiceadair  oibre  an 
cosnaiche ;  is  ceannachadair  a'  fear 
a  tha  cur  muinntiris  air ;  uime  sin 
is  ceartas  gu'm  bi  an  toil-shaor  aca 
le  cheile. 

Bho  shean  bha  lagh  ann  a  shoc- 
ruchadh  an  tuarasdail.  Chuirteadh 
ubhla  air  duine  sa  bith  a  thairgeadh 
no  a  dh'  iarradh  tuarasdal  nach 
robh  an  lagh  sin  ag  giulan.  Ach  is 
ann  a  bha  lagh  mar  so  ri  tuilleadh 
croin  no  math.  Bliadhnaichean 
bhiodh  an  tuarasdal  cho  mòr  's  nach 
b'  f  hiach  do  thuathanach,  mar  gu'm 
b'  eadh,  a  chuid  sgalag  uile  chumail ; 
cha  chumadh  e  ach  an  fheadhain  a 
b'  fhearr,  's  leigeadh  e  mach  an 
talamh ;  an  sin  bhiodh  am  barr 
gann  agns  moran  sluaigh  a  chion 
oibre.  Air  an  laimh  eile  an  uair  a 
bhiodh  an  tuarasdal  iosal,  bhiodh 
tuathanach  ann  a  dhianadh  luim  air 
muinntireas  a  chur  air  rogha  nan 
sgalag  le  sineadh-na-làimhe  a  thoirt 
daibh,  agus  neothar-thaing  do  'n 
lagh.  Bheireadh  sin  air  tuathanaich 
eil'  an  cleas  ciadna  a  dhianamh  ;  air 
chor  's  nach  robh  stàth  sa  bith  's  an 
lagh. 

Is  i  an  doigh  is  fhearr  sa  bith  a 
thoil  fhein  a  thoirt  do  gach  duine — 
reiceadh  e  no  ceannaicheadh  e  air  a' 
phris  a  chi  e  iomchuidh. 

Tha  feadhain  eile  ann  a  tha  'n 
duil  gur  h-ann  a  reir  pris  a'  bhidh  a 
a  tha  'n  tuarasdal   ag   èiriaih  's  a' 


Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamraidh,  1876.         AN   GAIDHEAL. 


19 


tuiteam  ;  tha  iad  a'  saoilsinn,  an 
uair  a  dli'  eireas  am  biadli  gur  coir 
do  'n  tuarasdal  amhuil  sin  eirigh ; 
air  an  laimli  eile  an  uair  a  tliiiiteas 
am  biadh  gu'n  tuit  a  rèir  sin  an 
tuarasdal ;  air  chor's  gur  coma  do  'n 
chosnaiche  co-dhiu  bliios  am  biadh 
saor  no  daor. 

Ach  duine  sa  bith  a  ghabhas 
beaclid  air  a'  cliuis,  tha  e  soilleir  dha 
nach  ann  am  meinn  pris  a'  bhidh  a 
tha  eirigh  no  tuiteam  an  tuarasdail. 
Dh'  fhiach  sinn  muihra  gur  h-e 
goinnead  luchd-cèird'  ealanta  is 
coireach  ri  tuille  tuarasdail  a  bhi  aca 
na  th'  aig  na  dubh-chosnaichean. 
Amhuil  sin  tra  bhios  an  luchd-oibre 
ganu  eiridh  an  tuarasdal.  An 
theadhain  a  bhios  a  dh-easbhuidh 
chosnaichean,  theid  iad  gu'n  diilan 
gu  'm  faotainn,  theid,  a  thairgsinn 
air  a  cheile,  mar  a  bha  iad  a'  dian- 
amli  an  toiseach  an  Astrailia.  Air 
cho  saor's  g'am  bi  am  biadh  cha 
ghabh  duine  sa  bith  tuarasdal  beag, 
an  la  's  gu  'm  faigh  e  tuarasdal 
mòr. 

Uime  sin  cha'n  ann  am  meinn 
pris  a'  bhidh  a  tha  eirigh  no  tuiteam 
an  tuarasdail,  ach  a  reir  na  foighn- 
eachd  a  th'  air  obair.  Tra  a  bhios  na 
cosnaichean  lionmhar  bidh  an  tuar- 
asdal iosal,  Cha  d'  fhàg  an  sean- 
fhacal  fhein  urad  sin  gun  an  aire 
thoirt  da  :  "  Is  misde  na  bochdan  a 
bhi  lionmhar."  Air  an  laimli  eile, 
an  uair  a  bhios  mòran  am  feum 
luchd-oibre,  eiridh  an  tuarasdal. 

Tha  cosnaichean  gu  minig  an 
teinn  nach  ruigeadh  iad  a  leas,  le 
cion  a  bhi  sealltainneach  rompa. 
Bidh  iad  ag  cur  na  coire  air  an 
atharrach,  ach  gu  trie  is  iad  fhein 
ceann  na  coire.  An  uair  a  bhios 
tuarasdal  math  aig  duine,  agus  nach 
cuir  e  peighinn  mu  seach  a  dh- 
fheitheamh  an  iatha  f hliuich,  ach  a 
chaitheas  an  òl  's  an  eile,  a'  tighinn 
suas  bho  'n  laimh  gus  an  fhiacail, 
ciamar  a  bhitheas  e  ach  'ii  a  eiginn 


tra  a  thig  la  nan  cuileagan  bana,  's 
a  ghannaicheas  an  obair 's  a  thuiteas 
an  tuarasdal. — Gliocas  bho  'n  t- 
seillein  : — 

Bha  fannan-feoir  ann  roimhe  so, 
's  bha  e  toiseach  geamhraidh  a  bha 
'sid  an  impis  a  bhi  marbh  leis  an 
fhuachd  's  leis  an  acras,  agus  b' 
eudar  dha  falbh  air  an  tuath.  Ràin- 
ig  6  an  seillein  's  fliuair  e  'n  a 
shuidhe  gu  soimeach  a  stigli  e,  gun 
dith,  gun  deireas,  agus  dh'  iarr  e, 
air  ghaol  an  iochd,  an  deirc  air. 
Thuirt  an  seillein  ris  gu  'm  b'  iong- 
antach  leis  uireas  a  bhi  air  cho  trath 
de  'n  bhliadhna  's  an  samhradh  a 
bhi  cho  math,  agus  dh'  fharraid  e 
ciamar  a  chuir  seachad  teas  na 
bliadhna.  "0,"  os  am  fannan, 
"  chuir  ag  òl,  's  a'  seinn,  's  a'  dannsa, 
's  cha  do  smaoinich  mi  riamh  air 
gaillinn  a'  gheamhraidh."  "  Cha  'n. 
e  sin  mo  dhòigh-sa  idir,"  os  an  seilL, 
ein,  "  tha  mi  saoithreachadh  gu  goirt 
re  an  t-samhraidh  a'  tioaal  loin  air 
son  a'  gheamhraidh,  agus  an  f  headh- 
ain  nach  dian  mar  sin,  air  leam  gur 
geal  an  airidh  iad  air  a  bhi  'n  an 
teinn. 's  a'  gheamhradh." 


AM  PIOBAIR  AOSDA  AGUS 
A  PHIOB. 

TiTA  eachdraidh  ar  duthcha  a'  leig- 
eadh  ris  duinn  iomadh  ni  iongantach 
a  thachair  an  uair  a  bha  na  fineachan 
ag  eiridh  an  aghaidh  a'  cheile,  agus 
an  uair  a  b'  iad  na  claidhean,  mar 
bu  trice,  a  dheanadh  suas  an  reit 
eatorra.  Bha  na  h-amaniia  sin  gun 
teagamh,  fuasgailte,  lasach,  agus 
buaireasacli ;  agus  cha  b'  urrainn 
neach  e  fein  fhacinn  tearuinte  a  la 
no  dh'  oidhche,  a  thaobh  nan  aimhr- 
eitean  a  tha  do  ghnàth  mu'n  cuairt 
da.  Cha  robh  na  ctiisean  gu  mòr 
air  an  ath-leasachadh  ri  linn  cog- 
annan  nan  Stitibhartach.    Nach  mòr 


20 


AN    GAIDHEx\L,        Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876. 


an  odhail  agus  an  upraid  a  bha  air 
feadli  gach  cearnaidh  dhe'n  Ghaidh- 
ealtaclid  ann  ambliadhnaThearlaich, 
an  uair  a  bha  fineaclian  treun  air  a 
thaobh,  agus  fineachan  ceart  cho  treun 
'na  aghaidh  Ì  Bha'n  duthaich  air  a 
roinn  agus  air  a  buaireadh  agus  bha 
cairdsan  agus  luchd-dàimh  air  an 
tarruing  gu  bhi  naimhdeil  ri  cheile. 
Einneadh  spàirn  ro  chruaidh  chum 
na  Stiubhhartaich  a  shuidheachadh 
air  an  righ-chaithir,  ach  dheònaich 
am  Freasdal  a  chaochLadh,  agus  tha 
aobhar  again n  a  bhi  taingeil  a  thaobh 
sin.  0  na  h-amanna  fuilteach  sin 
thàinigiomadh  caochladhmu'n  cuairt 
chum  na  cumhachdan  a  ta  'riaghladh 
OS  ar  ceann  a  chomh-dhaingneachadli 
air  an  righ-chaithir,  agus  chum 
dòchas  nan  ceannairceach  a  smàladh 
as  gu  bràth.  Cha'n  'eil  teagamh 
uach  robh  càirdean  Thearlaich 
lionftihor,  dileas,  agus  cumhachdach. 
Am  measg  chàich  bha  am  piobair 
aosda,  air  an  toirear  a  nis  gearr- 
iomradh.  Bha  e  'na  charaid  dian, 
agus  dileas  do'n  Phrionnsa.  Bha  e 
'na  la  agus  ''na  linn  fein  cemharr- 
aichte,  cha'n  e  mhàin  air  son  a  neart, 
agus  a  thrèubhantais,  ach  mar  an 
cèudna  air  son  an  f  heabhais  leis  an 
cluicheadh  e  a'  phiob-mhòr.  B'  aon 
de  chloinn  Sgèulaich  e,  Iain  Mac- 
Griogair,  a  rugadh  'sa  bhliadhna 
1720,  ann  an  Fartrichill,  ann  an 
siorraraachd  Pheirt,  far  an  robh  a 
shinnsear  cliuiteach  re  iomadh  linn, 
mar  na  piobairean  a's  fearr  'sa!i 
duthaich  air  fad.  Bha  clann  Sgeul- 
aich  ceart  CO  iomraiteach  'sna  linntibh 
a  dh'  fhalbh  ri  cloinn  Mhic  Criom- 
ain  Dhùnbheagain,  no  ri  cloinn 
Mhic  Artair,  piobairean  Mhic 
Dhomhnuill  nan  Eilean.  Bha  Ian 
MacGriogair  'na  dhuine  tapaidh, 
treun,  agus  bu  tearc  e  r'a  fhaotuinn 
a  chuireadh  a  dhruim  ri  talamh. 
Bha  spèis  gun  tomhas  aige  do'n 
Phrionnsa,  agus  ceart  cho  luath  'sa 
<)hàraich  e  a  chos  air  mòr-thìr  na 


h-Alba,  ghrad  thug  Ian  leis  a' 
phiòb-mhòir  do  Glheann  Fhionghain 
air  agus  chuir  se  e  fein  fo  bhrataich 
Thearlaich  Oig.  Cha  b'  fhad  air  an 
laimh  eile,  gus  an  robh  mòr-thlachd. 
aig  a'  Phrionnsa  dha,  agus  cha  deal- 
aicheadh  e  ris  'na  chuairtibh  anns 
gach  àite.  Chumadh  e  còmhradh 
càirdeil  ris  a'  phiobair  bhochd,  agus 
dh'  iarradh  e  a  chomhairle  anns  gach 
ciiis.  Cha  robh,  gidheadh,  ach  eòlas 
ro  bheag  aig  Iain  coir  air  a'  Bheurla, 
agus  cha  b'  urrainn  da  comhradh 
freagarrach  a  dheanamh  ris  a' 
Phrionnsa,  Ach  cha  b'  fhad  gu's  an 
d'  rinn  Tearlach  grèim  air  earrann- 
aibh  sònraichte  dhe'n  Ghaelig,  agus 
an  trà  'sa  ris,  ghlaodhadh  e  ris  a' 
phiobair, — "  Seid  suas  do  phiob, 
lain."  An  uair  a  chaidh  Tearlach  a 
steach  do  Dhimedin,  agus  an  uair  a 
theich  Cope  agus  a  mharc-shluagh 
aig  Prestonpans,  ghlaodh  am 
Prionnsa  gu  cruaidh,  cabhagach, 
"Seid  suas,  seid  suas  do  phiob,  Iain." 
Chaidh  am  piobair  bochd  anns  an 
ruaig  gu  Derbi,' — bha  e  'lathair  'san 
Eaglais-Bhric,  agus  aig  sèisd  Chaist- 
eil  Shrighlaidh, — agus  mu  dheir- 
eadh  aig  faiche  mhi-shealbhaich 
Chùilfhodair,  far  an  d'fhuair  e  an 
sealladh  mu  dheireadh  de  ghntiis 
thla  a'  Phrionnsa.  An  deigli  iomadh 
deuchainn  agus  cruaidh  chàs,  phill 
MacGriogair  air  ais  gu  sgireachd  a 
bhreith,  far  an  robh  e  gu  la  a'  bhàis. 
Bhaceathrar  mhac  aige,  agus  ochdnar 
oghaichean,  agus  bu  phiobairean  air 
fad  iad.  Ach  dhe  'n  àireamh  so  gu 
lèir  cha  bheò  an  diugh  ach  a  h-aon, 
Bha  'phiob  chèudna  leis  an  do 
dheachd  MacGriogair  misneach  agus 
spiorad  a  chuid  companach  anns  a' 
chath,  aig  ogha  dha,  Iain  MacGriogair 
eile,  a  chaochail  ann  an  Druimchar- 
aidh,  ann  an  sgireachd  Fhartrichill 
o  cheann  beagan  bhliadhnaichean 
air  ais,  mu  cheithir  fichead  a  dh' 
aois.  Bha  e  'na  dhuine  stuama, 
measail,  agus  cliuiteach,  d'on  robh 


Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamliraidh,  1S76.        AN    GAIDHEAL. 


mòr-spèis  aig  a  luclid-eòlais  gu  leir. 
Blia  'n  t-seann  pliiob  ann  an  deagb- 
glileus  agus  òrdugh,  an  uair  a 
chaochail  JNIacGriogair,  agus  goirid 
o  la  a'  bliàis,  bba  e  "na  sbòlas  da' 
cbridhe  a  bhi  'ga  seideadb  suas,  au 
uair  a  bha  eadhon  an  an  ail  goirid. 
Acli  tlia  i  fatliast  a  Làtbair  aig  Diiic 
Atbol  'na  cbaisteal  fein  ann  am 
Blàr.  Clia  robh  aice  riamli  acb  da 
dbos,  de  bbrigb  nach  robli  an  treas 
dos  air  a  chleachdadli  anns  na  b- 
amanuaibb  o  sbean.  Bba  'n  sionnsair 
air  a  cbòmbdacbadb  le  bannaibb 
airgid,  Ian  sgriobbaidb  ann  am 
Beurla  'san  Giielig.  Cbuir  an  Eidir 
Iain  Atbol  MacGriogair  nacb  mair- 
eann,  clar  leatbann  airgid  air,  leis  an 
sgriobbadb  a  leanas  anns  an  da 
chàinnt : — "Bba  "pbiòb  so,  a  bbuin- 
eas  do  Iain  MacGriogair,  piobair 
Dbiiic  Atboil,  air  a  cluicbeadb  le 
'sbean-atbair  Ian  MacGriogair,  ann 
an  cogannaibh  Pbrionns'  Teàrlaicb 
Stiùbbart  'sa  bbliadbna  1745-6; 
agus  chuireadb  an  sgriobbadb  so 
oirre  le  'Cbeaun-cinnidb  feiu,  an 
Ptidir  Iain  Atbol  MacGriogair,  'sa 
bbliadbna  1840,  mar  cbuimbneacban 
air  obair  urramuicb  na  pioba." 

Bba  Iain  MacGriogair  so  mu  dbeir- 
eadb  aig  an  robb  a'  phiob  'na  fbear- 
cluicbe  ro  eireacbdail  gu  deireadb 
a  laitbean.  Cboisinn  e  a'  pbiob- 
mbòr  mar  dhuais-cluiche  ann  an 
Dùnedin,  ann  am  mios  mu  dbeireadb 
an  t-sàmbraidb  1811.  Bba  e  re 
iomadh  bliadbna  'na  pbiobair  aig 
Diùc  Atbol,  agus  a  ris  aig  Mac 
Fbionnlaidb,  Mbonaltri,  agus  an 
deigb  sin  aig  Mac  Fbionnlaidb, 
Fingbein.  Cliluicb  e  's  a  bbliadbna 
1813  aig  eo'-cbrninneacbadb  nan 
uacbdaran  'san  Eilean  Mbanainn- 
eacb,  aig  Ceinn  Tbinbbadt.  Bba  e 
a'  cluicbeadb  air  ceann  nan  Griogair- 
eacb   ann   an    Diinedin,  an  uair  a 


tbàinig  an  rigb  'sa  bbliadbna  1822. 
Bba  e  'na  pbiobair  aig  Gaidbeil 
Dbiuc  Atbol  aig  Faoin-cbòmbrag 
Eglintou  ann  an  1S39,  agus  chuir- 
eadb an  t-urram  air  cliucbeadb  an 
làtbair  na  Banrigbinn  aig  Caisteal 
Bbeallaicb.  Acb  mu  dbeireadb  luidb 
an  aois  gu  tròm  air  Iain  coir.  Db' 
fbàs  e  diblidb,  faun  le  lucbd  nam 
bliadbnaicbean  a  cbaidb  tbairis  air 
a  cbeann.  Agus  a  tbuilleadh  air  sin, 
db'  fbas  e  gle  gbann  'na  cbuid,  'na 
laitbibb  deireannacb.  Cbuir  e  litir 
0  làimb  fein  db'  ionnsuidb  au  Sgiatb- 
anaicb,  air  da  a  bhi  'na  tbear-cinnidh 
dba,  db'  fbeucbuinu  an  gabliadh 
duin'-uasal  èigin  tlacbd  dbe'n  t-seann 
phiob,  chum  gu'm  biodh  i  air  a 
gieidheadb  re  linntean  ri  teachd 
mar  cbuimbneacban  air  a  seirbbis 
's  an  àr-fhaich.  Cbuir  an  Sgiatban- 
acb  eacbdraidh  Chloinn-sgèuluich 
agus  na  piòb  anns  na  litricbibb 
naigheacbd  mar  a  rinneadh  eadhon 
a  nis,  agus  tbàinig  na  h-uiread 
dbaoin'-uailse  air  an  aghaidh  a  bba 
deònach  grèim  fbaotuinn  air  a' 
phiob,  agus  a  bheireadh  suim  airgid 
do'n  t-seann  duine  choir  air  a  son, 
acb  am  measg  chàicb  cbuir  Diùc 
Atbol  nach  maireann  fios  gu'n 
suidbicheadh  e  uiread  'sa  bbliadbna, 
fbad  s'  bu  bheò  e,  air  a'  pbiobair 
aosda  air  son  na  piob.  Gbeall  e 
uiread  'sa  db'  fbàgadb  an  seann 
duine  coir  soimeach,  socaireach  re 
uile  làitbean  a  bbeatba.  Einn  an 
Diuc  mar  a  gbeall,  agus  shineadh 
laith  ean  a'  piobaire  gu  beagan  bb  liadh- 
naicbean  an  deigh  sin,  a'  sealbh- 
achadb  le  taingealachd  teirbheartais 
an  Diiic.  Acb  mu  dbeireadb  f  huair 
e  am  bàs,  agus  f huair  an  Diiic  a' 
phiob, — aguscha'n  eagal  nach  gleidh- 
ear  tearuinte  i  leis  au  teagblach  àrd- 
uasal  sin  re  linnte  ri  teachd. 

Sgiathanach, 


AN    GAIDHEAL.        Treas  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1ST6. 


AN  T-AILLEAGAN. 


m^^^^ 


.  D     I  d  .  ti :  m  , ,  r     |  m  .  Si :  Si .  Li  |    d  .,  ti : m.m  | 


m  .  d  :  d  .  dM    1 


.  L   I   m  .,  r 


s    I     1 


M 


s  .,  1  :  d^  .,rM   d^., m  :m  .  P   I     s  .,  m  :  r  .,  d    I      1,  :     .  R 


s  .,  m 


m     I      d  :  -  II 


O  soiRiDH  slkn  do  'n  Ailleagan 
'Bha  'n  so  mu  'n  tràth  so  'n  Aè; 
Gu  'n  d'  lot  thu  dh'  ionnsuidh  m'  'àlrnean 

mi, 
'S  mi  cràiteach  as  do  dh^igh: 
Ma  's  teachdair  'tha  bho  'n  bhas  thu, 
'S  nach  slknaich  mi  gun  Migh, 
Gu  'n  tug  mi  gaol  bho  m'  chridhe  do 
Dh'  òg-nighinn  nan  rosg  rc^idh. 

Bho  dh'  f  halbh  thu  'n  d^  mu  'n  tràth  so 

uainn 
Tha  mi  fodh  chràdh  's  fodh  leòn; 
'S  e  'n  gaol  a  thiig  mi  'n  c^ud  la  dhut 
A  dhriiidh  air  m'  fhuil  's  air  m'  fheòil; 
Ach  chi  mi  'n  diugh  nach  d'  thàinig  thu, 
'S  air  nàile  cha  b'  i  'choir, 
Tha  m'  osna  tròm  an  uaignidheas 
A'  smuain  air  bean  do  neòil. 

Och!  tha  mo  smuaintean  cairiseach 
Bho  dhealaich  sinn  Di-luain, 
'Gheug  ùr  nan  glaca  min-bhasach, 
A  leannain  chaoimh  gun  ghruaim; 
Ma  tha  buaidh  mu  'n  t-shgradh  ort, 
'S  nach  lùb  thu  le  meud  stuaim, 
'S  e  d'  ghaol  a  leasaich  m'  iomguin  dhomh, 
'S  a  chuir  an  giorrad  m'  uair. 


'S  e  'chuir,  an  uair,  an  taice  rium 
Gu  'n  d'  ghlac  thu  cleachdadh  ilr: 
Gu  'n  d'  rinn  thu  gniomh  nach  b'  kbhaist 

dhut, 
Mo  ghràdh-sa  'chur  air  chùl. 
Cha  d'  aithnich  mi  riamh  failing  ort, 
Bho  chhirich  mi  ort  m'  itil, — 
Gu  h-uasal,  banail,  bàiraigeach, 
Gu  tairis,  càirdeil,  ciùin. 

'S  mìn,  tairis,  ciùin  a  labhradh  tu, 
'Glieiig  iir  nach  mall  'n  a  d'  ch($ill. 
Air  Machthir  no  air  Gàidhealtachd 
'S  tearc  samhail  bean  do  bheus, 
Cha  'n  ionghnadh  cliti  'bhi  fuaighte  riut, 
'S  gu  'n  d'  fhuaradh  thu  gun  bheud, 
'S  tu  'shiol  na  fala  connspuillich 
Le  suaineas  ceann  an  fhèidh. 

'S  min,  soitheamh,  sèimhidh,  suaimhneas- 

ach 
An  ribhinn  uasal  òg, 
Gur  lioiimhor  cis  a  bhuannaich  thu 
Nach  d'  fhuaradh  riamh  oho  mòr. 
Do  dha  ghruaidh  dhearg  cho  taitneach 
Do  shlios  mar  shneachd'  an  loin, 
,  Do  shtiilean  mealla,  miogach. 
Mar  ghrian  air  tionntadh  neòil. 


THE     G^^EL 


ENGLISH  DEPARTMENT. 


Vol.  V. 


JANUARY  1876. 


No.  49. 


GAELIC  IN  HIGHLAND 
SCHOOLS. 

We  are  glad  to  observe  that  this 
question,  which  was  discussed  last 
year  with  considerable  interest  and 
with  great  ability  in  the  leading 
newspapers,  North  and  South,  is 
again  taken  up  with  renewed  vigour 
at  the  beginning  of  the  present  year. 
It  is  gratifying  to  learn  that  a  further 
attempt  is  proposed  to  be  made  to 
press  upon  our  educational  adminis- 
trators the  desirableness  of  making 
an  effort  to  frame  some  rule  by 
which  the  intelligent  teaching  of 
Gaelic  -  speaking  children  can  be 
secured.  A  Monthly  Magazine  is 
not  the  most  suitable  medium  for 
discussing  a  question  upon  which 
conflicting  views  are  entertained; 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  newspaper 
correspondence  and  after  -  dinner 
speeches  are  too  apt  to  lose  sight  of 
the  main  question  at  issue,  and  to 
attach  too  much  importance  to 
matters  more  or  less  personal  to  the 
correspondents,  and  more  or  less 
determined  by  the  circumstances 
which  may  have  called  the  orator 
to  his  feet. 

We  consider  it  unfortunate  that 
the  question  of  teaching  Gaelic- 
speaking  children  through  the  me- 
dium of  the  only  language  which 
they  know,  should  be  mixed  up 
with  the  totally  different  question 
of  whether  or  not  it  is  a  desirable 
thing  that  the  Gaelic  language 
should  cease  to  be  spoken  in  our 
laud.  Our  ancestors,  more  than 
two  hundred  years  ago,  confounded 


these  two  questions,  and  legislated 
accordinglj^  They  ordained  that 
English  schools  should  be  planted 
in  every  parish  for  the  avowed  pur- 
pose of  rooting  out  Gaelic.  In  their 
case  the  illusion  was  pardonable,  for 
experience  had  not  yet  taught  therii 
the  very  reasonable  lesson  that  lan- 
guages are  not  among  the  things 
that  will  be  eschewed  by  a  people 
at  the  bidding  of  legislators,  or  even 
of  schoolmasters.  And  yet,  not- 
withstanding the  experience  of  the 
last  three  centuries  in  this  country 
and  in  Ireland,  where  Gaelic  has 
not  been  taught  in  the  schools,  it 
may  be  regarded  as  the  general  be- 
lief of  Englishmen  and  Lowland 
Scotchmen  at  the  present  day,  that 
the  surest  means  of  perpetuating  the 
language  is  to  teacli  it  in  the  school, 
and  the  most  effective  method  of 
extirpating  it  is  to  refrain  from 
teaching  it.  And  these  same  Eng- 
lishmen and  Scotchmen  year  after 
year  send  out,  at  great  expense, 
missionaries. to  the  most  distant  and 
uncivilised  quarters  of  the  globe  to 
Christianise  and  instruct  the  natives. 
What  is  the  mode  of  procedure  far 
away  from  home  Ì  Curious  to  relate, 
it  is  as  natural  and  sensible  as  in 
this  country  it  is  unnatural  and 
absurd.  Abroad,  the  missionary  in 
the  first  instance  sets  himself  reso- 
lutely to  learn  the  language  of  the 
people  whom  he  is  to  instruct  ; 
secondly,  he  endeavours  to  translate 
his  Bible,  or  a  portion  of  it,  into 
their  language.  Then,  and  not  till 
then,  he  considers  himself  competent 
to  instruct  the  people.  But  it  is 
scarcely  an  exaggeration  to  say  that 


24 


THE  GAEL. 


January,  1876. 


with  US  our  teachers  and  our 
teachers'  teachers  are  considered,  or 
consider  themselves,  all  the  more 
competent  instructors  in  proportion 
to  their  ignorance  of  the  people's 
tongue.  Prince  Bismarck,  a  few 
years  ago,  forbade  the  teaching  of 
French  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
conquered  provinces  of  Alsace  and 
Lorraine.  The  measure  was  harsh  ; 
but  from  the  point  of  view  of  the 
great  German  statesman  it  may 
have  been  wise.  A  people  living  on 
the  confines  of  two  powerful  and 
rival  empires  will  have  their  political 
sympathies  mainly  determined  by 
their  language.  But  there  is  no 
parallel  between  the  case  of  the 
conquered  French  provinces  and 
that  of  the  Scottish  Highlands.  Our 
allegiance  to  the  British  crown  is  in 
no  danger  of  being  shaken.  We 
have  no  fertile  and  wealthy  province 
for  our  habitation,  no  "ia  helle 
France  "  on  the  one  side  of  us — the 
rival  in  power,  the  more  than  rival 
in  the  allurements  of  civilisation — 
of  a  rugged  and  aggressive  neigh- 
bour upon  the  other  side.  No  ! 
we  have  only  sterility  and  poverty 
for  our  portion,  and  the  "melancholy 
ocean"  for  our  western  neighbour. 
A  master  sterner  far  than  the  Eng- 
lish schoolmaster,  with  the  compul- 
sory officer,  the  inspector,  and  "  my 
Lords  "  to  boot,  presses  upon  us  the 
necessity  of  learning  English.  To 
the  young  Highlander,  English 
means  material  comfort,  the  only 
avenue  to  knowledge,  wealth,  and 
honour.  We  admit  that  there  might 
be  circumstances  in  which  the  teach- 
ing of  the  native  language  in  the 
school  might  tend  to  perpetuate  the 
speaking  of  it  in  the  country ;  but 
we  contend  that  these  circumstances 
do  not  obtain  in  the  Highlands  of 
Scotland  at  the  present  day.  The 
perpetuation  or  the  extinction  of 
Gaelic  as  a  living  tongue  is  a  matter 


which  our  geographical  position  and 
our  past  history  have  determined 
for  us,  and  which  we  can  do  little 
to  affect  now  in  one  way  or  another. 
That  the  language  will  die  sooner 
or  later  is  a  matter  of  regret  to  many 
- — of  congratulation,  perhaps,  to 
some.  But  whether  we  regret  the 
fact  or  rejoice  at  it,  we  are  none  the 
less  certain  of  its  truth.  The  de- 
mise of  Gaelic  in  Scotland  is  a  matter 
of  time ;  it  is  determined  by  causes 
far  more  numerous  and  far  more 
powerful  than  any  which  School 
Boards  and  Education  Codes  can 
wield.  But,  while  looking  at  the 
relative  position  and  circumstances 
of  the  Gaelic  and  English  speaking 
population  of  Scotland,  we  cannot 
believe  that  School  Boards  and  Edu- 
cation Departments,  by  refraining 
from  teaching  the  language,  can 
hasten  the  demise  of  Gaelic  as  a 
spoken  tongue  by  a  single  day;  we 
consider  that  the  attitude  which 
our  educational  authorities  may 
assume  towards  the  language  is  of 
the  utmost  importance  to  those  of 
our  children  who  are  born  and 
reared  in  the  Gaelic-speaking  dis- 
tricts. 

Again  we  consider  it  ver)-  un- 
fortunate t^iat  the  question  of  teach- 
ing Gaelic  in  schools  has  been  sub- 
ordinated to  another,— viz.,  whether 
the  children  in  these  districts  should 
be  taught  to  read  Gaelic  or  English 
first.  That  the  education  of  a  child 
shall  commence  with  the  only  lan- 
guage the  child  knows,  and  shall 
continue  upon  the  basis  of  that  lan- 
guage and  with  reference  to  it,  is  a 
general  principle  which  we  presume 
no  sensible  person  will  think  of  dis- 
puting. But  here,  again,  we  have  to 
consider  the  special  circumstances  of 
the  case  before  us.  Our  educational 
arrangements  have  been  very  much 
improved  within  the  last  generation 
or  two.      Our  teachers  have  been 


January,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


trained;  publishers  vie  with  each 
other  in  producing  the  most  instruc- 
tive, interesting,  and  attractive  read- 
ing-books, spelhng- books,  song- 
books,  pictures,  maps,  &c.  The 
Avhole  of  this  training  and  the  whole 
of  this  activity,  with  the  view  to 
make  the  first  days  of  school  life 
pleasant  and  profitable,  are  exclu- 
sively adapted  for  English-speaking 
children.  Now  it  may  be  a  reason- 
able proposal,  in  remembrance  of  all 
this,  that  the  reading  of  the  Gaelic- 
speaking  child  for  the  first  year  or 
two  should  be  conducted  in  English, 
so  that  the  various  mechanical  ad-. 
A'antages  above  alluded  to  may  be 
made  use  of.  It  is  quite  possible 
that  a  child,  with  the  advantages  of 
a  trained  teacher  and  of  books  skil- 
fully constructed,  may  acquire  the 
power  to  read  (that  is,  to  attach  cer- 
tain arbitrary  sounds  to  certain 
arbitrary  forms),  in  an  unknown 
language  in  a  shorter  time  than  he 
would  acquire  the  same  power  in  a 
known  language  without  all  these 
advantages.  Having  once  acquired 
the  power  to  read  in  any  language, 
it  is  merely  a  matter  of  so  many 
lessons  to  be  able  to  read  his  own. 
No  doubt  in  teaching  a  child  to  read 
in  an  unknown  language  you  are 
doing  grievous  injury  to  his  opening 
intelligence ;  and  with  us  at  the 
present  day  the  question  of  what 
language  a  Highland  child  ought  to 
be  taught  to  read  first,  should  be 
answered  with  reference  to  these 
two  considerations  solely — upon  the 
one  hand  you  have  a  trained  teacher, 
suitable  books,  and  all  the  accessory 
attractions  of  a  well-ecjuipped  school; 
on  the  other  hand  you  are  iu  a  great 
measure  deprived  of  these  advan- 
tages, but  you  are  able  to  carry  the 
intelligence  of  the  child  along  Avith 
you  from  the  first  step  in  his  pro- 
gress. That  the  child  will,  by  read- 
ing English  first,  pronounce  English 


better  ever  afterwards,  has  indeed 
been  afiirmed,  but  it  is  difficult  to 
see  the  ground  of  the  assertion  or 
to  find  a  living  example  to  confirm 
it.  And  even  supposing  it  were  the 
i  case,  we  have  still  to  remember  that 
'  the  chief  end  of  school  teaching  is 
to  turn  out  the  most  intelligent  and 
the  best  trainetl  children,  and  that 
a  slight  improvement  in  accent  is 
but  a  very  small  portion  of  such 
training.  It  is  as  difficult  to  see 
that  the  ultimate  progress  of  a  child 
toward  a  knowledge  of  English  is 
better  secured  by  teaching  it  first  to 
read  in  English.  To  a  Highland 
boy  or  girl  at  the  present  day  every 
intelligent  lesson,  in  whatever  lan- 
guage, and  upon  whatever  subject, 
is  an  incitement  to  learn  English ; 
every  unintelligent  lesson  is,  there 
as  elsewhere,  an  incitement  to  learn 
nothing. 

But  reading  does  not  form  the 
whole  of  school  work.  In  the  earlier 
stages  of  school  life  reading  (by  the 
child)  should  form  only  a  very  small 
jDortion  of  his  school  work.  And  if, 
in  obedience  to  teachers  and  in 
deference  to  inspectors  and  Codes, 
the  reading  should  be  conducted  in 
Highland  schools  in  English,  is  it 
too  much  to  ask  that  the  speaking 
and  the  singing  should  be  mainly  in 
Gaelic  ?  Is  it  not  sufficient  to  com- 
pel these  little  worshippers  to  sacri- 
fice to  the  god  of  ignorance  for  a 
portion  of  the  day  ?  Might  not  the 
most  attractive  part  of  school  life — 
the  singing — be  made  additionally 
attractive  by  being  made  intelligible 
in  sense  as  well  as  in  sound?  It  was 
a  great  educational  mistake  to  banish 
good  Scotch  songs  from  the  schools 
of  the  South  in  favour  of  hymns  of 
questionable  theology  and  of  more 
than  c|uestionable  poetry,  and  we 
are  beginning  to  rectify  the  mistake; 
but  when  shall  we  hear  even  ex- 
ecrable translations  of  these  hymns 


26 


THE  GAEL. 


January,  1876. 


in  a  Highland  school?      Is  it  too 
much  to  hope  to  hear  even  a  Gaelic 
song?  We  consider  that  the  question 
of  how  far  Gaelic  ought  to  enter  into 
the  school  life  of  Highland  children  is 
of  infinitely  greater  importance  than 
the  question  of  whether  their  first- 
books  should  be  English  or  Gaelic. 
That  the   intelligence,    sympathies, 
and  feelings  of  children  can  be  pro- 
perly stimulated  and  guided  through 
the  medium  of  a  foreign  language  is 
a  proposition  that  does  not  require 
the  example  of  the  Highlands  to  be 
brought  forward  in  order  to  refute — 
upon  the  face  of  it,  it  is  absurd. 
And,   after  all.   is  not  the   end  of 
school  life  to  educate, —  to  train  the 
expanding  capacities  of  the  child,  so 
that  he  can  find  pleasure  as  well  as 
profit  hereafter  in  extendinghis  know- 
ledge, and  cultivating  these  capaci- 
ties, physical  and  mental  ?    We  are 
perhaps  too  apt  in  the  Highlands  to 
consider   that   the   great   object  of 
school  life  is  to  acquire  a  knowledge 
of  English,   and   that  this  is  best 
attained  by  eschewing  Gaelic.     We 
make   a   grievous    mistake    in    the 
latter  case ;  and  even  in  the  former 
our  dictum  is   not   faultless.     The 
aim  of  the  schoolmaster  should  be 
to   turn    out   the   most    intelligent 
scholars, — the  most  intelligent  Eng- 
lish scholars  if  possible,  if  not  the 
most  intelligent  Gaelic  scholars.   We 
are  too  rpt  to  suppose  that  culture 
and  intelligence  mean  the  power  to 
speak   English  fluently,— ignorance 
the  want  of  this  power.     By  a  few 
months'   residence   in  the  South,  a 
young  man  or  woman  can  acquire  a 
facility   of    expression    in    English 
which  the  most  diligent   cramming 
for  years  in  school  cannot  secure. 
But  in  order  to  acquire  this  very 
questionable      accomplishment      in 
school   years,    the    training   of   the 
child  to  habits  of  industry  and  self- 
reliance,  the  quickening  of  its  in- 


telligence and  sympathies,  the  in- 
stilling into  its  young  mind  a  love 
and  a  taste  for  letters,  have  hitherto 
been  sadly  neglected.  This  training 
can  be  given  only  through  the 
medium  of  the  mother-tongue.  In  a 
desultory,  but  withal  somewhat  eff"ec- 
tive  manner,  our  fathers  received  a 
portion  of  this  kind  of  training  by 
the  recitation  of  their  native  litera- 
ture. This  excellent  practice  has 
ceased  ;  and  the  school  which  ought 
to  supply  its  place  has  not  hitherto 
done  so.  Until  the  attempt  is  made, 
the  first  step  in  the  intelligent  edu- 
cation of  Highland  children  is  not 
taken. 

We  have  seen  it  stated  that  the 
evil,  for  it  appears  to  be  acknow- 
ledged on  all  hands  that  an  evil 
exists,  can  be  cured  by  making 
Gaelic  a  "  specific "  subject,  to  be 
paid  for  under  the  provisions  of  the 
Scotch  Code,  and  to  rank  with  a 
number  of  other  subjects,  literary 
and  scientific,  which  are  considered 
proper  subjects  of  study  in  our  com- 
mon schools.  These  subjects  are 
meant  to  take  the  place  of  the  ad- 
vanced subjects  of  the  old  parish 
schools.  Very  properly  there  is  a 
wide  selection  of  them.  Teachers 
are  not  encouraged  to  commence 
them  until  the  pupils  are  already 
fairly  advanced  in  the  common  sub- 
jects ;  and  considerable  proficiency 
in  them  is  very  properly  demanded 
to  secure  a  "  pass  "  or  a  "  grant."  It 
is  not  an  easy  matter  to  see  what 
conception  of  the  educational  neces- 
sities of  Highland  children  must 
have  been  formed  before  this  remedy 
could  have  been  suggested.  It  is 
admitted  that  the  great  aim  of  the 
Highland  teacher  is  to  secure  to  the 
child  a  sound,  intelligent,  English 
education,  which  can  place  it  as 
nearly  as  possible  on  an  equal 
platform  with  others  whose  mother- 
tongue  is  the  language  of  the  nation. 


January,  1S~6. 


THE  GAEL. 


Whether  this  education  can  be  best 
secured  by  ignoring  the  child's  lan- 
guage from  the  outset,  or  Avhether 
the  language  of  the  child  shonld  re- 
ceive due  acknowledgment  at  the 
hands  of  the  teacher,  are  questions 
upon  which  experienced  and  earnest 
men  have  differed.  It  is  undeniable 
that  for  his  proper  education  as  a 
British  citizen,  the  Highland  child's 
mother-tongue  is  a  hindrance.  To  ful- 
fil his  part  in  life,  as  lifeexistsfor  him, 
the  language  is  of  no  value  to  him. 
At  every  step  it  clogs  his  way;  or, 
to  speak  more  accurately,  the  want 
of  another  language  does.  And  in 
order  to  remedy  this  anomalous  state 
of  matters,  it  is  proposed  to  com- 
mence the  teaching  of  Highland 
children  in  English,  and  to  continue 
the  process  till  the  child  can  pass 
a  fourth  standard. 

By  the  time  the  average  Highland 
child  can  pass  the  fourth  standard, 
as  every  person  acquainted  with  the 
requirements  of  the  Scotch  Code 
knows,  his  school-days  are  fast 
approaching  their  close.  A  very 
small  proportion  of  the  scholars  of 
the  South  have  hitherto  been  able 
to  pass  in  the  two  higher  standards. 
And  even  by  taking  the  most 
sanguine  view  of  the  benehcial 
effects  of  the  working  of  the  Educa- 
tion Act,  we  fear  that  more  than  one 
generation  of  scholars  will  dissappear 
from  our  school-rolls,  before  very 
many  of  our  children  in  the  outlying 
parts  of  the  Highlands  can  pass  a 
fifth  standard.  To  delay  the  read- 
ing of  Gaelic  until  a  Highland 
child  passes  his  fourth  standard,  is, 
for  some  years  to  come,  to  delay  it 
until  he  leaves  school  altogether. 
But  what  is  it  that  is  actually  meant 
by  teaching  Gaelic  as  a  "specific" 
subject  within  the  meaning  of  the 
Scotch  Code  ?  or  rather,  to  put  it 
more  definitely,  what  kind  and 
amount    of    knowledge    of    Gaelic 


I  would  be  required  of  a  pupil,  in  order 
i  to  secure  a  "  pass  "  and  a  "  grant  Ì  " 
j  Would  the  pupil  not  be  subjected  to 
I  much  the  same  kind  of  test  as  that 
J  exacted  for  a  pass  in  English  as  a 
"specific"  subject]  Now,  without 
adverting  to  the  fact  that  we  are  but 
scantily  furnished  with  the  necessary 
reading-books,  grammars,  and  dic- 
tionaries, to  assist  the  learner,  where 
are  the  teachers  to  teach,  and  where 
are  the  examiners  to  test  the  re- 
sults of  the  teaching  Ì  To  profess 
as  your  aim,  the  securing  to  the 
Highland  child  the  best  and  most 
intelligent  English  education  that 
his  neighbourhood  can  afford  ;  and 
to  attempt  to  secure  this  by  ignoring 
his  mother-tongue,  until  he  has 
fairly  conquered  the  difficulties  of 
reading,  writing,  and  spelling 
English,  and  is  about  to  leave  school ; 
and  then  to  put  for  the  first  time  a 
Gaelic  reading-book  into  his  hand, 
and  a  Gaelic  grammar  and  diction- 
ary at  his  elbow,  without  even  taking 
the  precaution  of  providing  a  teacher 
who  knows  the  grammar  of  the 
language,  or  an  examiner  who  knows 
the  dictionary  of  it,  is  surely  the 
wildest,  as  well  as  the  latest,  solution 
of  our  educational  difficulty  that  has 
yet  been  propounded. 

That  to  those  children  who  do  not 
hear  English  spoken  in  their  homes, 
Gaelic  must  necessarily  be  the 
language,  whether  by  speaking  or 
reading,  or  both,  through  which  the 
most  valuable  part  of  the  education 
can  be  conveyed,  is  a  proposition 
the  mere  statement  of  which  reflects 
sadly  ujDon  our  past  educational 
history,  and  upon  our  present  educa- 
tional intelligence.  Were  it  not 
that  the  system  of  teaching  pursued 
in  the  remote  parts  of  the  Highlands 
has  been  actually  followed  for  a 
couple  of  centuries  over  a  consider- 
able tract  of  Scotland,  Ireland,  and 
Wales,    we  doubt  whether  our  ed- 


28 


THE  GAEL. 


January,  1876. 


ucational  authorities  in  the  South 
would  believe  that  the  thing  could 
be  tolerated  by  civilized  men. 
"Wherever  Englishmen  and  Scotch- 
men came  in  contact  with  people 
speaking  a  foreign  tongue  and  felt 
called  upon  to  instruct  them,  the}'' 
adopted  a  rational  and  successful 
method,  except  in  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland.  Throughout  all  the  British 
dependencies,  where  the  natives  are 
instructed  by  the  home  government 
or  by  missionary  societies  from 
home,  the  method  of  education  is 
the  same,  viz.,  to  impart  to  the 
natives,  in  the  first  instance  through 
the  medium  of  their  own  language, 
a  knowledge  of,  and  a  taste  and 
liking  for  the  language,  and  the  in- 
stitutions, and  the  religion  of  Britain. 
The  same  method  is  as  necessary  at 
the  i)resent  day  for  a  great  portion 
of  the  Highlands  and  Islands  of 
Scotland,  of  Ireland,  and  of  Wales, 
and  if  it  were  speedily  adopted  and 
energetically  fellowed  out,  might  Ave 
not  even  hope  that  the  same  results 
would  be  achieved  ? 

What  position  should  Gaelic  oc- 
cupy in  those  schools  where  the 
children  know  from  childhood  more 
or  less  of  both  languages?  Our 
educational  condition  is  in  such  a 
lamentable  state,  that  if  we  secured 
something  rational  for  the  thousands 
who  know  Gaelic  only,  we  would  be 
content  to  leave  the  case  of  those 
Avho  speak  both  tongues  to  be  dealt 
with  according  to  existing  arrange- 
ments. Their  case  is  a  very  inter- 
esting one  nevertheless.  As  things 
are  at  present,  these  children  can 
be  intelligently  'educated.  But  it 
surely  is  no  heresy  to  say  that 
they  could  be  more  intelligently 
educated  by  making  a  judicious  use 
of  a  language  which  they  already 
know,  and  which  they  do  not  require 
to  learn.  We  consider  that  in  the 
large  Highland  villaf^es  where  the 


child  acquires  the  familiar  use  of 
both  languages,  the  school-master 
can  find  material  out  of  which  to 
manufacture  scholars  which  he  can 
get  nowhere  else  in  Scotland.  To 
be  able  to  look  at  an  idea  from  two 
points  of  view ;  to  be  able  to  ex- 
press a  thought  in  two  languages 
so  radically  different  as  English  and 
Gaelic  are,  is  a  power  which,  if 
rightly  used  and  wisely  directed, 
ought  to  yield  rich  results,  not 
merely  in  language  but  in  life.  In 
the  best  equipped  schools  of  the 
larger  villages,  and  in  the  higher- 
class  schools  of  our  semi-Gaelic  dis- 
tricts, Gaelic  might  well  find  a  place 
as  a  "  specific "  subject.  In  such 
schools  where  the  children  could 
remain  in  school  till  they  were  four- 
teen and  even  fifteen  and  sixteen 
years  of  age,  Gaelic  taught  properly 
along  with  English  might  become 
an  element  of  true  culture  in  place 
of  which  Latin  and  Greek  would  be 
but  lifeless,  and  therefore  valueless, 
substitutes. 


THE   HUNTING  SONG   OF  THE 
CHILDREN  OFEIONN. 

IN  IMITATION  OF  A  GAELIC  HUNTING  SONG. 

To  the  hills,  to  the  hills,  to  the  lovely  hills, 

To  the  glorious  hills  away, 

Where  the  sun   is   shining   so   warm   and 

bright, 
And  all  rejoicing  in  morning  light, 
The  little  streamlet  play. 

Ho  e  ro. 

To  seek  the  deer  in  his  corrie  deep, 
To  waken  him  out  of  his  luscious  sleep, 
To  see  him  erect  his  noble  head. 
One  instant  j^ause  as  he  hears  our  tread, 
Then  startled,  bound  away. 
Ho  e  ro. 

On  the   hills,  on   the  hiUs,   on  thej  lovely 

hills, 
On  the  glorious  hills  away, 
Where   the    sparkling   dew-drop   of    early 

spring, 
Decks  with  rich  silver  each  tiny  thing, 
The  blue  bells,  heather,  and  spray. 
Ho  e  ro. 


•January,  ÌS76. 


THE  GAEL. 


29 


Each  practised  eye  said  where  he  ran, 
After  him  !  after  him  !  Oscar,  Bran, 
We'll  follow,  we'U  follow,  in  eager  chase, 
Over  the  mountain's  rugged  face, 
We'll  bring  him  at  last  to  bay. 
Ho  e  ro. 

From  the  hiUs,  from  the  hills,   from  the 

lovely  hills. 
From  the  glorious  hills  away. 
The  sinking  sun  ere  he  goes  to  bed. 
Is  kissing  their  sides  with  his  lips  so  red 
His  sweet  good  night  to  say. 
Ho  e  ro. 

We'U.  bear  him  up  on  our  shoulders  high 
He  deserves  on  a  warrior's  couch  to  lie. 
Oh,  the  children  of  mountain  and  mist  are  we. 
Who  so  happy,  or  who  so  free. 
At  the  close  of  our  hunting  day  ? 
Ho  e  ro. 
James  A.  Campbell, 
Barbreck. 


THE  OLD  CELTIC  WORLD, 
FEOM  A  NEW  STAND-POINT. 

I.  — IXTRODLX'TORY. 

Is  there  visions  about  ? 
Is  civilisation  a  failure  ? 
Or  is  the  Caucasian  played  out  ? 

The  truth  contained  in  these  lines 
has  grown  into  this  whimsical  shape, 
out  of  the  rough  soil  of  California, 
where  sleek  John  Chinaman  has 
proved  himself  to  be  more  than  a 
match  "  in  ways  that  are  dark,"  for 
the  smartness  of  our  American 
cousins  ;  and  the  subject  upon  which 
I  will  try  to  turn  its  light,  was  the 
natural  outcome  of  the  mist-shrouded 
corries,  and  dark  cliffs  of  our  High- 
land hills.  The  Teutonic  mind 
treats  the  Celt  very  much  as  the 
Greeks  treated  all  the  rest  of  man- 
kind ;  it  has  failed  to  grasp  the 
poetry  and  the  philosophy  of  the 
Celtic  race  ;  it  disposes  of  the  creed 
and  the  reverence  of  the  quivering 
Gaelic  mind,  by  calling  both  a  tissue 
of  superstition  ;  and  it  has  not  yet 
done  justice  to  what  was  best  and 
deepest  in  Highland  life  and  charac- 


ter. My  aim  in  this  rough  sketch, 
is  to  translate  what  Avas  peculiar  in 
that  life  and  character,  in  that  poetry 
and  philosophy,  and  in  that  creed 
and  reverence,  into  a  new  meaning  ; 
and  to  turn  that  meaning  round  and 
round  in  the  light  of  modern 
thought. 

If  we  resolve  or  split  up  the  thing 
called  Highland  superstition,  we 
find  a  multitude  of  negative  or  thin 
qualities,  all  of  which  centre  in  the 
weakness  Avhich  is  supposed  to  mark 
the  Celtic  mind.  The  Celt  is  played 
out ;  and  is  now  a  relic  for  the 
museum.  The  Gael  has  uncouth 
fragments  of  faith ;  but  he  is  said  to 
respect  mysteries,  because  he  cannot 
solve  them  in  the  cool  clear-headed 
way  in  which  an  Englishman  carves 
the  articles  of  his  belief,  or  a  German 
undermines  his ;  he  is  called  a 
visionary,  an  idle  dreamer,  or  even 
a  ghost-monger,  not  because  he  has 
a  keen  insight  into  things  unseen 
and  their  interpretation,  but  because 
he  does  not  possess  sufiicient  strength 
of  will  or  moral  courage  to  find  out, 
and  face  the  realities  of  life  which 
lie  behind  the  glamour  of  his  own 
incompetence ;  if  he  is  credited  v.-ith 
a  sort  of  stunted  imagination,  he  is 
also  thought  to  be  incapable  of 
sifting  fact  from  mere  fancy ;  and  if 
he  is  allowed  to  be  somewhat  of  a 
poet,  it  is  because  he  is  not  up  to 
the  level  of  prose.  In  short,  he  has 
no  sense  for  the  real,  and  but  little 
for  the  true ;  there  are  "  visions 
about "  in  his  turbulent  little  world, 
which  itself  is  surrounded  by  mist 
and  the  nwstery  of  the  savage,  and 
though  he  stretch  the  power  of  his 
arm  to  its  very  utmost,  he  cannot 
lift  the  veil  or  penetrate  beyond  it. 

If  a  cultured  Englishman  spoke 
out  his  thoughts  about  the  supersti- 
tion of  the  Highlander,  he  would 
say  nothing  more  favourable  to  the 
latter  than   this;    most   likely  he 


30 


THE  GAEL. 


January,  1876.. 


would  come  far  short  of  this. 
Omne  ignotum  pro  magnifico  ?  No. 
On  the  contrary,  what  is  not  very 
near  to  us  or  almost  a  part  of  us,  is 
generally  ignored.  Most  men  live 
in  the  narrow  circle  of  their  own 
coterie  or  profession,  or  country, 
or  generation  cr  age ;  and  look 
upon  all  beyond,  in  a  dim  or 
false  light.  It  is  very  easy,  but  not 
very  wise,  to  pooh-pooh  the  past,  or 
a  section  of  it  from  the  isolation  of 
our  superior  wisdom  ;  and  to  call  its 
thinking  and  its  faith  a  tissue  of 
superstition.  Whether  we  acknow- 
ledge the  fact  or  not,  it  is  in  human 
nature  to  look  back  upon  one's 
grandfather  with  a  curious  mixture 
of  sentiment,  in  which  pity  and 
reverence  are  in  equal  proportions. 
No  generation  and  no  age  does 
justice  to  the  merits  of  its  predeces- 
sor ;  though  it  does  more  than  justice 
to  those  of  its  successor.  We  see 
the  distant  not  in  itself,  but  through 
a  medium — often  a  complex  one. 
Until  very  recently  proper  canons 
of  criticism  were  not  applied  to 
history;  and  the  life  and  spirit  of 
great  eras  were  concealed  or  obscured. 
Even  now,  when  we  have  occasion 
to  survey  the  past,  and  ascertain  its 
movements,  we  rest  content  by  con- 
templating a  lifeless  deputy,  or  by 
forming  an  image  of  it,  out  of  which 
the  most  of  the  original  has  dropt, 
and  into  which  much  which  is  not 
of  the  past  or  distant  at  all,  blends. 
Do  we  not,  almost  all  of  us, 
gloss  over  remote  history  by  bisect- 
ing it  into  heathendom  and  the 
dark  ages  1  Yet,  this  heathendom 
was  not  so  heathenish,  after  all ;  it 
possessed  as  noble  an  activity,  and 
as  keen  a  sense  of  truth  and  right 
and  beauty,  as  the  enlightenment  of 
this  century  can  claim  for  itself; 
and  we  know  now,  or  ought  to  know, 
that  the  dark  ages  were  brilliant  in 
deed,  and  subtle,  if  not  fertile,  in 


thought.  The  darkness  is  not  so 
much  a  cloak  of  any  age  itself,  as  it 
is  a  quality  of  the  onlooker.  We 
cannot  look  upon  any  age  or  any 
people  directly  ;  nor  can  we  get  any 
knowledge  of  the  past  or  absent,  un- 
less we  recognise  the  fact  that  our- 
selves and  every  thing  palpable  around 
us  are  ever  changing  from  the  old  to 
the  new.  Age  develops  into  age ; 
languages  and  the  institutions,  and 
the  very  thoughts  which  they  embody, 
pass  into  new  modifications  ;  and 
form  changes  into  form.  What  we 
have  therefore  to  do,  is  to  ascertain 
the  law  of  this  perpetual  change  ;  to 
study  it;  to  get  out  of  our  narrow 
bias  ;  to  read  the  meaning  of  the  p^st 
in  the  light  of  the  present ;  and  to 
translate  history,  and  whatever  re- 
mains we  can  get  of  the  days  that 
have  been  into  the  language,  and 
the  other  symbols  of  our  own  tims, 
and  into  our  own  particular  mode  of 
looking  at  our  own  time,  and  all 
time.  Be  we  Teuton  or  Celtic,  we 
err  grievously  so  long  as  we  do  not 
look  generously  beyond  the  circle  of 
our  immediate  life,  and  so  long  as 
we  relegate  whatever  does  not 
square  with  our  own  cherished 
opinions  to  a  lower  level  of  thought, 
or  to  an  effete  superstition. 

It  has  been  said  that  orthodoxy 
in  matters  of  religious  doctrine, 
varies  with  geography ;  and  it  is 
certainly  true  that  rules  of  taste, 
and  even  canons  of  truth  naturally 
suit  themselves  to  the  nature  of 
particular  localities,  and  that  the 
practical  virtues  grow,  to  some  ex- 
tent, out  of  selfishness.  At  all 
events,  natives  look  at  whatever  lies 
outside  themselves  from  a  national, 
which  means  a  low  standpoint. 
They  do  not  by  any  means  see 
themselves  as  others  see  them. 
Thus  the  Teuton  draws  a  line  in 
his  own  favour,  between  himself  and 
the  Celt ;  and  the  Lowlander  con- 


January,  1S76. 


THE  GAEL. 


31 


trasts  himself  with  the  native  of  the 
glen.  A  sturdy  Highland  boy,  whose 
frame  is  well  knit  and  well  seasoned, 
and  whose  spirit  is  high  and  light, 
faces  all  kinds  of  weather  without 
taking  much  thought  for  the  scanti- 
ness of  his  costume  ;  he  knows  and 
cherishes  the  literature  traditional 
in  his  glen ;  and  he  acts  pretty  well 
up  to  the  ethical  standard  of  his 
race.  Though  he  neither  entertains 
nor  expresses  decided  views,  he  en- 
tertains a  vast  fund  of  latent  con- 
tempt for  those  who  live  in  Lowland 
luxury,  and  find  it  necessary  to  pro- 
tect their  nether  limbs  by  the  tailor's 
art.  A  central  point  of  his  meagre 
creed  is  that  one  brawny  Gael  is 
more  than  a  match  for  three  ordinary 
Southerners,  who,  in  turn,  laugh  at 
the  impudence  of  the  little  bare- 
legged imp.  And  yet,  this  little 
savage  does  nothing  more  atrocious 
than  the  conduct  of  the  Jews  towards 
all  who  could  not  and  cannot  claim 
descent  from  Abraham,  the  behaviour 
of  the  enlightened  Greeks  towards 
all  who  lay  beyond  their  little  nook 
of  earth,  and  the  arrogant  superiority 
which  Europe,  and  especially  the 
Teutonic  portion  of  it,  assumes  over 
those  who  live  under  other  skies, 
and  breathe  a  different  atmosphere. 
We  are  all  of  us  only  too  apt  to 
believe  that  we  are  the  people  of  the 
earth,  and  that  wisdom  is  confined 
to  us.  As  a  nation  the  English  have 
never  recognised  the  merits  of  the 
Africans,  Hindoos,  and  Gaels.  There 
is  no  African  tribe  so  savage  as  the 
denizens  of  some  London  streets 
that  could  be  named.  The  narra- 
tives of  nearly  all  travellers  abound 
in  instances  of  humanity,  and  even 
of  delicate  feeling  that  can  not  be 
paralleled  by  the  conventionality  of 
any  English  drawing-room.  One 
incident  will  illustrate  this.  When, 
in  July  1796,  Mungo  Park  arrived 
at  Segou,  he  was   not   allowed  to 


enter  the  town,  or  see  the  king.  On 
being  sent  to  a  neighbouring  village, 
no  one  would  admit  him  into  his 
house  ;  faint  and  v/eary  he  sat  under 
the  shade  of  a  tree  during  the  day  ; 
but  towards  evening  the  wind 
began  to  blow,  and  the  rain  to  fal 
heavily.  A  woman,  returning  from 
her  work,  observed  him  in  this 
wretched  situation,  and  having  ascer- 
tained his  destitute  state,  brought 
him  into  her  hut,  and ,  gave  him  the 
best  supper  she  could  procure  in  so 
short  a  time.  When  he  lay  down  on 
a  mat  to  sleep,  the  woman  and  the 
other  females  of  the  famil}^  began  to 
spin  cotton,  and  continued  at  this 
Avork  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
niuht,  one  of  the  young  women  sing- 
ing a  sweet  and  plaintive  song,  and 
the  rest  joining  in  the  chorus,  which 
was  as  follows  : — "  Let  us  pity  the 
poor  white  man,  no  mother  has  he  to 
bring  him  milk,  no  tcife  to  grind  his 
corn."  The  refrain  is  primitive,  and 
the  whole  action  was  simple ;  but  it 
was  not  the  act  of  a  savage.  If  in- 
stead of  looking  down  from  a  lofty 
pinnacle  and  treating  them  with 
coarseness,  arrogance,  and  cruelty, 
Englishmen  understood  the  customs 
and  institutions  of  the  African 
people ;  if  they  could  enter  into  their 
sympathies,  ethical  codes  and  general 
habits,  instead  of  hurling  ridicule 
and  oaths  at  them  from  without,  they 
would  find  that  the  savages  of  Lon- 
don, Manchester,  and  Glasgow,  are 
as  lawless  as  those  of  Dahomey,  and 
have  a  conscience  both  smaller  and 
more  callous.  Missionary  literature 
and  the  history  of  the  many  missions 
that  have  in  vain  attempted  the  con- 
version of  the  Hindoos  to  Christi- 
anity, are  only  too  sad  proof  of  the 
proud  arrogance  of  Teutonic  civiliz- 
ation. Those  who  take  their  ideas 
from  the  literature,  and  especially 
the  records  of  the  missionaries,  must 
imagine  that  the  Hindoo  mind  is 


32 


THE  GAEL. 


January,  1876. 


both  dark  and  obtuse.  But  though 
Teutonic  Europe  will  not  recognise 
or  act  upon  the  fact,  the  Hindoo 
literatures  are  old  and  extensive, 
and  the  Hindoo  mind  is  naturally 
subtle,  and  well  trained  in  several 
directions.  It  is  true  the  Teuton 
does  not  bribe  the  Gael  with  bits  of 
coloured  glass  and  cheap  beads,  as 
he  does  the  Negro  :  nor  does  he 
waste  pity  and  tracts  upon  him  as 
his  custom  has  hitherto  been  with 
the  natives  of  India ;  but  he  spies 
his  merits  from  afar,  instead  of 
examining  his  thoughts  and  feelings 
from  within  his  religion,  his  poetry, 
and  his  philosophy. 

The  model  sophist  made  himself 
the  measure  of  this  many-sided 
universe  ;  and  philosophised  upon 
this  basis.  Every  nation  has  its 
own  standard  of  ethics  and  truth, 
as  it  has  its  own  coinage,  or  its  own 
meridian.  This  standard  is  an 
induction  from  data,  collected  within 
the  life  of  the  nation  itself;  and 
hence  it  is  not  a  universal  standard, 
applying  to  all  times  and  all  places. 
The  Celt  tests  his  world,  such  as  it 
is,  by  his  home-made  standard  ;  the 
Teuton  profiting  by  wider  experi- 
ence in  a  wider  area,  possesses  a 
standard  of  greater  accuracy,  and 
tests  the  universe  by  it.  Both 
standards  are  defective,  and  differ 
in  degree  merely.  It  is  not  then 
from  the  stand-point  of  the  Celt,  nor 
yet  from  that  of  the  Teuton,  that  I 
propose  to  examine  the  growth  and 
extent  of  the  old  Celtic  economy ; 
but  from  a  far  different  point  of 
view.  What  that  point  of  view  is, 
will  appear  by  and  by.  Meanwhile 
I  simply  lay  stress  upon  the  fact 
that  the  living  thought  and  moral 
impulse  of  our  age,  or  of  any 
country  of  this  age,  may  appear  as 
a  mass  of  crude  superstition  to  the 
critical  mind  of  subsequent  cen- 
turies. 


Our  little  systems  have  their  day  ; 
They  have  their  day  and  cease  to  be, 
They  are  but  broken  lights  of  thee, 

And  thou,  O  Lord,  art  more  than  they, 

With  this  canon  in  view,  let  us 
look  back  to  what  is  vaguely  called 
the  Ossianic  period.  I  care  not  now 
whether  Ossian  lived  in  the  flesh  or 
not ;  for  the  Ossianic  era  is  a  fact 
as  real  as  the  Homeric  epoch  ;  and 
Ossian,  myth  or  no  myth,  is  as 
localised  as  Homer.  The  world,  for 
all  that  history  can  produce,  or 
criticism  can  advance,  knows  nearly 
as  much  of  the  personality  of  the 
Fingalian  bard,  as  it  does  of  that  of 
the  poet  of  Stratford-upon-Avon. 

Without  accepting  all,  or  almost 
any  of  the  minute  geographical 
details  collected  by  Dr.  Waddell,  we 
may  accept  the  broad  fact  that  a 
considerable  change  has  taken  place 
n  the  relative  position  of  sea  and 
land,  on  the  west  of  Scotland  and 
north  of  Ireland,  since  the  beginning 
of  the  Ossianic  period.  And  yet  the 
appearance  of  the  country  then  was 
not  much  different  from  what  it  is 
now.  Mountains  rose  into  the 
clouds  and  veiled  their  heads  in 
mist,  as  they  still  do  ;  the  dark  grey 
Atlantic  lashed  the  dark  cliffs  with 
the  same  restless  fury  ;  hills  were 
clad  in  brown,  and  plains  in  green  ; 
the  sun  shone  fitfully  ;  rain  fell,  and 
deep  shadows  rushed  across  valley 
and  loch ;  grass  and  trees  grew ; 
flowers  blossomed  and  beautified ; 
and  men  preyed  upon  the  lower 
creation  and  upon  each  other  as 
they  still  continue  to  do.  But  the 
cosmos  of  the  Fingalian  was  in 
nearly  all  other  respects  diff"erent 
from  the  matter-of-fact  world  of  the 
modern  Isleman  or  Highlander. 
What  that  world  was,  Avhat  it  all 
meant,  and  how  it  is  related  to  this, 
will  be  afterwards  discussed. 

D.  E. 


Aisr 


G^^IDHE^L 


3Ia)'  gliath  soluis  do  in'  anamfein 

Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fhalbh." — Oisean. 


V.  Leabh. 


CEUD  MHIOS  AN  EARRAICH,  1876.         [50  Am. 


LITREACHAS  NAN  GAIDHEAL. 
II,    NA  LAOIDHEAN. 

Tha  e  coltach  gu'n  abairteadli  o 
shean  Laoidh  ris  a'  Bhardaclid  ris  an 
abair  sinne  Oraii  no  Dan.  Gheibh 
sinn  mar  so  "  Dan  an  Deirg,"  agus 
'■'  Laoidh  an  Amadain  Mhoir."  Cho 
fad  's  is  lèir  dhomh,  dh'fheudteadli 
na  h-ainmean  atharracbadli — 
"Laoidh  an  Deirg"  agus  "Dan  an 
Amadain  Mhoir" — gun  brigh  na 
cainnt  a  mhiithadh.  Ach  o  chionn 
iomadh  bliadhna  their  sinne  Laoidh- 
ean  ris  a'  ghne  Bhardachd  sin  a  tha 
buntainn  ri  firinnean  ar  Creid- 
imh  ro  naomha.  Is  co-ionann,  tha 
mi  meas,  am  focal  Gaidhlig  Laoidh 
agus  am  focal  Beurla  Lay.  Co  a' 
chanain  d'am  buin  am  focal,  cha  ro 
mhaith  is  aithne  dhomh.  Tha  e 
againn  's  a'  Ghaidhealtachd  o  chionn 
iomadh  bliadhna.  Ach  a  ris,  gheibh- 
ear  e  anns  a'  Bheurla  o  chionn  iom- 
adh ceud  bliadhna.  B  'e  so  an 
t-ainm  a  bha  aig  na  Baird  's  a 
chanain  sin  airson  naigheachd  air  a 
cur  ann  an  rann.  Sheinneadh  am 
Bard,  mar  bu  trice,  an  Laj/,  agus 
bhiodh  guth  na  clarsaich  a  co- 
fhreagradh  ri  'ghuth  fein.  Cha  'n 
'eil  e  idir  eu-coltach  nach  ann  o'n 
Bheurla  a  thug  sinne  am  focal,  agus 
creididh  mi  gu'm  b'  ionann  ciall  o 
shean  do'n  fliocal  anns  a'  Ghaidhlig 
agus  anns  a'  Bheurla ;  ach,  mar 
thuirt  mi  cheana,  's  e  ciall  cumanta 
an  fhocail  Laoidh,  'n  ar  latha-ne, 
Dan  Spioradail  a  tha  air  a  chum-adh 


ri  fonn,  's  a  tha  freagarrach  gu  bhi 
air  a  sheinn  a  chum  cliii  Dhè, 

Cha  'n  fhiosrach  mi  gu  bheil  a 
bheag  a  nis  ri  fhaotainn  de  na 
Laoidhean  Gaidhealach  a  rinneadh 
roimh  linn  an  Ath-leasachaidh. 
Agus  cho  fad  's  is  aithne  dhomh, 
cha  'n  'eil  rann  idir  ri  fhaotainn  de 
Laoidhean  nan  Druidhean.  Is  call 
mor  so ;  oir  ged  bha  creidimh  nan 
Druidhean  mearachdach,  feallsa,  bu 
daoine  crabhacli  iad  agus,  a  reir 
soluis  an  latha  fein,  daoine  fogh- 
luimte.  B'  ann  an  rann  a  bha  'm 
beach  dan  air  an  gleidheadh  air 
chuimhne ;  agus  cha  'n  'eil  teagamh 
nach  b'e  seinn  Laoidhean  roinil 
mhor  de'n  aoradh.  Bu  thiodhlac 
luachmhor  dhuinne  an  aidmheil 
agus  an  riaghailt-aoraidh  'n  an 
cainnt  fein. 

Ach  is  call  air  gach  doigh  moran 
na's  mo,  nach  do  rainig  a  bheag  is 
fiach  iomradh  sinn  de  Laoidhean  na 
seann  Eaglais  Ghaidhealaich.  Tha 
seanachas  creideasach  air  cho  teom 
's  a  bha  Calum  Cille  's  a  luchd  lean- 
mhuinn  air  seinn  Laoidhean.  Cha 
'n  'eil  mi  cho  earbsach  gu  bheil  an 
seanachas  cho  creideasach  gur  e 
Calum,  Cille  is  ughdar  de'n  aon  rann 
Ghaidhlig  a  tha  nis  air  a  luaidh 
air  ainm : — 

"  I  mo  chridhe  !  I  mo  ghraidh ! 
An  aite  guth  Manaich  bi'dh  g^um  bà  ; 
Ach  mu'n  tig  an  Saoghal  gu  crich, 
Bi'dh  I  mar  a  bha." 

Ma   bheirear   creideas   do'n  fhaist- 
neachd,  is  dòcha  gu  bheil  crioch  an 
3 


34 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


t-saoghail  na's  faide  uainn  na's  maith 
leis  an  Ollamli  Cumming  aideach- 
adh.  An  nair  a  bha  "  coigricli 
a'  cliuain"  a'  seideadli  tliùrlach,  a' 
creachadh  àiridhean,  's  a'  spuilleadh 
theampnll  anns  na  h-Eileanan  a 
Tuath  's  an  lar,  clia'n  'eil  teagamh 
nach  iomadh  Laoidh  mholaidh  cho 
maith  ri  iomadh  Brosnachadh  gais- 
geil  a  chaidh  gu  brath  a  dhith  anns 
an  leir-sgrios  eagalaich  a  thainig  air 
a'  Grhaidhealtachd  anns  na  linntibh 
an-iochdnihor  sin. 

Anns  a'  chruinneachadh  de  Bhard- 
achd  Ghaidhealaicharinn  SirSeumas 
MacGriogair,  Deadhan  Lis-mhoir,  o 
chionn  corr  agus  tri  clieud  bUadhna, 
gheibhear  a  mhor  chuid  de  na  tha 
nis  a  hithair  de'n  t-seana  Ehardachd, 
a  mach  o  Oisein.  Ann  an  cruinn- 
achadhMhicGriogair  gheibhear  Bard- 
achd  chrabhach  ;  ach  cha  'n 
f  haighear  a  bheag  agus  cha'n  'eil  am 
beagan  ro  mhaitli.  Cha  'n  'eil 
mi  smuaineachadh  gur  airidh  na 
"  comhraidhean  "  eadar  Oisean  agus 
Padruig  a  bha  cho  siubhlach  's  an 
am  sin  am  measg  an  t-sluaigh  a  bhi 
air  an  ainmeachadh  'n  ar  Laoidhean. 
Tha  iad  luachmhor  'n  an  aite  fein ; 
ach  cha  Laoidh  connsachadh  eadar 
Oisean  'us  Padruig  co-dhiu  b'fhearr 
cleachduin  nam  Fiann  na'n  creidimh 
Criosduidh — Parras  na  talla  Fhinn. 
De  na  Baird  Spioradail  a  gheibhear 
an  cruinneachadh  MhicGriogair,  's 
e  Muireach  Albannach — a  rèir  cos- 
lais  a  cheud  aon  de  Clilann  Mhuirich, 
Baird  Chlann-Kaghaill — gu  mor  is 
àirde  cliu.  So  eisempleir  d'a  Bhard- 
achd  : — 

"  A  bhi  an  cridhe  Mhic  Dhe, 
Peacach  mar  mi  mor  an  sgeul, 
Mise  d'a  gun  d'f  huair  a  nis, 
Crois  losa  Criosd  air  mo  bheul ; 
A  losa  Criosd  sean  de  d'  mhos, 
Mo  dha  chos  'us  mo  da  làmh, 
AgTis  sean-sa  mise  de  d'dheòin, 
Eadar  f  huil,  'us  shal,  'us  chnàmh." 
— Booic  of  the  Dean  of  Lismore, 
p.  121  (Gaelic  text). 


Cha  'n  fhaighear  cunntas  mion 
mu  leabhraichean  Gaidhlig  's  mu'n 
Ughdair,  ged  nach  'eil  an  aireamh 
ro  mhor.  Rinneadh  a  cheud  oidh- 
eirp  's  an  oidheirp  mu  dheireadh 
's  an  rathad  so  le  Beid*  anns  a' 
bhliadhna  1832.  Chaidh  moran'de 
leabhraichean  Gaidhlig  de  gach  seorsa 
a  chur  a  mach  o'n  am  sin  ;  agus  bha 
iomadh  leabhar  clo-bhuailte  's  an 
am  sin  fein  air  nach  d'amais  Beid 
ged  rannsuich  e  gu  ro  churamach. 
Thachair  air  Beid  naoi  deug  agus  da 
fhichead  leabhar  Bardachd  ann  an 
Gaidhlig ;  agus  'n  am  measg  so  tha 
aon  deug  de  leabhraichean  Laoidh- 
ean. Anns  a'  bhliadhna  1841  chuir 
Iain  MacCoinnich  a  mach  an  leabhar 
luachmhor  sin  "  Sàr  Obair  nam  Bard 
Gaidhealach  ; "  ach  am  measg  saoth- 
air  da  Bhard  dhèug  thar  fhichead, 
cha  d'  thug  e  aite  ach  do  thriuir  de 
na  sgriobh  's  a  chuir  a  mach  Laoidh- 
ean. Ann  am  beachd  Mhic  Coinn- 
ich  bha  ochd  de  na  leabhraichean 
Laoidhean  a  dh'ainmichi?ei(^,  athuill- 
idh  air naleabhraichean nach b'aithne 
do'n  duine  sin,  nach  robh  airidh  air 
cuimhne  bhuan  airson  am  Bardachd. 
Tha  mi  meas  nach  robh  barail  Mhic 
Coinnich  ro  chli  anns  a'  cheum  so. 
Anns  na  ehlo-bhualadh  de  Bhard- 
achd  Ghaidhealaich  bho  1841,  tha 
roinn  mhor — dlù  air  an  dai'a  leth, 
tha  mi  meas — 'n  an  Laoidhean. 
Thachair  orm  fein,  uile  gu  leir,  mu 
fhichead  leabhar  Laoidh;  agus 
tha  fios  agam  gu'n  deachaidh  leabhar 
Laoidh  no  dha  a  chlo-bhualadh  nach 
faca  mise. 

Cha  bhiodh  e  freagarrach, 
ann  an  cunntas  aithghearr  mu'r 
Laoidhean,  dol  a  dh'  ainmeachadh 
gach  leabhar  dhiu  so  air  leth.  A 
chum  a'mheur  so  d'ar  Bardachd  a 


*  Bibliotheca  Scoto-Celtica.  JohnEeid. 
1832.  Glasgow,  John  lleid  &  Co.  ;  Edin- 
burgh, OU'/er  &  Boyd ;  London,  Whit- 
taker,  Treacher,  &  Amot. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1S76. 


AX  GAIDHEAL. 


35 


tlioirt  f:i  cliomhair  an  Leughadair, 
feudaidh  sinn  ar  Laoidhean  Gaidh- 
healach  a  roiun  'n  an  ceithir  Buidh- 
nean  no  Earannan. 

I.  Laoidhean  eadar-tlieangaiclite. 

II.  Laoidhean  a  gheibhear  sgaoilte 
feàdh  na  tire  gun  fhios  co  leis  iad, 
agus  leabhrain  bheaga  a  chaidh  a 
chlo-bhualadh  o  am  gu  am. 

III.  Laoidhean  a  tha  'n  Ughdair 
fathasd  maireann. 

IV.  Laoidhean  'us  Ughdair  a  tha 
airidh  air  aite  urramach  fhaotainn 


am  meas2;  ar  Bardachd. 


I.  Laoidhean  eadar-theangaichte. 

Is  ann  's  a'  bhuidheann  so  a } 
dheanta'  hiaidh  air  Sailm  Dhaibhidh,  I 
na  Laoidhean  's  na  Dain  Spioradail  | 
a  gheibhear  le  ughdarras  na  h- 
Eaglais  'n  ar  Biobuill ;  agus  cha'n 
nrrainnear,  tha  mi  meas,  cus  cliù  a 
thoirt  do  na  daoine  foghkiimte  a 
thug  gu  crich  cho  ordheirc  an  obair 
cliudthromach  so,  agus  gu  h-araid 
do'n  Ollamh  Smith  a  rinn,  ma  dh' 
fhaodte,  na  bu  mho  na  neach  eile. 

A  thuilleadh  air  na  Sailm  's  na 
Laoidhean  a  tha  ri'm  faotainn  'n  ar 
Biobuill,  tha  moran  do  Laoidhean 
eadar-theangaichte  's  a'  Ghaidhlig. 
Gu  bhi  g'  an  gabhail  thar  cheann,  is 
eigin  dhomli  aideacliadh  nach  eil  I 
mor  mheas  agam  air  na  Laoidhean  i 
so.  Gheibhear  gun  amhurus,  a  nis 
's  a  ris  'n  ar  Cuairtearan,  Laoidh  no 
Dan  air  dheagh  eadar-theangachadh, 
agus  chaidh  da  Leabhar  a  chur  a 
macli  le  ]\Iac-na-Ceardadh,  ann  an 
Glascho,  o  chionn  beagan  bhliadh- 
nachan — a  mhor  chuid  de  Dhàin 
Spioradail  eadar-theangaichte — a  tha 
uile  gu  leir  ionmholta ;  ach  seachad 
air  na  dh'  ainmich  mi,  eha  'n  e  mo 
bheachd  gu'n  robh  an  roghainn  a 
chaidh  a  dheanamh  de  na  Laoidh- 
ean Beurla  uile  gu  leir  fortanach,  no 
gu'n  robh  oidhearp  an  Eadar-theang- 
air  an  comhnuidh  soirbheachail. 
Gad   tha   'Ghaidhlig  's   a'  Bheurla 


'n  an  coimhearsnaich  o'n  a  rugadh 
a'  Bheurla  cha  robh  riamh  moran 
companais  eatarra.  Creididh  mi 
nach  'eil  Bardachd  's  an  Eoinn- 
Eorpa  is  duilghe  chur  gu  Gaidhlig 
na  'Bhardachd  Shasunnach.  Tha 
so  fior  gu  souruichte,  a  reir  mo 
bheachdsa,  mu  thimchioll  nan 
Laoidhean  sin  is  trice  a  gheibhear 
air  an  Eadar-theangachadh — Laoid  h- 
ean  Beothachaidh  no  Dusgaidh, 
mar  theirear  rin.  IMar  a  dh'  ainmich 
mi  cheana  tha  dealachadh  mor  eadar 
ar  beachdan  agus  eadhoin  ar  fair- 
eachduinean  Spioradail  anns  a' 
Ghaidhealtachd  agus  beachdan  nan 
Gall,  agus  gu  souruichte  nan  Ameri- 
canach;  agus  cha  'n  'eil  e  idir  farasda. 
oidhearp  shoirbheachail  a  thoirt  air 
eadar  -  theangachadh  an  t-seorsa 
Bhardachd  so.  Chunnaic  mi  Dain- 
2Ihr.  Weaver  a  bha  ro  shiubhlach 
'n  ar  measg  beagan  bhliadhnachan- 
roimhe  so,  anns  a'  Ghaidhlig;  ach 
b'e  mo  bharail  gu'm  faigheadh  an 
t-eadar-theangair  obair  a  b'f  heumaile 
agus  a  dheanamh  e  na  b'  f  hearr.  Dh' 
eadar-theangaieh  Mr.  MacKath  gti 
Gaidlilig  cuid  de  Laoidhean  an 
Americanaich  Mr.  Sankey  a  bha  's  a 
tha  cho  tairbeartach  'u  ar  measg. 
Rinneadh  an  obair  so  le  tuigse,  le 
foghlum,  agus  le  saothair;  ach 
saoilidh  mi  gu'n  aidich  a  mhor 
chuid  de  dhaoine  nach  faighear  a 
bheag  de  Bhardachd  an  Laoidhean 
Mlir.  Sankey  's  a'  Bheurla,  agus 
nach  'eil  e  comasach  am  beagan  sin 
fein  a  thoirt  gu  leir  do'n  Ghaidhlig. 

II.  Anns  an  dara  buidheann  tha 
mi  cruinneachadh  cuideachd  Laoidh- 
ean— gun  fhios  CO  rinn  iad — a 
chluinnear  a  nis  's  a  ris  a  measg  an 
t-sluaigh ;  Laoidhean  a  chithear  am 
Paii>earan  Naigheachd  's  an  Cuairt- 
earan le  ainm  an  Ughdair  no  gun 
ainm ;  agus  Leabhrain  bheaga 
Laoidhean  a  gheibhear  air  uakean 
anns  na  bùthan. 

Tha    gun    teagamh    dealachadk 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1876 


mor  ann  am  buaidh  eadar  cuid  de 
na  Laoidhean  so  agus  cuid  eile ;  agus 
tha  iad  moran  na's  lionmhoire  ann 
an  aireamh  na  bhiodh  an  t-aineolacli 
a'  saoilsinn.  Tha  cuid  diu  binn, 
ceolmhor :  acli  tlio,  moran  diu,  ged  is 
duilich  learn  a  radh,  anns  nacli  faic 
mi  a  bheag  ach  dearbhadh  follais- 
each  air  cion  tuigse,  fein-speis  agus 
aineolas  an  Ughdair.  Bbeirear  air 
nairean  cliii  Baird  seachad  air  son 
beagan  de  rannan ;  ach  is  eigin  gu'm 
bi  am  beagan  de  ghuè  fior-mhaith 
mu'n  cunntar  an  t-tjghdar  airidh  air 
an  urram.  Tha  e  air  aithris  nach 
do  sgriobh  IFolfe  de  rann  ach 
"  Tòrradh  Shir  Iain  Moore "  ach 
gleidhidh  an  Duan  bheag  so  cuimhne 
Wolfe  agus  Shir  Iain  maireann  's  an 
tir.  Am  measg  nabheil  de  oidhearp- 
an  beaga  againn  'n  ar  Laoidhean 
Gaidliealach  cha  saoil  mi  gur  airidh 
air  cuimhne  mhaireannach  ach  aon 
— Laoidh  Mhic-Ealair.  Chaidh 
tuilhdh  'us  aon  de  Laoidhean 
MhicEalair  a  chur  an  clo — 's  e 
Daibhidh  nan  Laoidh  a  theirteadh 
ris  'n  a  ghinealach  fein  ach  bha  aon 
diu  cho  measail  os  cionn  chaich  'us 
gu'n  abrar  rithe  fathasd  "■  Laoidh 
Mhic-Ealair  "  mar  'nach  sgriobhadh 
an  t-Ughdar  ach  i  so  a  mhain. 
Gheibhear  an  Laoidh  so  ann  an 
Cruinneachadh  MhicCoinnich  — 
ach  as  eugmhais  so  gheibhear  i  ann 
an  cuimhne  na  cuid  mhor  a  tha 
cleachduin  a  bhi  'g  eisdeachd  no 
seinn  Laoidhean  Gaidhealach.  Chois- 
eadh  i  ainm  Baird  d'a  h-Ughdar  ann 
an  canain  fo'n  ghrèin. 

III.  Laoidhean  a  tha  'n  Ughdair 
fathasd  maireann. 

Am  measg  nan  Ughdat  a  sgtiobh 
Laoidhean  's  a  tha  fathast  maireann, 
tha  cuid  nach  aithne-dhomhsa;  oir 
tha'chleachduin  cumanta  'n  ar  measg 
a  bhi  'sgriobhadh  gu'n  ainm,  no  le 
ceud  litrichean  an  ainm.  Ach  thainig 
aireamh  nach  Iju  bheag  fa  m'  chomh- 
air    air  aon  doigh    no   doigh  eile. 


Theirteadh  o  shean  "  Na  labhair  ach 
maith  mu  na  mairbh ; "  agus  am 
measg  iomadh  dearbhadh  eile  a  th' 
againn  air  a'  bhuaidh  a  tha  'n  saoghal 
a  ta  lathair  a'  faotainn  thairis  oirnn 
fein,  tha  'n  doigh  air  a'  bheil  sinne 
a'  leantainn  na  comhairle  so  a  thainig 
a  nuas  o  chèin.  An  àite  a  radh  "Na 
labhair  ach  maith  mu  na  mairbh," 
their  sinne  "Na  labhair  mu  na 
beothaibh  aon  chuid  maith  no  olc ; " 
agus,  ma  dh'  fhaodte,  air  son  an 
reusain  cheudna.  Bha  ar  n-aithrich- 
ean  a'  creidsinn  gu'n  tugadh  Spiorad 
nam  Marbh  dioladh  a  mach;  tha 
dearbhadh  gun  taing  cho  laidir 
againnenach  ni  faoin  a  bhi  'n  eisemeil 
teangadh  nam  Beò.  Cha  'n  'eil  mi 
'dol  a  dh'  atharrachadh  na  cleachduin 
so.  An  uair  a  theid  thusa  agus  mise 
a  ghiulan  do'n  tigh  a  tha  air  orduch- 
adh  do  na  h-uile  bheò,  feudar  barail 
neo-chlaon  a  thoirt  air  Sgriobhaidh- 
ean  ar  latha-ne  ;  agus  cha  'n  'eil  mi 
gun  amhurus  nach  e  breith  an  dream 
a  thig  'n  ar  deigh,  cia  air  bith  cho 
torach  's  a  tha  an  linn  so  ann  an 
Eanntachd,  nach  'eil  a'  Bhardachd 
ach  tearc. 

IV.  Laoidhean  a  tha  iad  fein  agus 
an  Ughdair  airidh  air  aite  Urramach 
f  haotainn  am  measg  ar  Bardachd. 

An  uair  a  chuir  Mr.  Mac-Illeath- 
ain,  GhHnn-Urchaidh,  a  mach  a 
chuid  Laoidhean  fein,  seachd  bliadh- 
na  roimhe  so,  sgriobh  e  's  an  Roimh- 
radh  air  an  doigh  so  :  "  Nach  lion- 
mhor  iad  a  tha  fathast  beò  agus 
nach  lionmhoire  iad  a  tha  marbh,  a 
mheal  mor-bhuannachd  agus  toil- 
eachas-inntinnoLaoidheanSpioradail 
a  sgriobhadh  le  aireamh  nach  beag 
de  Bhardaibh  Diadhaidh  ar  duthcha 
fein,  mar  a  bha  Dughall  Buchannan, 
an  t-Urramach  Seumas  MacGriogair, 
an  t-Oila  Domhnullach,  agus  Iain 
Moristan — Gobhainn  na  h-Earadh — 
agus  moran  eile  a  bharrachd  orra  a 
dh'  fhaodainn  ainmeachadh."  Ach 
chaochail   Macllleathain  ;  agus  cha 


Ceud  JIhios  an  Earralch,  1S7G. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


37 


d'  f  hag  e,  a  reir  mo  bheaclidsa,  anns 
a'  Ghaidliealtaclid  Bard  cho  ard  cliù, 
no  ach  gann  Breitheamli  air  Bard- 
achd  cho  coraasach,  ris  fein.  Leis  a 
cheathrar  Bhard  a  dh'  ainmich  esan, 
bu  mhaith  leam  triuir  eile  a  chur 
a  tha  airidh  air  aite  urramach 
fhaotainn  am  measg  nam  Bard 
Gaidhealach  a  sheinn  Laoidhean — 
's  e  sin  Donnachadh  Dughallach, 
Padruig  Grannd,  agus  Mr.  Mac- 
Illeathain  e  fein.  Tha  againn  mar 
so  seachdnar  a  tha  comharraiclite 
am  measg  ar  Baird  Spioradail  araon 
airson  airde  am_  buaidhean  agus 
mend  an  obair.  Cunntar  MacEalair 
'n  am  measg  air  son  nam  feartan 
bardail  a  dhearbh  e  anns  an  laoidh 
a'  dh'  ainmich  mi  cheana.  Cha  'n 
fhiosrach  mi  aon  tuilleadh  is  airidh 
a  bhi  air  ainmeachadh  am  measg  na 
buidhne  so.  Theirinn,  ma  ta,  gu 
bheil  ochdnar  Ghaidheal  a  sgriobh 
Laoidhean  ò  linn  an  Ath-leasachaidh 
is  airidh  air  urram.  mar  Bliaird. 
Ach  tha  aon  diu  so,  a  reir  mo 
bheachdsa,  a  tha  'g  eirigh  cho  ard 
OS  cioun  chaich  gu  leir — Dughall 
Buchannan — agus  gu  bheil  e  airidh, 
air  a  ghleidheadh  air  leth  ann 
an  cunntas  nam  Bard  Spioradail. 
De  'n  t-seisear  eile— oir  tha  mi 
'ixabhail  seachad  air  MacEalair — bha 
triuir  de'n  Eaglais  Shaoir  agus 
liiair  de  'n  Eaglais  Bhaistich;  agus 
anns  gach  buidheann  bha  da  mhin- 
isteir  agus  aon  searmonaiche. 

Feudar,  tha  mi  meas,  an  t-Olla 
Domhnulluch  agus  Iain  Moristan  a 
chur  cuideachd.  Mar  Bhaird,  bha 
iad  coltach  ri  eheile,  agus  mar  Dhi- 
adhairean  cha  robh  iad,  tha  mi 
meas,  thar"mi-i»eas,  mi-choltach.  A 
mach  o'n  tir  anns  an  cualas  an  guth 
'us  anns  am  facas  an  gluasad,  cha  'n 
'eil  an  Laoidhean,  cho  fad  's  is  aith- 
ne  dhomh,  moran  air  an  leughadh. 
Carson  sol  Cha  'n  ann  's  an 
Leabhar  so,  tha  mi  saoilsinn,  a  ruig- 
ear  a  leas  dol  a  sheirm  cliu  an  011- 


aimli  DhomhnuUaich.  Aidichear 
anns  gach  aite  gur  ann  fior  ainmig 
a  chunnacas  duine  cho  treun  ann  an 
cubaid  Ghaidhealaich  o  linn 
Ohaluim  Chille.  Agus  air  son 
buaidhean  nadurra  saoilidh  mi,  a 
reir  gach  cunntais  a  th'  againn, 
nach  robh  Gobhainn  na  h-Earadh  a 
bheag  air  deireadh  air  Abstol  na 
h  airde  Tuath.  Ciod  is  aobhar,  ma 
ta,  an  uair  a  bu  Bhaird  le  eheile  iad, 
nach  'eil  an  Dàin  na's  miaghaile  na 
tha  iad  Ì  Thagh  iad  steighean,  mar 
bu  trice,  a  bha  cumanta  gu  leoir  am 
measg  nam  Bard  Gaidhealach — 
Marbh-rannan.  Feudaidh  mi  bhi 
mearachd ;  ach  's  e  mo  bharail  gun 
faighear  an  t-aobhar  ann  an  tomhas 
mor  ann  an  so ; — gu'n  do  lean  iad 
an  steigli  tuilliclh  'us  fixda  eadhon  a 
reir  an  tomhais  Ghaidhealaich ; 
nach  do  chleachd  iad  fuinn  a  bha 
cumanta  am  measg  an  t-sluaigh ;  gu 
bheil  iad  mar  a  dh'  fhaodas  sinn  a' 
radh  an  comhnuidh  a'  searmonach- 
adh  'n  an  Dàin  ;  agus  gu  bheil  na 
faireachduinean  's  na  beachdan  a 
tha  iad  a'  toirt  fa'r  comhair  do- 
thuigsinn  do  mhoran,  agus  luach- 
mhor  'n  an  suilibh-san  a  mliain  a 
dh'àraicheadh  's  a  dh'  iunnsachadh 
o'n  òige  anns  na  criochaibh  anns  an 
do  theagaisg  na  daoine  urramach  so. 
Bha  Mr.  Macllleathain,  a  reir  mo 
bharailsa,  ann  am  buaidhean  nad- 
urra, air  deireadh  air  an  aon  is  laige 
de'ndha;  ach  saoilidh  mi  nach  faigh- 
ear o  aon  diu  ran  nan  is  binne  na 
iad  so  : 

'S  mairg  a  dh'  earbadla  as  an  oige 
Ged  is  boidheach  i  r'  a  faicinn 
Neart  'us  cuma,  's  faoin  iad  comhladh, 
'S  i  glioraich  a  dh'  earbadh  asda. 

Bha  thusa,  Mhairearad,  òg  am   bliadh- 

naibh 
Bha  thu  ciatach  am  measg  òg-bhan 
Og  mar  bhean  thu,  òg  mar  mhàthair 
Og  'n  uair  ghairm  am  bks  sibh  comhladh. 

Mu'n    triuir    Bhaisteach    a    dh 
ainmich  mi  tha  e  mar  an  ceudna 


38 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Ean-aicli,  1S76 


fior  gur  e  an  t-aon  is  isle  buaidh- 
ean  is  airde  cliù  mar  Ughdar  Laoidli- 
ean — ^^'s  e  sin  Padruig  Grannd  a 
chaitli  a  bheatha  fhada  gu  li-ur- 
ramach  an  Stratli-Spè.  Gun 
teagamh  am  measg  nan  Soisgeulaicli- 
ean  a  dh'  fhag  an  riogliachd  so  o 
am  gu  li-àm,  's  a  chaith  am  beatha 
a'  saoithreachadh  an  duthchannaibh 
cèin,  cha  'n  aithne  dhomli  aon  is 
airidh  air  cliu  na's  airde  na'n  Dr. 
Sèumas  MacGriogair  ach  a  mhain 
Peairteacli  mar  bha  e  fein  a  tha 
fathast  maille  ruinn,  Dr.  Duff;  acli 
cho  robh  MacGriogair  cho  buadh- 
mhor  mar  Bhard  's  a  bha  e  mar 
dhuine  's  mar  Shoisgeulaiche.  Bu 
duilich  leam  ni  searbh  a'  radii  mu 
•n  duine  urramach  so ;  ach  tha  aon 
■ni  gu  sonruichte  a  tha  'diteadh  nan 
Laoidhean  aige  ann  am  bheachdsa 
■ — 's  e  sin  mar  -tha  moran  de  'n 
chainnt  's  de'n  smuain  air  an 
'tarruing  o  Bhaird  eile  agus  gu 
sonruichte  o  Dhonnachadh  Ban  Mac- 
an-t-Saoir.  Tha  a  cheart  rann 
agus  moran  de'n  ckainnt  anns  an 
do  sheinn  Donnachadh  Ban  eliù 
Mhairi  Bhàn  Og  aig  MacGriogair 
a'  cur  an  ceill  a  ghraidh  d'a  Fhear 
Saoraidh.  Cha  'n  e  mhain  so. 
Chuir  Donnachadh  bochd  an 
"  Cumha "  a'  rinn  e  do  Choire- 
cheathaich  ri  fonn  port-damhsa  cho 
iullagach  's  a  th'  againn — Flowers  of 
■Edinburgh ;  agus  mar  guna  biodh 
gach  ni  ceart  a  thigeadh  o  Mhac-an- 
■t-saoir  ghabh  MacGriogair  an  rann 
agus  cuid  de'n  chainnt  ann  an  Laoidh 
d'  an  d'  thug  e  mar  ainm  An  Gear  an! 
Chaoin  Donnachadh  Ban  Coire 
Cheathaich  mar  so  : — 

' '  Is  duilich  leam  an  càradh 
Th'  air  coire  gorm  an  fhasaich 
'S  an  d'  fhuair  mi  greis  g'  am  àrach 
'S  a  bhraighe  ud  thall,"  &c. 

agus  ghearain  MacGriogair  a  staid 
spioradail  fein  mar  a  leanas  : — 

"  Is  duilich  leam  mar  tha  mi, 
■  A''  Biubhal  le  mo  namhaid. 


Gun  umhail  do  na  h-aintibh, 
'S  mo  ghradh  dhoibh  cho  faun  : 
'S  iomadh  fear  a  bharr  orm, 
Tha  siubhal  reir  a  naduir, 
'S  e  'n  lagh  thafulang  tamailt, 
'Us  taire  nach  gann,"&c. 

Chuala  mi  iomradh  air  bantrack 
Piobaire  a  chaidli,  beagan  laithean 
as  deigh  bàis  a  fir,  a  dh'  fhaicinn  na 
h-uaighe.  Ghuil  a  bhantrach  bhochd 
gu  goirt,  phòg  i  'm  fòid  fo'n  robli 
fear  a  graidh  'n  a  luidhe,  agus  dh' 
eirich  i  gu  dubhach  a  dhol  dachaidh. 
Cha  robh  e  soirbh  dh'i  a  ciil  a  thoirt 
ri  "  leabadh  chaol  "  a  fir  ;  agus 
fathast  'n  a  seasamh  air  an  uaigh, 
chaidh  a  cuimhne  air  a  h-ais  gu 
laithean  a  h-oige,  an  uair  a  chuir  i 
eolas  air  a'  Phiobaire.  Bha 
na  cuimhneachain  taitneach,  oir 
"  gheibhear  gairdeachas  's  a'  bhròn." 
Tliog  smuain  na  bantraichgunadurra 
a  dh'  ionnsaidh  nam  port  a  bu  toigh 
leis  a'  Phiobaire  bhi  cluich  air  a' 
phiob.  Bha  aon  phort  gu  sonruichte 
air  an  do  shocruich  a  h-inntinn. 
"  Bha  do  speis  do'n  phort  so,  a 
riiin,"  arsa  bhantrach,  "riamh 
ro  mhòr,  agus  is  maith  tha  fios  agam 
c'arson,  's  e  am  port  a  bhithinn  fein 
an  comhnuidh  ag  iarraidh  ort  a 
chluich  an  uair  a  bha  sinn  a'  suiridii. 
Cha  leig  mi  am  port  sin  air  di- 
chuimhne  gu  brath."  Leig  a' 
bhantrach  bhochd  air  di-chuimhne 
aobhair  a  turuis.  Chaidli  a  giulan 
air  a  h-ais,  le  cumhachd  na  smuain, 
gu  bliadhnachan  a  h-òige  's  a  sunnd  ; 
agus,  mu'n  d'  thug  i  'n  aire  c'  àite 
an  robh  i,  sheinn  'us  dhanns'  i  'm 
port  air  uaigli  a  fir  nach  robh  seachcl- 
uin  marbh.  Saoilidh  mi  gu  bheil 
Donnachadh  Ban  a'  caoidh  Choirc- 
Cheathaich,  agus  Seumas  MacGriog- 
air a'  gearan  a  pheacanna,  ri  fonn 
Flowers  of  Edinburgh,  cho  fada  air 
seacharan  ris  a'  bhantraich  agus 
nach  'eil  leth-sgeul  na  bantraich  aca. 
Cha  d'thug  MacCoinnich  àite  do 
Dhonnachadh   Dughallach   ana   aa 


Cend  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


39 


"  Sar  obair  nam  Bard  Gaidliealacb," 
agus  cha  d'aiumich  ]\lacllleathain  e 
am  measg  nam  Bard  Diadhaidh. 
Bha'n  Dughallacli  'n  a  Shearmon- 
aiclie  an  Eilean  Thiritbe.  Cha'n 
f  baigbear  a  leabbar  acb  tearc ;  acb 
's  e  mo  bbarail  gu'n  do  tbaomadb 
Spiorad  na  Bardacbd  ann  an  tombas 
air  an  duine  so.  Cba  do  tbagb  e  ro 
tbric  fuinn  thaitneacb ;  agus  cba  'n 
'eil  a  rann  acb  ainmig  reidb  no  ceol- 
mbor  ;  acb  tba  inntinn  laidir  mbis- 
neacbail  aige,agus  tba'smuaintoracb, 
brigbmbor.  Feudaidb  e  bbi  nacb 
'eil  ann  acb  neonacbas,  acb  duisgidb 
laoidbean  an  Dugballaicb  agus  dealbb- 
au  ]\Ibic-an-t-Sagairt  (EaiTa-Gbaidb- 
ealacb  eile)  co-ionann  faireacbduin 
a  m'  inntinn.  Bbeir  iad  le  cbeile 
air  m'ais  mi  gu  b-Eileanan  na  h- 
Airde-n-Iar;  saoilidb  mi  gu  bbeil 
fead  na  gaoitbe  ro'n  mburan  'us 
gaoir  a'  cbladaicb  an  combnuidb  a 
m'  cbhiais. 

Le  nabubjgriadesmiora'Bbairdna 
Donnacbadb  Dugballacb  agus  le 
buaidbean  moran  na  b'  isle  na 
Seumas  jMacGriogair,  cboisinn 
Padruig  Grannd  barracbd  cliù 
le  cuid  de  'Laoidbean  (ged 
tba  cuid  eile  dbiu  air  bbeag 
luacb  mar  Bbardacbd)  na  cboisinn 
an  ditbis  eile  ged  cbuirteadb  combla 
iad.  Bbuidbinn  e  'n  cliù  so,  ann  an 
tombas  mor,  tba  mi  meas,  le  bbi  'cur 
smuain  sboilleir  ann  an  roinn  reidb, 
air  a'  cumadb  ri  fonn  freagarracb, 
farasda  tbogail.  Tba  moran  de 
"  Gbloir  an  Uain  "  agus  de  "  Bhas 
an  Fbirein  "  fior  mbaiseacb  agus  fior 
cbeolmbor.  Cbunuaic  mi  dearbb- 
adli  nacb  di-cbuimbnicb  mi  air  a' 
'gbreim  a  rinn  an  rann  a  leanas  air 
inntinn  cbeolmbor. 

Ged  dh'f  hag  sibli  sinne  brònach 
An  gleann  nan  deoir  'n  ar  deigh, 
Cha  'n  ann  mar  dhream  gun  dochas 
Xach  comhlaich  sinn  a  cheil'  ; 
Tha  sibhse  an  diugh  cho  sgiamhach, 
'S  cho  geal  ri  grian  nan  speur, 


'S  'n  uair  bhios  an  obair  criochnaicht' 
Bidh  sinne  triall  'n  ar  deigh. 

D.  M'K. 

ORAN  DO  THOBAE  A  CHUNXAIC 
MI  AXX  AX  TEAIGH  LOCH 
EEIBOL. 

{Song  to  a  Spring  in  the  Beach  of  Loch 
Erihol. ) 

CiOD  e  chuir  thu,  Thobair  fhior-uisg', 
Dh'iarraidh  anns  an  traigh  do  chuaich', 

Far  nach  tig  an  t-eun  a  dh'òl  dhiot, 
'S  nach  cinu  feoimein  air  do  bhruaich  ? 

Gur  milis  's  gur  grinn  thu,  Fhuarain, 
'S  air  learn  fhein  gur  cruaidh  do  dhkn, 

Am  folach  am  broUleach  na  mara, 
Fhad  's  a  mhaireas  am  muir-Ian. 

B'fhearr  learn  d'fhaicinn  anns  an  fhireach, 
Xo  an  innis  ghiiirm  nan  craobh, 

Far  an  òilt'  thu  moch  us  feasgar, 
Leis  an  EUid  is  a  laogh. 

Far  an  tigeadh  an  Damh  cabrach, 
O  'leabaidh  's  a'  chreachunn  fhuar, 

'Dh'òl  gu  deòthasach  de  'n  fhior-uisg, 
'Einn  fhalluinn  co  sgiamhach  tuar. 

Far  an  iarrt'  thu  leis  an  t-sealgair, 

Sgith  's  an  anmoch  tighinn  o'n  bheiim, 

'S  'n  uair  a  dh'òladh  e  a  leòir  dhiot, 
Cha  Ihbadh  e  'm  feoimein  fo  'bhuinn. 

Far  an  tigeadh  eoin  a'  bigil, 

'Fhliucheadh  ribhead  nam  pone  binn. 
Seal  mu"n  dùisgeadh  iad  a'  choille, 

Le  coireaU  nan  laoidbean  grhm. 

Far  'm  bu  mhiann  le  maighdinn  bhòidhich 

'Bhi  cumail  na  còmhdhail  àigh, 
'G  eisdeach  as  ùr  cliu  na  maise, 
j      'Chuir  lasadh  an  cridh'  a  grhidh: 

j  I  'goid  seallaidh  trie  a'  d'  sgathan, 
I      De  'n  àillèaehd  mu'n  d'rinn  e  sgeiil, 
'S  "n  uair  a  chromadh  i  a  dh'  Ò1  diot, 
E  'maoidheadh  dhut  pòig  o  'bèul. 

B'annsa  leam  an  sud  thn,  Thobait, 
Xa  'bhi  feadh  nan  clachan  garbh, 

'Dòrtadh  do  slrruthanan  soilleir 
Am  broilleach  nan  tonnan  searbh ; 

'Dòrtadh  d'  fhior-uisge  gu  diomhain, 
'S  ged  dh'fhiachadh  tu  gu  La-Luain, 

Cha  dean  thu  'n  cladach  na's  grinne, 
'S  cha  dean  thu  milis  an  Cuan. 


40 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1S7G. 


FEEAGAIKT  AN  TOBAIR. 

Ciod  a  chuir  thu,  'bhean,  'g  am  chtimha, 
Ged  is  garbh  's  is  clubh  mo  chuach, 

Ged  nach  e  grinneal  is  grunnd  dhomh, 
'S  nach  cinn  flùran  air  mo  bhruaich. 

Tha  mi  anns  an  tràigh  cho  suaimlineach, 
Ag  èisdeachd  ri  niiallan  nan  tonn, 

'S  ged  bu  cheol  dhomh  na  h-àrd  langain 
Aig  leannan  nan  aighean  donn. 

Cha  'n  eil  grinneas  na  mna-uaisle 

Ceangailte  ri  luach  a  send, 
'S  ged  bhios  riomhadh  daor  mu'n  fhiodhuill, 

Cha  dean  sud  na's  binn'  an  t(iud. 

'S  ged  bhiodh  ròsan,  feur,  us  biolair, 

Mu  m'  bhile  's  an  aonach  àrd, 
'Se  na  b'fheairrd  mi  fhein  sud  agam, 

'Bhi  maiseach  an  sealladh  Bàird'. 

'S  ioma  bean  tha  'm  bothan  brònach, 

Aig  a'  bheil  solas  'n  a  crann, 
Nach  eil  aig  baintigheaman  mòrail, 

Aig  a'  bheU  an  t-òr  neo-ghann. 

'S  ioma  bean  a  tha  mar  mise, 

A'  dòrtadh  ionmhas  a  gaoil 
Far  nach  f  haigh  i  meas  no  pris  air, 

Gus  an  ruig  i  crioch  a  saoghaU. 

'3  ged  tha  mise  leth  mo  latha 
'M  folach  azn  broilleach  an  loch, 

Eadar  tràghadh  agus  lionadh 
Bheir  mi  do  'n  iotmhor  a  dheoch. 

'S  ged  nach  tig  a  ghreadhan  uallach, 
Dh'iarraidh  fuarain  feadh  nan  clach, 

'S  trie  ag  Ò1  dhe'm  shruthain  fhior-uisg 
An  eala,  an  gèadh,  us  an  lach. 

'S  ged  bhithinn  gu  flurach  's  na  tolmain, 

No  an  innis  ghuirm  na  tùis, 
Cha  deanadh  tu  fhein  dhomh  òran, 

'S  cha  'n  fhaiceadh  tu  bòidhchead  nam 


Cha  dean  mi  'n  cladach  na's  grinne, 
'S  ris  a'  chuan  cha  bhi  mi  'stri, 

Ach  bheir  mi  mo  shruthan  gu  milis 
Do'n  àite  anns  'na  chuireadh  mi. 

Maim  Nic-Ealaie. 

St.  Petersburg,  a's  t-fhoghar,  1875. 


COMHRADH 

EADAR  MURACHADH  BAN  AGUS 
COINNEACH  CIOBAIR. 

M. — "  Blia    dull   agam    riut    an 
nochd,  a  Clioinnich,  agus  is  mi  tha 


toilichte  nach  do  mheall  tliu  orm 
's  an  duil  sin.  Bha  fios  agam  gu'n 
robh  thii  a'  cur  rombad  a  bhi  ann 
am  Baile-na-Cille  air  Dimairt  a  dh- 
f  haicinn  gach  ni  a  reicear  an  la  sin, 
agus  chuir  mi  fios  thugad  le  Domh- 
null  Mac  Alasdair  Mhic  Sheumais, 
a  bhi  cinnteach  gun  tigeadh  tu  an 
nochd  gu  bhi  deas  chum  nan  gnoth- 
uichean  cianail  ann  am  Baile-na-Cille 
fhaicinn  air  an  ath  sheachdain. 
Tha  mi  'n  dòchas  gu'n  d'  fhag  thu 
slàn  iad  eadar  bheag  agus  mhòr  's 
a'  Ghoirtean-Fhraoich." 

C. — "  Tha  iad  air  an  cosaibh  gu 
lèir,  agus  cha  lugha  na  mile  beann- 
achd  a  chuir  Seonaid  dh'  ionnsuidh 
nan  uile  's  an  fhàrdaich  so.  Tha 
gnothuichean.  Fir  Bhaile-na-Cille 
cianail  da  rireadh  ma's  fior  na  chual 
mi  mu'n  tiomehioll." 

M. — "  Cha'n  'eil  ath-sgeul  air, 
agus  d'a  thaobh-san  cha'n  urrainn 
cùisean  a  bhi  ni's  miosa.  Cha'n 
f  hàgar  fiu  luach  na  circe  aige  nach 
toirear  uaith,  ach  a'  bhean  agus  na 
pàisdean,  agus  mo  thruaigh  iadsan 
a  nis !  Ach  thug  iad  orra  fein  e. 
Cha'n  ann  cosmhuil  ri  tuathanach  a 
bha  e,  a  dh'  fheumadh  seasamh  ri 
màl  tròm  gach  leth-bhliadhna,  ach 
ri  uachdaran  saibhear  nach  b'  urrainn 
grunnd  an  sporrain  aige  a  ruigheachd 
clh'  aindeoin  cosdais." 

C. — "  Tha  amhuras  agam  gu'n  d' 
fhuair  esan  innleachd  air  grunnd  a 
sporain  a  ringheachd  agusascriobadh 
falamh.  Cha'n  fhoghnadh  do  dh' 
fhear  Bhaile-na-Cille,  agus  d'a 
chuid  mhac  agus  nigliean,  ach  eich 
agus  carbaid  dheth  gach  cumadh 
agus  gnè,  cuirmean,  pòiteireachd, 
ruidhteireachd,  agus  gleadhraich 
dhe'n  t-seòrsa  sin  gach  la  dhe'n 
bhliadhna.  Cha  b'  urrrainn  Sir 
Sòumas  fein  seasamh  ri  sin.  Ach 
c'àit  am  bheil  taing  Fir  Bhaile-na- 
Cille  an  diugh  's  a  dhruim  ri  balla  ? 
Ochan  !  nach  robh  muinntir  stolda, 
stuama,  agus  glic." 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


41 


M. — "  Cha'n  fhios  domh  air  an 
t-saoghal  ciod  a  dh'  eireas  da  fein, 
agus  d'a  theaghlacli  àrdanach,  uibli- 
reach,  ainniseach  !  Tha  aobhar  aca 
a  radii  mar  a  tlinbliairt  an  Stuibhard 
èucoracli, —  "  clia'n  urrainn  sinn 
ruadiiar  a  dlieanamh,  agus  is  near 
leinn  deirc  iarraidii." 

0. — "Ruadiiar  a  dlieanamli !  Clia 
b'e  'n  sealladli  beag  na  niglieanna 
riomliach,  leòmach,  aige,  mar  na 
deallain-de  fliaicinn  a'  ruadiiar  air 
no  raointibli,  no  ri  dubli-obair  sam 
bitli  eiie.  Is  oic  a  thigeadli  e  diiaibh, 
acli  CO  is  coireacli  Ì  Cha  robli  acli 
òinseacii  'n  am  màtliair,  agus  amàdan 
'n  an  atliair,  acli  ciod  ris  am  feudar 
dùil  a  bin  a  tliaobli  an  slioclid  1  An 
càite  do'n  cliloinn  a  blii  air  an  àracli- 
adli  suas  ami  an  gliocas,  grunndalas, 
agus  deagh  blianas-tiglie,  agus  air 
an  teagasg  clium  an  hamli  a  cliur  ris 
gacli  obair  a  stigli  agus  a  macli, 
tliugadli  cead  do  na  niglieanaibli 
agus  do  na  gillibh  maraon,  fas  suas 
ann  an  aineolas  air  na  nitliibli  sin 
gu  leir,  agus  rud  a's  miosa,  ann  an 
aineolas  air  gacli  foglilum  bu  choir 
a  blii  aca  mar  mhuinntlr  's  an  inbh' 
sin  anns  an  robli  iad  'g  an  suidli- 
eacliadli  fein.  Cliual  mise  nach  'eil 
sgoil  sam  bith  aig  an  òigridh  air  fad, 
agus  is  cianail  an  gnotliuch  e !  Is 
mòr  an  dearmad  air  son  am  blieil 
aig  na  pàrantaibli  sin  ri  freagairt  a 
tliaobh  na  ciiise  so,  oir  is  muladacli 
ann  an  diitliaicli  Cliriosduidh,  gu'm 
biodh  sliochd  duine  a  bha  'g  a  mheas 
feinnab'fliearr  namuinntir  eile,air  an 
togail  suas  ceart  co  aineolach  ri  loth 
na  h-asaile  liadhaicli." 

M. — "Tha  sin  uile  ro  fhior,  a 
Clioinnich,  oir  cha'n  aithne  dhomli 
an  diugh  teaghlach  a  tha  ann  an 
staid  na 's  truaighe  na'n  teaghlach  sin 
ann  am  Baile-na-Cille.  Leig  fear- 
an-tighe  fein  le  fiachaibh  gu'n 
choimeas  meudachadh  na  aghaidh. 
Cha  robh  e  'gabhail  suiiii  dhiubh, — 
cha  robh  e  'cumail  nan  gnothuichean 


aige  rèidh,  ach  bha  e  'cur  an  drocli 
la  seachad  le  bhi  'g  oibreachadh  o 
mhios  gu  mios  anns  na  bancaichibh 
dublia  sin, — a'  dearmad  a  dhleasn- 
ais  d'a  theaghlach, — a'  call  suime 
dheth  riaghladh  an  fhearainn  aige, 
— a'tagail  gach  cùis  ann  an  laniliaibh 
a  chuid  sheirbhiseach, — a'  cur  na  li- 
ùine  seachad  aim  an  ruidhteireachd, 
agus  a'  fagail  a  shliochd  fein  mar  a 
tiiubhairt  thu,  a  Choinnich,  gu  tur 
aineolach,  gu'n  sgil,  gu'n  sgoil,  gu'n 
stiùireadh,  gu'n  seòladh,  chum  gach 
ni  a  dheanamh  a  reir  an  toil  fein. 
Acli  a  nis,  thàinig  na  nithe  sin  gu 
buil,  agus  ann  an  aon  la,  thuit  nèul 
dorch  air  Baile-na-cille,  an  uair  a 
bhriichd  an  luchd-lagha,  agus  na 
maoir  an-iochdmhorastighair  chum 
gach  ni  a  chur  fo  chis  le  h-ughdarras 
do-chiosnachaidh  an  drèuchd  fein. 
Gun  teagamh  is  leòir  an  staid  dh' 
ionnsuidh  an  d'  thug  Baile-na-cille  e 
fein,  chum  suilean  gach  tuathanaich 
's  a'  Ghaidhealtachd  f  hosgladh,  agus 
chum  cùrani,  gliocas,  agus  measarr- 
achd  a  theagasg  dhoibh.  A  thaobh 
nàdair  bha  e  'n  a  dhuine  càirdeil, 
comunnail,  coingheallach,  agus  re 
ùine  curamach  mu  ghnothuichean 
fein,  ach  a'  chuid  's  a'  chuid  dh'  f  has 
6  mòr  'n  a  bheachd  fein,  agus 
chaidli  e  leis  an  t-sruth.  Clia'n 
f  hoghnadh  dha  ach  a  bhi  a  dh'  aoin- 
bheum  'n  a  dhuin'-uasal.  Agus 
chum  na  criche  so,  cha  bliiodh  e 
toilichte  mar  faiceadh  e  daoine  mora 
na  diithcha  gach  la  a'  taoghal  air. 
Bu  mhuladach  a  bhi  'faicinn  a 
ghiùlain  air  an  dòigh  so ;  's  eadli, 
bu  chianail  a  bhi  fianuiseach  air 
mar  bha  e  air  a  lionadh  le  mòr-chuis 
agus  stràicealachd,  agus  mar  sin,  le 
amaideachd  fein  a  treorachadh  a 
theaghlaicli  gu  sgrios.  Uime  sin, 
gabhadh  gach  tuathanach,  agus  gach 
neach  eile  rabhadh  o  ghiulan  gun 
chèill  an  duine  thruaigh  so,  a  chaidh 
gu  h-obunn  dh'  ionnsuidh  na  bochd- 
ainn  le'  shùilibh  fosgailte." 


42 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  ISIhios  an  Eaeraieh,  1S76 


C. — "Is  lag-cliuiseacli  an  creutair 
an  duine  an  iiair  a  dli'  f  hàgar  e  dha 
fein,  agus  air  sin  tha  Fear  Bhaile-na- 
cille  'n  a  eiseimpleir  soillear.  Chual 
mi  nacli  'eil  lide  aige  an  diiigh  dhe'n 
Ghaelig,  cainnt  a  mliàthar  fein,  agus 
nach  ceadaich  e  focal  dhi  a  labhairt 
le  theaghlacli  'n  a  thigh  fein,  agus 
tha  fios  aig  an  t-saoghal  nach  'eil 
Beurla  Bhaile-na-cille  a'  bheag  ni's 
fearr  na  Beurla  Choinnich  Chiobair." 

M.  — "  Cha'n  'eil,  no  leth  oho 
maith,  oir  tha  anabarrach  cearb- 
ach  's  a'  chainnt  sin,  agus  is  iomadh 
gàire  mòr  a  bheir  e  air  Fear-a'- 
Chaisteil,  Fear-na-Cuile,  agus  orrasan 
uile  a  ta  'taoghal  air.  Ochan !  an 
truaghan  gu'n  tuigse  !  Tha  iad  sin 
uile  a'  milleadh  a  chodach,  a'  dean- 
amh  miodail  ris.  sgus  'g  a  sheideadh 
suas  le  h-uaill  air  son  spòrs  dhoibh 
fein ;  ach  nach  beag  a  ni  iad  'g  a 
chuideachadh  an  diugh  an  uair  a  ta 
a  clieann  fo'n  uisge  1 " 

C. — "  Ach  is  brònach  an  ni  a  bhi 
faicinn  na  cloinne  aige  co  anabarr- 
ach aineolach,  agus  co  tur  mi-chom- 
usach  air  ni  sam  bith  a  dhcanamh 
air  an  son  fein.  Tha  iad  'n  an  cul- 
aidh'thruais  mòran  na's  miosa  na  na 
creutairean  sin  a  ta  air  Leabhar- 
nam-bochd." 

M. — "  Cha'n  -eil  leisgeul  aig  neach 
an  diugh  a  chlann  a  bhi  ann  an 
aineolas,  agus  sgoil  ach  gann  ri 
'faotuinn  air  gach  cnoc." 

C— "Ma  ta,  a  Mhurachaidh,  b'iad 
sin  na  sgoilean  daora,  agus  na 
sgoilean  trioblaideach.  Cha  lugha 
na  tri  dhiubh  a  tha  'gun  togail  's  an 
sgireachd  againne,  agus  aon  diubh 
'n  acaistealmòr  air  Cnoc-nan-coileach 
a  dh'  fhoghnadh  mar  ionad  còmh- 
nuidh  do  Shir  Seumas  fein.  Ubh 
ubh  !  cha'n  'eil  cuimse  idir  aca." 

M. — "  Cha'n  'eil  na  sgoilean  sin  a 
nasgaidh,  a  Choinnich,  an  àite  sin, 
creachaidh  iad  an  dùthaich." 

C — "  A  nasgaidh !  'Cha'n  'eil  port 
a  nasgaidh  ann,'  's  na  h-amannaibh 


cruaidhe  so.  Nach  do  chuir  mi 
mach  ochd  sgillinn  deug  as  a'  Phunnd 
Shasunnach  de  mliàl,  air  an  t-seach- 
dain  so  chaidh  air  an  son,  a  thuill- 
eadh  air  paigheadh  roimh  laimh  air 
son  gach  aon  dhe'n  chuignear 
chloinne  a  chuir  mi  do'n  sgoil  an  la 
roimhel  Cha'n urrainn  duinn  seasamh 
ri  sin,  agus  Airgiod-nam-bochd  a 
bharrachd  air  sin.  Tha  gach  ni  a' 
luidh  gu  trom  air  an  tuathanach 
bliochd,  agus  is  maith  mar  gèilll 
gach  aon  diubh  fo'n  eire  thriiim  mar 
a  rinn  amadan  Bhaile-na-cille." 

M. — "  Cha  b'  iad  na  sgoilean  no 
na  bochdan  a  chreach  an  duine 
truagh  sin,  ach  na  tighean-òsda,  agus 
na  daoine  mora  mu'n  cuairt  da, 
maille  ri  miann  do-shàsuchaidh  a' 
chridhe  fein  gu  bhi  mòr,  uasal,  agus 
spagluinneach.  Ach  gu'n  teagamh 
tha  na  sgoilean  agus  cisean  nam 
bochd  anabarrach  trom.  Cha'n  iad 
a  mhàin  na  tighean-sgoile  agus 
duaisean  an  luchd-teagaisg  a  tha  'n 
an  uallach  air  na  tuathanaich  shàr- 
uichte,  ach  mar  an  ceudna  sgaotli  de 
luchd-dreuchd  eile.  Tha  sgriobh- 
airean,  clèirich,  agus  oifigich  àraidh, 
a'  sgiùrsaidh  na  dùthcha,  agus  a' 
greasadh  gach  pàisde  dh'  ionnsuidh 
na  sgoile,  biodli  e  tinn  no  slàn, 
lomnochd  no  sgeudaichte,  casruisgte 
no  còmhdaichte,- — agus  aig  gach  aon 
dhiubh  so  fa  leth  tha  deagh-dhuais 
air  son  an  saoithreach.  Agus  cha'n 
e  so  e  uile,  ach  cha'n  fhaod  paisd  a 
a  shròin  a  cliur  a  stigh  air  dorus  an 
tighe-sgoile  gun  airgiod  a  mhaighstir 
a  bhi  'n  a  dhòrn.  As  eugais  sin 
cuirear  dhachaidh  e,  agus  cha  luaith' 
a  ruigeas  e  tigh  'athar  na  dh' 
f  hògaireas  an  t-oifigeach  e  air  ais  a 
ris  dh'  ionnsuidh  na  sgoile,  agus  aig 
an  am  cheudna  a'  Ccàineadh  athair 
na  teaghlaich  do  bhrigh  nach  'eil  e 
'a  cur  a  niacli  an  airgid  dhlighich  air 
son  na  cloinne  aige.  An  sin,  eiridh 
còmhstrith  eadar  fear  an  tighe  agus 
an  t-oifigeach,  a  chionn  gu'm  bheil 


Ceud  Mhios  an  EaiTaich,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL, 


43 


an  t-aon  a'  tagradli  nach  eil  e  'n  a 
chomas  an  t-airgiod  a  chur  a  mach, 
agus  an  t-aon  eile  a'  cur  an  ceill  gu'm 
fèum  e  sin  a  dheanamh,  agns  mur 
'eil  sin  da  rireadh  'n  a  chomas 
faigheadh  e  e  o  Bhòrd-nam-bochd. 
Uime  sin,  air  da  a  bhi  falamli,  gun 
fiu  aon  sgillinn  ruith  'n  a  sporran, 
tha  e'  toirt  a'  Bhùird  sin  air,  ach  cha 
luaith'  a  dh'  innseas  e  a'  chuis,  na 
chuireas  am  Bòrd  air  falbh  e,  a'  cur 
an  ceUl  da,  ann  am  briatbraibh 
aithghearr,  crosda,  gu'm  bheil  e  'n 
a  dliuine  a  ta  slàn,  laidir,  fallain, 
agus  uime  sin,  Ian  chcmusacli  air 
obair  a  dheanamh,  agus  gu'm  feum 
e  airgiod  na  sgoile  iocadh  gun  dàil 
Cuimhnicheadh  e,  mur  dean  e  sin 
gu  toihchte,  gu'n  dean  an  lagh  a  cho'- 
eigneachadh,  olc  air  mhaith  leis  e. 
Air  an  dòigh  so,  tha  àÌDihreitean  ag 
eiridh  auns  gacli  sgireachd,  agus  tha 
a'  chlann  bhochd  mar  eadar  dha 
theine  air  an  ruagadh  a  null 's  a  nail, 
gun  a  bhi  idir  a'  faotuinn  na 
buannachd  a's  lugh  o'n  sgoil." 

C. — Chuir  thu  gu  direach,  ceart 
na  CLiisean  an  ceill  mar  a  tha  iad,  a 
]\Ihurachaidh,  agus  is  aithne  dhòmh- 
sa  aon  duine  bochd  a  tha  's  a'  cheart 
am,  anns  an  staid  sin  a  dh'  ainmich 
thu,  agus  is  e  sin  mo  choimhears- 
nach  fein  Seumas  MacUillleim  Mine 
Euairidh.  Thu  deichnear  chloinne 
aige  (gu'n  robh  iad  air  am  beann- 
achadh  dha)  agus  seachduar  dhiubh 
ann  an  aois  na  sgoile.  Tha'n  t- 
oifigeach  ri  'shail  gach  la,  'g  a  chàin- 
eadh,  'g  a  chiobadh,  agus  'g  a  bhag- 
airt  air  sou  a  bhi  'cumail  triùir 
dhiubh  as  an  sgoil ;  agus  air  an 
làimh  eile,  tha  Seumas  bochd  a'  tag- 
radh  le  firinn  nach  urrainn  da  a' 
chaochladh  a  dheanamh.  Cha  'n 
'eil  a  thuarasdal  ach  da  sgillinr  Shas- 
unnaich  's  an  la  an  uair  a  bhios  an 
aimsir  tioram,  gun  ùine  bhriste, 
agus  gu  cinnteach  cha  'n  'eil  iomall 
mor  air  sin,  an  deigh  da  bheul 
dheug  a  lionadh,  da  choluinn  dheug 


a  sgeadachadh,  agus  màl  tìghe 
iocadh, — cha  'n  'eil  iomall  air  sin, 
mar  a  thubhairt  mi,  chum  a  bheag  a 
thoirt  seachad  air  son  na  cloinne  a 
theagasg. 

M. — Cha  'n  'eil,  cha  'n  'eil,  a 
Choinnich,  a  reir  mo  bheachd-sa, 
cha  robh  mòran  gliocais  ann  an  cinn 
nan  àrd-riaghlairean  sin  a  dhealbh 
na  reachdan  cruaidhe  sin  a  thaobh 
nan  sgoilean,  agus  mur  ath-leasaich- 
ear  iad  bheir  iad  sgrios  air  an  dùth- 
aich.  Tha  na  h-uile  nithe  ag 
oibreachadh  an  aghaidh  an  duine 
bhochd.  Tha  e  air  a  chlaoidh,  agus 
air  a  sharuchadh.  Tha  an  spiorad 
aige  air  a  bhriseadh,  agus  do  bhrigh 
nach  'eil  cumhachd  aige  nithe  a  ta 
eucomusach  a  thoirt  gu  crich,  tha 
e  a'  call  a  mhisnich,  a'  tuiteam  ann 
an  èu-dòchas,  agus  a'  fas  caoin-shuar- 
ach  mu  nithe  an  t-saoghail  a  ta  lath- 
air,  agus  a  ta  chum  teachd. 

C. — Bhuail  thu  gu  direach  an 
tarrang  air  a  ceann,  a  Mhurachaidh, 
oir  cha  'n  'eil  viicheadh  air  a'  chilis 
idir,  agus  is  lionmhor  iad  anns  gach 
cearnadh  dhe  'n  Ghàidhealtachd  a 
thogas  fianuis  air  an  fhirinn  sin." 

M. — Ochan  !  mo  thruaigh  gur 
fior  an  sgeul,  agus  mu  leanas  ciiisean 
fad  air  an  doigh  sin,  mill  ear  an  dùth- 
aich,  agus  cuirear  stad  air  gach 
soirbheas  agus  sonas.  Is  iad  na 
cosnaichean,  an  luchd-ceairde,  agus 
gu  sònraichte  na  tuathanaich  a  ta 
'cumail  siias  na  rioghachd,  agus  ma 
mhillear  iadsan,  tuitidh  gach  ni  ann 
an  aimhreit,  agus  thig  an  t-àm  auns 
am  faic  an  rioghachd  Bhreatannach 
an  la  a's  àirde. 

C. — Na  dean  droch  mhanadh,  a 
Mhurachaidh,  ach  fag  gach  ni  ann 
an  làimh  an  Fhreasdail  mhòir  agus 
ghlic  sin  aig  am  bheil  cumhachd 
solus  a  thoirt  a  dorchadas,  agus  gach 
slighe  cham  a  dheanamh  direacli. 
Fàgaidh  sinn  na  nithe  sin,  ma  ta, 
gun  tuilleadh  a  ràdh  mu'n  timchioll 
aig  an  am,  ann  an  dòchas  gu'n  oibr- 


44 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1S76. 


ich  iad  le  cheile  fatliast  chum  maith 
d'ar  tir,  agus  do  gach  àrd  agus  iosal 
a  ta  'g  a  h-àiteachadh.  Slàn  leat  an 
diugli,  a  charaid  mo  ghràidh,  slàn 
leat. 

M. — Slan  leat-sa,  a  Choinnich, 
agus  na  bi  fad  gus  an  tig  thu  a  ris. 
"  Is  iomadh  rud  a  cliith  an  duine  a 
bhiosfadabeo,"  agus  tha  mi'n  dòchas 
gu'm  blieil  iad  beò  a  chith  nithe  a' 
soirbheachadh  gu  sònraichte  am 
raeasg  nan  Gàidheal,  gu'm  faigli  iad 
am  meas  agus  an  cliii  sin  a  thoill 
iad,  agus  gu'm  bi  gach  lagh  agus 
reachd  air  am  beannachadh  chum 
an  leas.  Mile  beannachd  do  Sheòn- 
aid.     Slàn  leat. 

Alasdair  Euadh. 


SOIPJDH. 

Rinneadh  an  t-òran  a  leanas  le  Aonghus 
Mor  ]\Iac-Coinnich  nach  mairionn,  Àbracli 
a  thug  deich  bliadhna-fichead  'n  a  àrd- 
ghlomanach  air  frithean  Mhic-Shimidh. 
'N  uair  a  thug  an  t-àrd  's  an  aois  dheth  na 
f  eidh  chaidh  e  air  imrich  do  Chanada.  Cha 
d'  fhàg  e  sealgair  'n  a  dheaghaidh  a  bu 
chuimsiche,  's  a  bu  mhion-eòlaiche  air 
àbhaistean  fhir-na-croice.  Dh'  eug  e  's  a' 
bhliadhna  1858  fo  dheagh  bhiùthanas  aig 
mithibh  us  mathaibh  a  dhuthcha. 

C.  S. 

Ochan's  gur  mise  tha  fo  mhulad, 

An  diu  's  an  de's  gach  latha  ri  tuireadh, 

Cuimhnachadh     Albainn    a     dh'fhàg     mi 

'n  uiridh — 
B'og  bha  mi  'ga  falbh  le  mo  Ghunna. 

Gur  ann'  siud  bha  'n  àbhachd  ainmeil, 

'S  iomadh  latha  riamh  dhearbht'e, 

Silidh  na  Feiune  thair  gem-  luchd  scan — 

chais — 
Fhinn  'us  Oisean's  Oscair  chalma. 

'S  ged  ghabh  mise  mo  chead  buan  dhith, 
'S  ged  ghabh  mi  an  t-aiseag  thar  a'  chuan 

uaip' 
'S  trie  mi  'smaoineachadh  an  uaigneas 
Cuimhn'chadh  air  a  Gleanntaibh  uaimhne, 

'S  gu'm  b'iad  sid  GUnn  an  arain, 
Glinn  an  ime,  Glinn  a'  bhainne, 
Glinn  chruidh-laoidh  air  airidh  bharraich, 
Far  am  bi'n  damh  dearg  a'  langan. 


'S  òg  thug  mi  gaol  do'n  t-sealgach 

Bhi    g'    eiridh    moch   's  tighinn  dachaidh 

anmoch 
Siubhal  sleitibh  bheannta  garbhlaich 
Le  guuna  caol  nan  gleus  neo-chearbach. 

'S  beag  an  t-ioghnadh  mi  bhith  fo  airteal, 
Cuimhn'chadh  air  gach  beus  a  chleachd  mi' 
Falbh  gu  h-uallach  bheann  'us  chreachann 
'S  a'  fagail  mac  na  h-eild'  gun  astar. 

Ach  's  e  thogadh  sunnd  air  m'  aigneadh, 
Cead  bhi  'g  eiridh  ann  's  a'  mhadainn 
Shealg  an  fheidh  mar  a  chleachd  mi 
S  'dubh-nam-bann'  fo  sgeod  mo  bhreacain. 

Bho'n  's  trie  loisg  mi  leatha  fhdar,, 
Beul  glaic  nam  fuaran  dùbh-ghorm 
'S  peileir  teann  'n  a  com  nach  diùltadh 
Toll  a  thoirt  air  bian  an  udlaich. 

Ach  bho'n  a  leig  mi  dhiom  an  ealaidh, 
'S  nach  dirich  mi  beinn  no  beallach, 
Bithidh  mo  ghunna  caol  gun  leannan, 
Te  mo  ghaoil  nach  d'  rinn  mo  mhealladh. 

Ach  's  trie  mi  smaointinn  le  airteal, 
Air  na  càirdibh  dh'  fhàg  mi  'n  tasgaidh, 
An  cistibh  caola  fo  na  leacaibh 
Thall  thair  cuan  nan  stuadhaibh  farsainn. 

Dh  'fhkg  sid  m'-inntinn  oho  luaineach 
Eis  a'  ghaoith  bhios  air  na  cuaintibh, 
Cuimhn'chadh  air  gach  ni  le  'luasgan, 
Gu'n  f hios  c'àite  an.  toirear  uaigh  dhomh. 

Ach  mile  beannachd  bhuam  gu'm  chaird- 

ibh, 
'S  mile  beannachd  tha,ir  an  t-skile, 
Dh'  ionnsiijdh  'n  àite  an  deachaidh  m'ar- 

ach 
Braigh  Lochabar  na^i  beann  krda. 

B'e  siud  duthaich  nan  sàr-ghaisgeach, 
Dh'am  math  thig  fèiieadh  'us  breacan, 
Osan  teann  fo  ghliln  le  gartan, 
'S  brògan  sùbaUt  chum  an  astair. 

'S  trie  a  thog  iad  piob  'us  bratach, 

Bho     Cheann-Lochial     gu      Braigh-Loch- 

Airceig, 
'S  bho  thaobh  Loch-Lòchaidh  mhoir  nam 

bradan,    . 
Mach    Gleann-Spiathain    gu    ceann-Loch- 

Lagaia. 

Ge  b'e  thachradh  oirbh  an  uair  sin, 
Ur  fuil  dearrsadh  àrd  'n  ur  gruaidhean, 
Bhiodh  ur  naimhdean  ga  'u  ruith  's  gr 

ruagadh, 
An  deigh  sgiùrsadh  le  lannaibh  cruaLJi;.'  . 


Ceul  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1S70. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


45 


MU  SHEALG  DHEIRINNEACH 
OISEIN. 

BiTA  Oisian  iia  sliean  aois  ann  an 
Tigh  a  muigh  na  aonar  ann  am 
Ba/ile  gan  ainm  Gleann-caoin-fheoir 
an  Spithreaclid  Thorasa.  Cliuir 
Pàdrnig  agus  nighean  Oisian,  cul 
ris,  le  ro  mheud  sa  dhichidh  e. 
Cimr  Padruig  cuireadh  air  Oisian 
athir-ceila  air  latlia  araid  chum  feusd 
a  dh'  umhluiche  do  dliream  araid 
(Iheth  na  cairdibh.  Cliuir  aon  do 
na  daoinibli  oga,  reasgach  a  bha  nan 
suidh  aig  an  fheusd,  aig  an  robh 
Calpa  Feidli  ga  clireim,  a  cheist  air 
Oisian  a  faca  e  riamh  calpa  feidh  bu 
mho  nan  calp  ud.  Eng  Oisian  air  a 
chalpa  agus  mheurich  e  e,  oir  bha  e 
na  dhall  an  uair  sin.  Agus  f  hreag- 
air  e  'n  t  oganach,  agus  thubhairt  e 
ris  gu  fac  e  calpa  Luin  moran  ni  bu 
mho,  agus  gum  b'  aithne  dha  'n  t  aite 
'n  robh  e.  Mar  a  bhi  dith  na  Leir- 
sin.  0  !  se  'n  t'  amadan  truadh  ars 
a  nighin  a  fear  ata  tabhairt  creideis 
dhuit  led  Bhosd  agus  led  Bhria- 
gaibh.  Thug  i  an  togail  ghrad  sin 
air  Eachdraidh  na  Feinnidh  bha 
sgriobht'  aig  a  companach  Padruig, 
agus  thilg  i  'n  t-ioralan  ann  am 
meadhoin  'n  teinidh,  agus  chaidh 
iad  re  theinidh,  mun  do  rug  iad  ach 
air  ro  bheag  a  shabhaladh  dhiubh. 
Bha  Padruig  ro  dhuilich  air  son. 
Mata  ars  Oisian  dearbhidh  mise 
dhuibh,  gar  i  'u  f  hirinn  ata  agamsa. 
Agus  a  Phàdruig  mo  cheadichis  tu 
do<;l  mhac  falbh  leamsa  lorgadh  mi 
mach  fathast  Calpan  Luin.  Dh' 
aonntiiich  Padruig  a  leigidh  leis. 
Dhalbli  Oisian  agus  mac  Phàdruig, 
ga  'm  b'  ainm  an  Gille-blar-odhar. 
Choisich  iad  gu  iochdar  Beinn  an  t- 
sealluidh,  agus  thog  iad  a  mach  ri 
achadh  gan  ainm  Lurg  larinn. 
Thubhairt  Oisian  ri  odha  ciod  e 
laochain  a  thu  nis  a  faichdinn,  oir 
tha  mi  cluinntinn  monmhor  bruidh- 
ne.     Tha  ars  odha  daoine  tha  air 


Seisrich  lamh  rinn.  Thoir  mise 
laochain  an  rathid  a  tha  iad ;  rinn 
odha  mar  a  dh'  iarr  e  air.  'S  math 
a  gheibhar  sibh  f  hearamh  ars  Oisian. 
Tha  sinn  a  deanamh  mar  dhaodas 
sinn  ars  a  na  fioir.  Thoir  dhomh 
do  lamh  ars  Oisian  ris  a  chrann- 
aorean  cha  tabhair  ars  odha,  ach 
thabhair  an  colltair'  as  a  chrann, 
agus  thabhar  dha  e.  Rinn  an  duine 
mar  sin,  agus  ghlac  Oisian  'n  colltaire 
agus  lùb  e  air  a  cheil'  e. 

Na  dheidh  sin  thog  iad  a  mach  re 
mam  bradhadil,  agus  theirinn  iad 
air  Leitir  Luin,  air  a  bheil  an  t-ainm 
sin  gus  an  la  'n  diu'.  Deir  Oisian  re 
odha  bi  furachair  a  faic  u  seana 
chraobh  mhor  dharuich  agus  cos  na 
taobh.  Thuair  an  Gille-blar-odhar 
i  gun  ro  mhoran  saothrich,  le  seol- 
adh  a  Shean-athir.  Chuir  Oisian  a 
lamh  a  stigh  sa  chòs  'us  thug  e  mach 
as  calpa  'n  Luin.  Dh'  imich  iad 
rompa  mach  as  a  choillidh.  Seall  a 
laochain  ars  Oisian  a  faic  u  cnoc  mor 
anns  a  bhlar  an  iochdar  na  coille. 
Chi  ars  odha.  Treoruich  mis'  n  sin 
ars  Oisian.  Se  ainm  a  chnoic  sa 
Ceann  a  chnoc  ain.  Cnoc-fraorc  bu 
ghnath  leis  an  Fheinn  a  bhi  a  tath- 
ich  gu  trie  ann  sua  linnibh  roimhe 
sin.  Ceart  lamh  ris  a  pholl  na 
thoidhluichd  Fionn  athair  Oisin  an 
coire  ris  an  canar  gus  an  la  'n  diu' 
poll  choir  Fhinn.  Thuigh  iad  air  a 
chnoc  agus  ghabh  iad  mo  thamh  an 
sin  re  na  h-oich'. 

Ghuidh  Oisian  gu  duthrachdach 
gum  biodh  Biorach-Mac-Buidheag  an 
t-aon  chu  bu  dona  bha  riamh  san 
Fheinn  air  dheonuchadh  dha.  Mhos- 
guil  e  mu  dheiridh  na  h-oich'  'us  e 
mothachadh  trom  air  muin,  a  chos, 
agus  dh'  athnich  e  gun  d'  fliuair  e 
athchuimhnich.  Dh'  f  ban  e  mar  a 
bha  aige  gu  briseadh  na  faire. 
Dhuisg  Oisian  an  Gille-blar-odhar, 
agus  thug  Oisian  eibh  na  iolach 
mhor  as  a  chuir  geilt-chrith  air  gach 
creutair  gluasadach  a  bha  anns  na 


46 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  ISIhios  an  Earraicli,  1876. 


coilltichean  man  duairt  dha.  Ciod  e 
chi  u  ars  Oisian  ris  a  Ghille-bhlair- 
odhar?  Tha  mi  faicsinn  aireamli 
lionmhor  do  chreutairibli  beaga 
seanga  ruadha.  Leigidh  sinn  se- 
achad  iad  sin  deir  Oisian.  Cha  'n 
eil  a  sin  a  Laochain  ach  slioclid  na 
Luaithe-Liiinnich.  Thug  Oisian  an 
atli-èidli  as.  Ciod  e  nois  a  chi  thu 
laochain.  Chi  mi  ars  odha  na  h- 
iirid  do  bheathichibh  seanga  donna. 
Tlia  sin  sliochd  na  Deirge-Dasnuiche. 
Leig  sin  seachad  fathasd.  Thug  e 
an  treas  èidh  as  Dli'  f  heoruich  e  da 
odha  ciod  e  bha  e  faicsinn.  Tha 
mi  faicsinn  ars  odha  moran  de  fhei- 
dhibh  troma-donna.  Bis  tuig  Bior- 
aohmacbd  buidhaig.  Ee  siubhal  a 
laochain  a  faic  u  'n  cu  a  tighin.  0  ! 
chi  mis  e  ars  an  Gille-blarr-odhar 
agus  a  chraos  fosgailt.  Cha  neil  mo 
chuileins  buidliicli  seilge  fathasd 
agus  marbhieh  e  sinne.  Ach  feuch 
a  stiur  thusa  mo  lamhs  a  stigh  na 
bheul  nuair  a  thig  e  'm  fogasg. 
Rinn  e  mar  a  dh'  iarr  Oisin  air, 
agus  chuir  e  lamh  na  chraos  'us 
mharbh  se  e. 

Tha  air  a  nis  mi  far  a  fac  u  na 
feidh  a  tuitim.  Chruinnich  e  leis 
iad  air  mullach  a  ghualinn  'us  air 
uallich  a  dhroma,  gus  an  ruig  e  'n 
cnoc  air  an  do  chaidil  iad'  an  oiche 
roimh  sin.  Chuir  iad  suas  an  turh- 
ach.  Chruinnich  iad  connadh. 
Chuir  iad  na  feidh  as  bein.  Thog 
Oisian  Coir  Fliinn  athair  as  a  pholl 
'us  bhruich  iad  na  feidh.  Nis  a 
laochain  ars  Oisian  ri  odha  fan  thusa 
fad  na  laimhe  uamsa  man  ich  mi 
thu  'n  riochd  toitein.  Mo  gheibh 
mise  mo  leoir  an  diugh  cha  bhi  dith 
na  faiUnn  ortsa  rid  bheo.  Ma  b' 
f  hior  na  fuidiùdh  e  leoir  an  la  sin 
gum  fàsadli  e  ogail,  laidir,  neart- 
mhor  treubhach,  Bha  'n  fhagails 
aiga  on  leannan  Shith.  Bha  crios 
nia  mheadhoin  air  son  a  bhrii  thean- 


nachadh  air  a  clieila.  Bha  naoi 
tinnaclian*  dhe  'n  chrios  air  a  chuir 
seach  a  cheila,  man  do  thoisicli  e 
air  itha  nam  fiadh.  Dh'  fheum- 
adh  6  f  haoitinn  do  shithinn  na  lion- 
adh  a  bhrii  'n  sin  biodh  an  crios  ann 
an  ruidhidh  gus  an  tinne  b'  fhaide 
mach.  Ach  nair  chunic  an  Gille- 
blar-odhar  naeh  rabli  coltas  air  Oisin 
gum  fagadh  e  fuighlich,  sgriob  e  leis 
pios  mor  do  an  bha  air  beulthaobh 
a  Shean-athir,  agus  chuir  e  sud  air  a 
thaobh  fein.  Dhith  Oisin  na  bha 
aig  an  uair  sin  ach  cha  rabh  e  air  a 
shasuchadh.  Dh'  ionndrain  e  na 
thug  odha  leis,  agus  thubhairt  e. 
0  !  laochain  us  ro  olc  thuaras  du  na 
faga  du  an  t-iomlan  agam  bhithinn 
cho  mhath  sa  bha  mi  riamh. 

Thiodhlaichd  Oisin  an  coir  ann 
am  poll  choir-Fhinn.  Ghluais  e  fein 
agus  odha  chum  pillidh  do  Ghleann- 
caoinf  heoir,  ach  se  chomhairl'  chinn 
an  ceann  odha  Oisin  gu  feuchadh  e 
fiiidhidh  e  Oisin  a  shean-athir  a 
chuir  le  craig.  Chomhairlich  a 
mhathir  dha  ra  laimh  sin  a  dhean- 
amh.  Threoruich  se  e  gu  bruaich 
Uiridh-Bhiatich  ris  an  goirar  gu 
cummanda  nis  Uiridh  'n-fhithich, 
agus  dh'  f  hag  e  sud  e.  Thuit  e  leis 
a  chraig  agus  stad  e  meadhoin  na 
h-uiridh.  Bha  e  car  nine  mam 
buirinn  dha  gluasad,  ach  cho  luath 
sa  chuir  e  'm  preathal  sin  seachad 
thoisicli  e  air  meurachadh  man 
cuairt  da  gus  an-  d'  f  huair  e  fainne 
dhealluich  ris  nine  roimhe  so.  Nis 
sann  o  Leanna  sith  a  thuair  e  'n 
toisicli  e.  Bha  do  bhuaidh  air  nach 
cailidh,  e  radharc  agus  nach  fuidh- 
idh  e  bas.  Thanic  e  'n  sin  dhach 
aidh  le  f  hainne  agus  le  calpa  'u  Luin, 
agus  mar  a  thubhairt  e  rin  man 
d'  fhalbh  e,  us  amhluidh  b'  fior, 
be  calpa  'n  Luin  moran  bu  mho. 
— Leahhar  na  Feinne. 


Tuill. 


Ceud  llhios  an  Earraich,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


47 


CUMHA. 
The  accompaDying  verses  are 
a  few  of  the  many  beautiful  songs 
and  ballads  composed  by  Mrs.  Fraser 
of  Culbokie.  The  death  of  Donald 
(one  of  her  nine  sons)  who  had  a  com- 
mission in  the  German  army,  called 
forth  the  pathetic  elegy.  An  inter- 
esting account  of  Mrs.  Eraser's  "Balg- 
solair,"  The  purveying  bag,  is  given  in 
"The  genuine  remains  of  Ossiau/'  by 
Patrick  Mac  Gregor,  ]\I.A. 

C.  S. 

XoUaig  mhdr  do'n  gnàs  bhi  fuar, 
Fhuaii-  mi  sgeula  mo  chruaidli-cliàis  ; 
Dònull  Donn-gheal   mo  run, 
Bill  'n  a  shineadh  an  tiugh  a'  bhlhir. 

Thu  gun  chbinnill  os  do  chionn, 
No  ban-charaid  chaomh  ri  gal; 
Gun  chistidh,  gun  anart,  gun  chill, 
Thu  'd  shineadh  a  laoigh  air  dail. 

'S  tu  mo  bheadradh  's  tu  mo  mhùirn, 
'S  tu  mo  phlauntan  iir  an  tùs  fàis  ; 
]M'  òg  laghach  is  guii-me  sùil, 
Mar  bhradan  f  ior-ghlan  'us  tu  marbh. 

'S  e  bàs  an-abaich  mo  mhic 

Dh'  f  hag  mi  cho  trie  fu  ghiiiaim  ; 

'S  ged  nach  suidh  mi  air  do  lie, 

Bidh  mo  bheannaehd  trie  gu  d'  uaigh. 

'S  ann  do  Ghearmailt  mhdir  nam  feachd, 
Chuir  iad  gun  mo  thoil  mo  mhac  ; 
'S  ged  nach  cuala  each  mo  reachd, 
Air  mo  chridhe  dh'  f  hag  e  enoc. 

Ach  ma  thiodhlaic  sibh  mo  mhac, 
'S  gu'n  d'  f  halaich  sibh  le  ùir  a  chorp  ; 
Leigidh  mise  mo  bheannaehd  le  feachd, 
Air  an  laimh  chuir  dHghe  'bhais  ort. 

SgTiiridh  mi  de  thuireadh  dian, 
Ged  nach  bi  mi  chaoidh  gun  bhròn  ; 
'S  mi  'g  ùrnaigh  ri  aona  mhac  Dhè, 
Gu'n  robh  d'  anam  a'  seinn  an  gloir. 


AM  BEITHEAMH  LEOGH- 
ASACH. 

A  REIR  innse-sgeoil  b'  e  Iain 
Moiriston  ainm  an  fhir  mu  dheir- 
eadh  ris  an  abairteadh  am  "  Brith- 1 
eamh  Leoghasach."  Bha  e  còmh-j 
naidh  an  Tàbast  an  Nis.     Bu  Bhan- 


I  Eirionnach  a'  chiad  bhean  a  bh'  aige, 
I  Theich  i  air  an  deaghaidh  dhaibh 
ceathrar  mhac  a  bhi  aca  de  theagh- 
lach.  B'  e  ainm  nan  gillean :  Ailein, 
Dònull,  Coinneach  agus  Aonghus. 
A  null  do  dh-Eirinn  thug  am  math- 
air  orra,  agus  dh'  fhàg  i  iad  fhein 
's  an  athair  an  Nis  air  an  dlò.  Cha 
robh  am  Britheamh  gu  bhi  fada  gun 
mhnaoi :  goirid  an  deaghaidh  do  'u 
chiad  te  f  hàgail  chaidh  e  null  a  dh- 
ionnsuidh  na  Mòrthir,  agus  thug  e 
leis  te  eile  à  sin  gu  ruig  Nis.  Da 
bhliadhna  an  deaghaidh  an  dalla 
pòsaidh,  chaidh  Iain  Moiriston  a 
rithisd  gu  ruig  a'  Mhòrthir,  agus  an 
uair  a  ràiiiig  iad  tir  thug  e  air  a 
a  chuid  sgioba  bothan  a  dhian- 
amh  dhaibh  fhein  agus  dhasan,  gu 
cur  suas  annta  fhad  's  a  bhiodh 
iad  's  an  dùthaich  aineolaich  ud. 
Dh'  fhàs  a'  mhuir  cho  fiadhaich  an 
la  bha  sùil  aca  ri  falbh  air  an  ais 
do  Leoghas  agus  gu'n  seoladh  an  t- 
slige  bheirnich  oirre.  Air  an  doigh 
chiadna  dh'  fhà-s  a'  ghaoth  cho  ciuin 
's  nach  gluaiseadh  i  an  seol  bho  'n 
chrann  aca.  Cha  robh  comas  air,  b' 
eiginn  daibh  fuireach  's  an  àite  's  an 
robh  iad  an  oidhche  sin.  Mu 
mheadhon-oidhche  chuala  fear  de  'n 
sgioba  an  sgread  oillteil  's  a'  bhuille 
throm  ud,  Dhuisg  e  Ccàch  cho  luath 
's  a  b'  urrainn  da,  agus  ghrad-eirich 
fear  dhiubh  agus  chuir  e  gabhail  's 
an  teine  mar  a  b'  f  hearr  a  dh'  f  haod- 
adli  e,  agus  chunnacas  mar  a  bha 
chilis.  Dh'  eubh  an  duine  gu  luath 
le  guth  uamhasach,  "  Mo  chreach ! 
mo  chreach  !  a  dhaoine,  eiribh  's  am 
Britheamli  marbh,  's  a  cheann  'n  a 
dhà  leth.  Chaidh  gach  fear  'n  a 
bhreislich,  gach  fear  a'  suathadh  a 
chadail  as  a  shùilean.  An  uair  a 
dh'  èirich  iad  uile  f  huair  iad  a  mach 
gu  'n  robh  a'  chilis  mar  a  chuala  iad. 
Anns  a'  mhaduinn  thigear  oigeir  le 
fait  buidhe  bhàn  h-uca ;  agus  na  'm 
b'  fhior,  CO  bu  duiliche  air  son  mar 
a  thachair  do  'n  bhritheamh  na  esan 


48 


AX  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


— ged  gu  f  irinneacli  a  b'  e  e  f  hein  a 
mhort  e. 

Co  luatli  's  a  chaidh  an  deò  as  a' 
Mhoiristneach  thàinig  gaoth  f  habh- 
oracli  air  son  an  toirt  gu  Leoglias. 
Thuirt  fear  an  fhiiilt  bhain  riu, 
"  Tha  mise  dol  do  Leoghas,  agus 
bhitliinn  'n  ur  comaine  na  'n  leig- 
eadh  sibh  dhomh  falbh  comhla  leibh 
anns  a'  bliàta."  Cho-aontaich  iad 
uile  leigeil  leis,  agns  sheòl  am  bàta 
gu  ruig  Leoghas.  Thàinig  e  gu  tir 
gu  sàbhailte  leo  aig  cladacli  Lerstein 
faisg  air  an  Stoth  Niseach.  Air  do  'n 
òganach  tigbinn  air  tir  dh'  iarr  e  lorg 
air  tigh  a'  Bhrithimh.  Agus  gun  a' 
bheag  a  mhoille  chaidh  e  gu  ruig 
Tabast.  An  uair  a  tbcàinig  e  tigh  a' 
Bhrithimh,  dh'  aithnich  a'  bhean  e, 
agus  dh'  fhiosraich  i  dh'  e  mu  a 
companach  pòsta.  "Falbh,  falbh," 
03  esan,  "  gheobhar  deireadh  gach 
sgeòil  a  nasgaidh."  Chaidh  biadh  a 
dhianamh  dha,  agus  dh'  fhoighnich 
a'  bhean  d'e  an  dalla  h-uair  am  b' 
aithne  dha  dad  sam  bith  mu  dheigh- 
inu  a  fir.  "  Ud,"  os  esan  agus  e 
labhairt  gu  dimeasach,  suarach, 
"  bhàsaich  e  air  a'  Mhòrthir,  ach 
coma  leatsa  mu  thimchioll,  bho'n  a 
bha  mi  f hein  's  tu  fhein  a'  suirdhe 
roimhe  so  posaidh  sinn  a  nise."  Bha 
bean  a'  Bhrithimh  riaraichte  gu  leoir 
gabhail  leis  an  t-suirdheach  òg  ;  ach 
cha  robh  e  fada  fuireach  's  an  tigh 
an  uair  a  chuir  e  fhein  agus  Ailein 
am  mac  bu  shine  dh'  f  hcàg  am  Brith- 
eamh,  a  mach  air  a  clieile.  La  àraidh 
an  deaghaidh  dhaibh  a  bhi  trod,  dh' 
eirich  oide  an  deaghaidh  Ailein  leis 
a'  bhiodaig,  Tra  chunuaic  Ailein 
so  ruith  e  mach  as  an  tigh  's  thug  e 
leis  comhla  an  doruis  air  a  ghualainn 
's  lean  an  cù  e.  Dh'  f  hag  Ailein  car 
mu  chnoc  oide  's  dh'  fhalaich  e  e 
fhein  an  sloe  mòr  a  bha  'n  sin  's 
fraoch  a'  dimadh  a  bheòil.  Coma 
leibh  na  co  dhiù,  thachair  do  'oide 
dol  a  dh-ionnsuidh  an  t-sluic,  ach 
mar  a  bha  sealbh  an  dan  do  Ailein, 


bha  a'  chomhla  aige  os  a  chionn 
fhein,  's  bha  'n  cù  'n  a  laidhe  air  a' 
chomhla.  Chuir  'oide  amhurus  gu'n 
robh  e  's  an  t-sloc  agus  shàth  e  a' 
bhiodag  sios  ann.  Chaidh  a'  bhiod- 
ag  anns  a'  chii  aaus  an  uair  a  chunn- 
aic  an  daoith  fuil  a  bhi  oirre  shaoil 
leis  gu  'n  do  chuir  e  as  do  Ailein  a 
dhalta.  Ruith  e  dhachaidh  's  moit 
mhor  air  an  deaghaidh  an  namhaid 
a  chur  gu  dith.  Thuig  Ailein  nach 
b'  ion  da  dol  dachaidh,  agus  chuir  e 
roimhe  seol  a  dhianamh  air  dol  a 
dh-Eirinn  far  an  robh  a  chairdean  's 
cuideachd  a  mhàthar.  Eàinig  e  tigh 
an  t-seann-duine  a  b'  àbhaist  a  bhi 
'n  a  fhear-ciuil  aig  'athair,  agus 
fhuair  e  bhuaithe  biadh  us  beagan 
airgid  air  son  a  thoirt  air  a  thurus. 
Thàinig  Ailein  bochd  gu  ruig  Steòrn- 
abhadh,  agus  an  ùine  ghèarr  fhuair 
e  soitheach  anns  an  deach  e  dh' 
Eirinn.  Gu  sgial  goirid  a  dhianamh 
dh'  e,  thainig  triuir  bhràithrean  a 
mhàthar  a  nail  comhla  ri  Ailein  a 
thagairt  a  chòraichean.  Bu  dhaoine 
calraa,  tapaidh  iad,  a  rèir  coltais — 
cha  robh  duine  dhiu  a  bu  lugha  na 
sia  traidhean  air  càirde.  Ràinig  iad 
Nis  air  Oidhche-Callainn,  's  chaidh 
iad  gu  tigh  an  fhir-chiùil  a  bh'  aig 
a'  Bhritheamh.  Dh'  fhiosraich  iad 
dh'  e  ciod  an  dòigh  a  b'  fhèarr  air 
an  tigh  a  ghlacadh.  "  Leanaibh 
mise,  a  dhaoine  uaisle,"  os  esan,  "agus 
chi  sinn."  Tra  a  ràinig  iad  an  tigh, 
chaidh  am  fear-ciùil  a  stigh  's  dh' 
f  hag  e  each  aig  an  dorus.  Bha  bean 
a'  Bhrithimh  's  a  cede  ur  'n  an 
suidheaig  cuilm  na  callainne,  agus  am 
bard  iir  comhla  riutha.  "  Tha  sibh 
ann  an  sin  da  bhcàrd,"  os  oide  Ailein, 
"  agus  faiceamaid  co  is  fhearr  a  ni 
rann  agaibh."  Thuirt  bard  Iain 
mhic  Uisdein — b'  e  sin  ainm  oide 
Ailein — 

"  Lh,mh  mo  chridhe  lamh  Eoin, 
Nach  suidlieadh  an  tigh  gun  cheòl, 
Mharbh  e  am  Britheamh 
Bho'n  tigeadh  an  lagh  cam." 


Ceud  JIhios  an  Earraich,  187G. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


49 


An  iiair  a  cliuala  bean-an-tighe  so 
bliuail  i  a  basan,  agus  thòisich  i  air 
gàireachdaich.  Ach  f  breagair  seana- 
bbaixl  a'  JMhoiristinich  agus  tbuirt  e  : 
"  A  bbean  bhaoth,  's  a  bhean  gun 
nàire,  gbabh  thu  droch  ceann  de 
chlann  an  f  hir  a  tha  marbh,  's  ghabb 
tbu  leis  a'  mbortair."  "  Beiribb  air, 
beiribb  air,  's  marbbaibb  e,"  os  ise. 
"  Tboir  toigbe  gu  bbeil  mo  hicbd 
cuideacbaidh  gle  fhaisg  orm,"  os  an 
seann-duine  agus  gun  eisdeacbd  ris 
a'  chòrr  bbuail  na  fir  a  bba  mach  a 
stigb.  Tra  chunnaic  Iain  Mac  Uisd- 
ein  agus  a  bhean  Ailein  's  na  bba 
còmbla  ris  tbeich  iad  a  mach  air 
dorus-cùil  a  bh'  air  an  tigh,  rinn  ia 
hiim  air  a'  JMhòrtbir  a  thoirt  orra. 
Mar  so  chaidh  an  tigh  's  an  t-seilb 
uile  fhàgail  aig  Ailein  's  aig  a 
bhrcàithrean.  Cha  robh  a  chùis  fada 
mar  so  an  uair  a  chuala  Niall-Odbar 
]\lac-Leòid,  mac  diolain  do  sheann 
Ruari  Mac-Leòid,  an  t-uachdran 
dbgheaeb  mu  dbeireadh  de  na  Leod- 
aich  a  bh'  air  Leoghas,  gu'n  robh  am 
Britheamh  marbh,  thainig  e  f  hein  's 
prasgan  dhaoine  a  nail  à  Uige  gu 
fearann  a'  Mhoiristnich  a  thoirt  a 
mach  a  choir  no  èucoir.  Fada  an 
deaghaidh  so  bhiodh  ]\Iac-Leòid  's 
clann  a'  Bhrithimh  ag  aimhreit  's  ag 
còmhstrith.  An  deaghaidh  bàs 
Aonghuis,  chaidh  a  tbriùir  bhràith- 
rean  turus  a  null  dh'  ionnsuidh  na 
]\Iòrthir,  agus  gbabh  Niall  eucorach 
a  null  air  an  tòir.  An  uair  a  chunn- 
aic na  Moiristnich  so  chuir  iad  am 
bàta  aca  air  saile  gu  tilleadh  do 
Leoghas.  Eiun  Mac-Leoid  as  an 
deaghaidh,  ach  bha  na  Moiristnich 
cho  anabarrach  tapaidh  's  nach  robh 
an  leithid  's  na  h-eileinean  tuath  'n 
an  latha  f  hein,  agus  dh'  iomair  iad 
cho  làidir  's  gu'n  robh  iad  ag  gleidh- 
eadh  astair  mhath  an  ceann  air 
Niall.  Mar  a  bha  am  bàta  dol  air 
aghart  bha  Ailein  a'  dianamh  ìaà 
h-iorraim  so  : 


Iomair  thusa  Choinnich  ccidhe, 

Gaol  nam  ban  òg,  's  gradh  nan  nighean, 

Tha  eagal  mòr  air  mo  chridhe 

Gu  'm  beil  birliun  Nèill  a'  tighinn. 

Xo  sgoth  chaol  Mhic  Thormaid  oighre 

lomraidh  mise  fear  ma  dhithis 

'S  na  'm  b'  eiginn  domh  fear  ma  thriùir. 

Ach,  's  truagh  nach  robh  mi  fhein  's  Niall 

Odhar, 
Slagan  beag  os  cionn  Dhtin-Odhail, 
Biodag  am  làimh  's  esan  fotham, 
Dhearbhainn  fhein  gu'n  rach'  i  domhain, 
'S  gu  'm  biodh  full  a  chinn  mu  ghobhal, 
'S  gu'n  dianteadh  feòil   's  gu'n  dianteadh 

sithionn, 
'S  gu  'm  biodh  biadh  fo  ghob  an  fhithich. 
Cha  d'  rinn  mi  fhathast  beud  no  pndhar, 
Mur  do  leag  mi  fiadh  fo  bhruthach^ 
No  Mast  mhaol  an  caolas  cumhang, 
Xo  dubh  sgarbh  an  còis  na  tuinne. 
Chi  mi  rudha,  'us  slagan  beag  eile 
Anns  'na  mhilleadh  mo  chairdean. 
Is  truagh  nach  robh  mi  n  Kòna  romham, 
Cha  d'  thainig  mi  riabh  an  cuan  so  roimhe, 
Gun  taod  oirre,  gun  taod-cluaise, 
Cuipeall  ann  am  bord  an  fhuaraidh, 
'S  fitiran  direach  sheasadh  suas  innt', 
'S  cranna  fada  rachadh  mu'n  cuairt  air. 

Bha  na  Moiristnich  cho  sgith  an 
uair  a  ràinig  iad  tir  's  gu'n  deach  an 
triiiir  aca  do  uamha  bhig  a  bha 
faisg,  's  chaidil  iad  an  sin.  Ach  mo 
thruaigh  mar  a  bha  an  cruaidh- 
f  hortan  'n  an  lorg,  co  thainig  gu  tir 
fo  'n  àite  sin  ach  an  Leodach  a  bha 
'n  an  deaghaidh,  agus  'n  a  uile  throm 
fheirg  thuit  e  fhein  's  a  sgioba  air 
na  Moiristnich  sgith,  thruagh,  a  bha 
'n  an  cadal,  's  mhort  e  an  trmir  gun 
fhathamas,  gun  tròcair. 

A  thuilieadh  air  a'  cheathrar  mhac 
a  dh'  ainmich  sinn  dh'  fhàg  am 
Britheamh  Leoghasach  aon  nighean, 
Goirid  an  deaghaidh  bàs  a  brcàithr- 
ean,  rinn  a'  chaileag  so  gealltanas  pòs- 
aidh  ri  oganach  smiorail — Moiristn- 
each  eile — agus  's  ann  ris  an  fhear 
so  a  chaidh  cuisean  teaghlach  a' 
Bhrithimh  earbsa  gus  an  tigeadh 
Murchadh  Og  am  mac  bu  shine  dh' 
fhàg  Ailein  gu  inbheachd  duine. 
Tha  e  coltach  gur  h-ann  an  sgir  nan 
Loch  a  rugadh  an  t-òganach.  An  la 
a  dh'  f  halbh  e  dhachaidh  gu  tighinn 
do  Nis  thug  a  mhàthair  dha  fichead 
4 


50 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


urad  uiblie  de  dli-im,  agus  dh'  iarr  i 
air  gun  leum  seachad  os  cionn  tuim 
bhuidhe  coinnich  gus  an  ruigeadli  e 
ceann  a  tliuruis,  agus  e  dh'  iclie 
crimein  de  'n  im  an  ceann  gacli  greis. 
Cha  robh  e  fada  an  sealbh  air  fear- 
ann  us  seilbbean  eile  a'  Bbrithimh 
an  uair  a  tbàinig  Niall  Odhar  Llac- 
Leoid  's  an  luib  a  stigb.  A  reir 
coltais  db'  f  beumadb  Niall  a  spàin 
a  bbi  'n  càl  a  h-uile  duine.  Air  an 
turns  so  tbug  e  ceatbairne  mbatb, 
làidir,  leis  a  tbogail  fèudail  nam 
Moiristneacb.  Db'  innseadb  air 
dòigb  air  cboir-eigin  do  iia  Xisicb 
gu'n  robb  na  b-Uigicb  air  an  t-sbgbe 
a  tbogail  an  cuid  cbreacb.  Chaidb 
Clann  Mbic-Gille-Mboire  a  gbrad  'n 
an  uidbeam  gu  deannal  còmbi*aig  a 
tboirt  no  JMbac-Leoid.  An  uair  a 
cbunnaic  Niall  cbo  uidbeamaicbte 
's  a  bba  iad,  cba  deacb  e  an  cinnseal 
arm  riutba ;  is  ann  a  tbòisicb  e  air 
trod  ris  a'  Mboiristneacb.  Xbnirt 
am  Moiristneacb  ris  gu  'm  buineadb 
fearann  Tbàbast  dbàsan  ann  an  coir 
a  mbnatba  a  fbuair  i  nuas  bbo  b- 
atbair  's  bbo  seanair  's  bbo  sinn- 
seanair.  Tbuirt  Mac-Leoid  an  agb- 
aidb  sid  gu'n  do  cboisinu  esan  e  le 
fuil  's  gu'm  feumadb  e  fbaigbinn. 
Tba  'n  seancbaidb  ag  nadh  gu'n 
deacb  iad  a  db-iomairt  lagba,  's  db' 
f  bag  sinne  an  sin  iad. 

DoNULL  JMac-Leoid. 


MU  lOMA  NI  A  THREIG. 

Is  neònacb  a'  cbainnt  a'  Gbàidbbg. 
Tba  i  anabarracb  sean.  'S  e  sean- 
acbas  no  àrsaireacbd,  fiosracbadb  no 
eòlas  mu  sbean  gbnotbaicbean ;  's  e 
seancbas,  bruidbinn  mu'n  deibbinn, 
agus  is  e  seancbaidb,  fear  a  ta  matb 
air  seancbas  a  dbeanamb  ùmpa.  'S 
6  giuHan  seanagarra,  fear  a  bhios, 
'na  chòmbradb  's  'na  dbeanadas, 
coltacb  ri  daoine  a's  sine  na  e  fein. 
'S  e  sean-nòs,  seann  cbleacbdadb ; 


ach  's  e  seanadb,  comunn  de  sbeann 
daoine  (gu  diacbadaicb  de'n  cbleir) 
cruinn  a'  cur  an  combairle  ri  'cbeile 
mu  cbiiis  lagba  no  cbreidimb.  Ris 
gacb  fear  de'n  t-seanadb,  tbeirear 
seanair;  acb  's  e  seanair,  mar  an 
ceudna,  duin'  aig  am  bi  ogba.  'S 
iad  saigbdean  armacbd  cbo  sean  's  a 
tb'  air  an  .t-saogbal,  tbatbas  'am 
beacbd.  'S  e  saigbdear  fear-saigbde ; 
acb,  a  nise,  bbeirear  an  t-ainm  sin 
air  fear-cogaidb  sam  bitb,  co  dhiubh 
's  claidbeamb  no  gunna  's  ball-airm 
dba. — Bi  'n  t-slige-cbreacbainn  's  an 
corn,  as  am  biodh  na  seann  Gbàidh- 
eil  ag  òl.  Bbiodh  cuacban  aca  cuid- 
eacbd.  Bba  uair,  agus  's  ann  an 
soitbicbean  craicinn  a  bbiteadb  a' 
gleidbeadb  agas  a'  giiilan  dibbe. 
Eiutba  sin  tbeirteadli  searragan,  no 
soireachan- dibbe.  Bba  soireacban 
eil'  aca,  ris  an  canadb  iad  builg,  gus 
grcàn  'us  min  's  an  sambuil  a  gbieidb- 
eadb.  Bba  nàdur  bbròg  aca  ris  an 
abradb  iad  cuarain.  Bba  trusgan 
àiridb  aca  ris  an  cainteadb  fèileadb- 
sguaibe,  agus  gnè  eile  aig  na  boir- 
ionnaicb,  do  'm  b'  ainm  earrasaid. 
Tbeireadb  iad  sgiiman  ris  a  bbad 
f  built  a  bb'air  clàr  an  aodainn,  agus 
sgrogan  ri  boineid  bbig  leibidich. 
Bba  na  fir  'nan  gaisgicb  tbrèuna ; 
cruadalacb,  fulaugacb  air  fuachd  'us 
acras,  teom  air  siubbal  nam  fireacb 
's  nam  fàsacb  ;  ro  dbèigbeil  air  seilg 
's  air  sitbinn  ;  agus  'nuair  a  dbean- 
adb  iad  fiadbacb,  db'òladh  iad  an 
sàtb  de'n  t-siabb  ;  bliiodb  fleadb  aca 
bbàrr  an  fbeidb,  agus  'na  dheigb  sin 
cab  ri  corn,  gus  an  eireadb  an  aigne 
gu  treallan  a  tboirt  air  dàuacbd  na 
Feinne,  's  air  fear-gbniomb  an  sinn- 
sir,  gus  an  cuireadb  mac-talLa  na  b- 
oicbe  maoim  fo  na  logaidean,  agus 
critb  air  an  creagan  aosda. 

Acb,  a  db'aindeoin  seo  air  fad,  bba 
iad  lean  gbisreag.  Bba  iad  a'  creid- 
siiin  gun  teagamb  gu'n  robb  glaisti- 
gean,  'us  ùraisgean,  'us  bodaicb,  'us 
'us.  bòchdain,    'us    fombairean,    'us 


Cteud  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1S7 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


51 


omharlairean,  'us  mnathan-sitlie,  'us 
sithchean,  'us  daoine  beaga,  'us  siog- 
aidean,  'us  eicli-uisge,  'us  tairbli- 
t'haire,  'ns  sprèidh  cliorc-chluasach, 
'us  tàisg,  'us  taibhsean,  'us  tacharain, 
'us  tubaistean,  'us  tàisearan,  'us  tàis- 
earacbd,  'us  buidsichean,  'us  raid- 
sichean,  's  an  sgoil-dubh,  's  an  dan, 
's  an  droch  -  sbùil  ann  ;  agus  na 
maigbdionnan-mara,  agus  gu'm  b'e 
run  mac  righ  fo  gbeasaibh,  ag^us  gu'm 
biodh  na  buidsichean  a'  dol  'an  riochd 
mbaigbeach,  'us  gbobbar,  agus  mar 
sin  si  OS.  An  am  a  bbi  seancbas 
sgiorraidb,  db'f  beumadh  "  sambuilt 
an  cloicb,  no  'ga  innseadh  do  na 
clacban  e,"  a  bbi  ann  ;  no  "  croiseam 
sgioiTadb."  "  Cba  bbiodh  e  'na 
sbùgradb"  tacbairt  air  boirionnacb 
casruiste,  's  a'  mhaduinn.  Bba 
"seilcbeag  air  lie  luira,  searracb  òg 
's  a  letb-deiridb   ri   gaisceacb.    'na 


mbanadb  air  mi-sbcalbb  dba  fad  na 
bbadbna;  agus  bba  ceileir  aoibh- 
neacb  na  cutbaige  fein,  'na  cbulaidb 
smuainicb  do  m'  sbin-seanair,  na'n 
cluinneadb  e  a  ceud  gbug-gùg, 
"  latba  buidbe  Bealltuinn,"  "gun 
bbiadb  'na  bbroinn." — Acb,  soiridh 
buan  leis  na  gaisgicb  •  fbeilidb. 
CboiUon  iad  ùdarrais  an  linne  fèin. 
Tba  ann  an  diugb  a  their,  nacb 
d'thainig  an  samhuil  'nan  dèigh. 
Agus  cò's  urrainn  sin  aicbeadlil 
Thainig  mùthadb  nòis  air  an  tir  o'n 
theasd  iad  uile,  agus  ged  nacb  d'- 
thainig Tòmas  le  'chuid  each  fatbast, 
agus  nacb  eil  f  bios  cia  aca  tba  e  'n. 
Dun-buic  no  'n  Tom-na-b-iùraicb : 
tba  coltas,  ma  leanas  an  cosnadh  's 
a'  Gballtacbd  mar  tba  e,  gu'm  bi 
"  hatha  nan  creach  aig  Cluaidb." — An 
Treòiriche. 


A'  FAIEE  GU  CAOMH  AIR  MO  CHEANIC. 

(Eadar-themigaicJif  o'n  Bhewia  le  Gilleashuig  MacFaidem.) 

'N  UAIR  bhios  cagarsaicb  dbiombair  a'  snamb  air  gabh  ta.obb, 

Agus  gutban  nacb  fbaod  bbi  'n  an  tosd, 

O'n  tir  so  'g  am  ghairm  air  sligb'  uile  chlann-daoin', 

Thair  a'  cbuain  th'  aig  gach  aon  ri  dbol  trasd; 

Le  ùr-fhradharc  'n  uair  chi  mi  tigb-combnuidh  nan  naomh, 

Taobli  tliall  gach  saoth'r  'us  trioblaid  a  tb'  ann, 

Aig  geata  sgiamhach  na  cùirt'  am  bi  ann  a  h-aon 

'Bhios  a'  faire  gu  caomh  air  mo  cheann  Ì 


Tba  sluagh  beag  ann  's  an  còmhnuidb  an  siiil  air  mo  clieum, 

'S  a  tba  'm  feum  air  fear-dion  agus  i^il, 

Tba  maoth-tbruagbain  air  faoiitraigb  ag  amharc  am  dbeigh, 

'S  nacb  bu  deacair  an  deur  chur  o'n  siiil ; 

Acb  a  chlann  faodaidh  losa  a  ghairm  leis  gu  caoin, 

'N  uair  is  àird'  bhios  an  doilgbios  no  'm  fonn ; 

Aig  geata  sgianahach  na  cù,irt,  dbiubh  sin  am  bi  aon 

'Bhios  a'  faire  gu  caomL.air.mo.  cheann  Ì 

Tba  aonaraich  aosd'  ann  tha  feitheamb  nan  tràth, 

Air  na  làraicbean  dh'  fhag  an  luchd-daimb, 

'S  dh'  f  haodadh  blàtb-f  bacal  aig  am,  no  idir  gniomh  gràidh 

Gean  agus  àgh  a  rlthist  thoirt  daibh; 


52 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


Acli  an  gart  tha  Ian  abuicli  tlia  'm  buanaicli  ri  tliaobh, 
'S  tha  la  claidean  an  t-saothraich  aig  ceann, 
Aig  geata  sgiamhacli  na  ciiirt',  dhiubh  sin  am  bi  h-aon 
'Bhios  a'  faire  gu  caomh  air  mo  cheann  1 

Tha  caomh  chairdean  ann  dh'  fhaodteadh  le  m'  ghradh  thoirt  gu  smuain, 

Tha  fior-thruaghain  ann  'g  imeachd  na  sràid', 

Tha  ann  coigrich  gun  ni  agus  aimbeartach  thruagh, 

Agus  deoraidh  fo  smuairein  a  ghnàth  ; 

'Measg  nam  miltean  ni  còmhnuidh  an  Teampull  nan  naomh, 

'S  ioma  h-aon  nach  do  shaoileadh  bhios  ann ; 

Aig  geata  sgiamhach  na  cùirt',  dhiubh  sin  am  bi  h-aon 

Bhios  a'  faire  gu  caomh  air  mo  cheann  Ì 

Faodaidh  Criosda  'n  a  mhòr-ghràs  mi  do  neamh  a  thoirt  suas 

Oir  's  e  truaghain  a  shaoradh  a  mhiann, 

Ged  nach  gabh  mi  de'n  bhochd  no  de'n  dilleachdan  truas, 

'S  nach  bi  smuain  orr'  am  urnuigh  ri  Dia ; 

Ach  air  neamh  nach  toir  m'  fhèinealachd  bròn  air  mo  smaoin, 

-Mur  h-e  bròn  ni  nach  fhaod  a  bhi  ann, 

Aig  geata  sgiamhach  na  cuirt'  dhiubh  sin  mur  bi  aon 

-Bhios  a'  faire  a;u  caomh  air  mo  cheann  Ì 


UAIGHEAN  NAM  FIANN.* 

It  ta  fa  ne  tullych  so  toye 
Mac  Cowle  is  croye  colk 
Mak  daidzail  nein  in  Derk 
Nach  tug  ra  erk  trayir  borb. 

It  ta  fane  tullych  so  dess 
]\Iac  Vckoyne  Kneiss  mar  vlayth 
Cha  dar  sai  nach  fa  neith  in  gress 
Mo  char  veiue  yeth  lawe 

Id  ta  fa  tullych  hoirrych 
Ossgyr  bi  vath  gol  is  gneif 
Clan  morn  gach  mach  ni  fir 
Noch  chor  chur  sai  sin  in  breith. 

Id  ta  fa  tullych  so  har 
Gillyth  ba  van  tess  nach.   .  .    .  aE 
Mac  ronain  dor  weych  cleir 
Fane  tollyth  so  har  it  ta. 

Id  ta  fane  twUych  so  foyme 
Innor  vych  von  groik  is  grane 
Connan  dych  zoif  gych  mum 
Fa  tullych  fume  id  ta. 


SOP  AS  GACH  SEID. 

Cha  bu  choir  do  dhuine  a  bhi  air  a  mheas 
air  son  a  chodach  no  a  bhuaidhean,  ach  air 
son  an  fhèuma  a  ni  e  dhiubh. 


*  From  Ewen  MacLachlan's  Transcript 
of  the  Book  of  the  Dean  of  Lismore. 


Far  nach  'eil  lagh  cha'n  'eil  saorsa. 

Biodh  eagal  a'  bhais  ort,  ach  na  biodh 
geilt  agad  roimh. 

Cha  ghabh  neach  sam  bith  co  taitneach 
ri  smachdachadh,  'sa  ni  an  neach  sin  a's 
lugha  a  ta  'ga  thoilltinn. 

Tha  e  gn  trie  a'  tachairt  gu'm  bheil  iad- 
san  a  ta  miannachadh  an  uile  do  mhuinntir 
eile,  glè  chinnteach  gu'n  d'  thig  an  t-olc 
gu'n  dàil  orra  fein. 

Tha  gniomhara  'nan  steigh  urraim  ni's 
kirde  na  comhradh.  Nach  'eil  thu  'tuig- 
sinn  gu'm  bheil  beatha  ni's  airde  agus  ni's 
urramaich  'na  briathra  ? 

An  uair  a  dh'  fhksus  sinn  aosda  cha'n 
fhuras  d'ar  cai'rcibh  ar  toileachadh,  agus 
cha'n  'eil  mòr-chùraim  orra  cia  aca  tha  sinn 
toilichte  no  nach  'eil. 

Th^id  a'  chùis  leat  ma  ni  thu  gu  maith 
an  ni  a  tha  'nad'  chomus  a  dheanamh,  oir 
cha'n  'eil  e  'nad'  chomas  na  h-uile  nithe  a 
dheanamh. 

Biodh  tlachd  agad  ann  an  obair,  do 
bhrigh,  mar  'eil  feum  agad  air  a  thaobh 
loin  gu'm  feud  f^um  a  bhi  agad  air,  air  son 
leigheis. 


Ceud  :M1ùos  an  Earraich,  ISTC. 


AX  GAIDHEAL. 


53 


Tha  mòran  de  chomhfhurtaclid  na  beatha 
a  ta  làthair  a'  co'-sheasamh  aim  an  eòlas. 
càirdeas,  agus  comunn  a  bhi  againn  maille 
riu-sau  a  ta  diadhaidh,  glic,  agus  subhailc- 
each. 

Sruuainich  mu'n  labhair  thu,  agus 
emuainich  cò  iad  ris  am  bheil  tbu  a'  labh- 
airt.  Smuainich  c'ar  son  a  tha  thu  a' 
labhairt,  agus  smuainich  ciod  a  tha  thu  a 
Labhairt. 

Na  cuir  fios  air  fear-comhairle  le  run 
fantuinn  co'-dhaingnichte  'nad  bharail  fein. 
Dh'  fheudadh  tu  ceart  co  maith  fios  a  chur 
air  leigh  'nad'  thinneas  agus  òrdugh  a 
thoirt  dha  ciod  a'  ghnè  leigheis  bu  choir  da 
a  thoirt  dhuit. 

Na  biodh  uaill  'nad'  ehridhe  gu'n  d'  rinn 
thu  ni  sam  bith  a  ta  gu  sonraichte  glic,  oir 
feudaidh  cùisean  a  nochdadh  an  deigh  so, 
gu'm  bi  an  ni  sin  gu  sonraichte  amaideach. 
Na  deanadh  duine  sam  bith  uaill  as  a 
dheanadas  fein. 

Ciod  air  bi  is  miann  leat  a  Icantuinn 
anns  an  t-saoghal,  cha  t(;id  a'  chMs  leat  ach 
a  mhàin  le  dichioll  cruaidh.  Buainich  gu 
f oighidinneach  gus  am  bi  an  inntinu  'na  Ian 
uidheam,  agus  gus  am  bi  an  cridhe  air  a 
cho'-dhaingneachadh  ann  an  creideamh 
agus  gradh. 

Tha  himhreit  eadar  chraid  phòsda  cos- 
mhuil  ri  seòmar  aig  am  bheil  uinneag  air 
gach  ceann  dheth.  Ma  dh'  fhosgailear  an 
da  uinneag  còmhladh,  bithidh  gaoth-tharr- 
uing  agus  fuachd  'san  t-seòmar,  ach  ma 
dhiinair  a  h-aon  diubh,  bithidh  an  seòmar 
tiorail  agnis  taitneach.  Jlar  sin,  air  an 
t-seol  cheudna,  an  uair  a  dhùisgeas  conns- 
achadh  eadar  fear  agus  bean,  ma  dhruidear 
aon  bheul  bithidh  sith  'san  fhkrdaioh  air 
ball 

Bha  duin -uasal  a'  dol  seachad  air  amh- 
ainn  araidh,  agus  chunnaic  e  Eireannach 
'na  sheasamh  air  eloich  gu  dian  ag  iasgach 
ann  am  poll  mòr,  domhain  a  bha  roimhe. 
"  Tha  thusa  an  sin,  a  Phat,  a'  cur  gu  treun 
ris  an  iasgach;  is  cinnteach  gur  taitneach, 
grinn,  gasda  an  sruth  sin  air  son  nam 
breac."  •'Ochan!  a'  ghràidh  mo  ehridhe, 
is  esan  a  th'ann  sin  oir  bha  mi  'nam  sheas- 


amh an  so,  o  cheann  tri  uairean  a  dh-uine, 
agus  cha'n  fhag  aon  siolag  dhiubh  am  poll. 

Tha  gradh  an  còmhnuiJh  deas  chum 
gach  seirbheis  a  dheanamh.  Tha  gradh 
bunailteach  agus  treibhdhireach  'na 
dhichioll.  Tha  e  do  ghnàth  'ga  thoirt  fein 
seachad  a'  nasgaidh.  Is  ni  e  a  tha  deanad- 
ach,  dichiollach,  agus  treun.  Tha  e  'na 
shonas  do  ghradh  a  bhi  saorachail  agus 
fialaidh.  Ciod  nach  dean  mathair  ghradh- 
ach  air  son  a  leinibh  fein  ?  Ciod  nach  dean 
bean-phòsda  dhleasnachaU  air  son  a  compan- 
aich  fein?  Ciod  leis  nach  cuir  Gaidheal 
suas  chum  a  righ,  agus  a  thir,  agus  a 
shaorsa  a  dhionadh,  agus  chum  naimhdean 
air  an  lionmhorachd  a  ruagadh  air  falbh  ? 

Tha  tlachd  aig  mòran  ann  a  bhi  'f  aotuinn 
coire  do  gach  ni  a  nitheai;,  no  labhrar  le 
muinntir  eUe.  Ma  mholas  tu  ni  sam  bith, 
is  comadh  ciod  e,  di-mplaidh  iadsan  e. 
Air  an  laimh  eUe,  cha'n  'eil  iad  toUichte 
ma  ghabhas  tusa  toilinntiiin  ann,  an  dad 
sam  bith,  agus  an  uair  a  chith  iad  sin, 
cuiridh  iad  gu  dian  'nad'  aghaidh.  Ni  iad  , 
so  air  uairibh  le  dMl  gu'm  iènch  iad  barr- 
achd  eòlais  agus  gliocais  na  bhuilieheadh 
ort?a.  Ach  tha  iad  'ga  dheanamh,  mar  a's 
trice,  trid  peasanachd  agms  lonais  a  ta  'g 
eiridh  o  fharmad  'nan  cridhe.  ThoiU  iad 
so  gu  l^ir  gu'm  biodh  an  sròn  air  a  tarr- 
uing,  chum  nach  tog  iad  co  ard  i  tuUleadh 
nis  mo. 

Is  iomadh  mathair  fo  lag-uihisnich  a  ta 
fllleadh  nan  Ikmh  samichte  aice  air  an 
fheasgair,  an  dail  nach  d'  rinn  i  a  bheag  re 
an  latha,  ged  nach  do  chuir  i  seachad  aon 
mhionaid  ann  an  diomhanas  o'n  dh'  eirich  i 
'sa  mhaduinn.  Nach  mor  e  do'n  mliàthair 
a  bhi  latiiair  an  uair  a  thig  a  cuid  leanaban 
d'a-  hdonnsuidh  le'n  gearanaibh  agus,  le'n 
gairdeachas!  Nach  mor  e  do'n  mhathair 
an  uair  a  th^id  a  companach  a  mach  le 
tlachd  chum  a  chuid  oibre,  agus  a  philleas 
e  le  toil-inntinn  aig  an  fheasgair  gu  'dhaeh- 
aidh  shona  fein.  O!  a  mhathair  shòruichte 
I  agus  dhilis  na  smuainich  nach  d'  rinn  thu 
,  nithe  mor'  agus  luachmhor,  an  uair  a  rinn 
'  thu  do  dhleasnas  dod'  cht5ile  's  dod'  chloinn, 
!  oir  cha'n  'eU  fios  agad  air  do  chumhachd 
i  agus  air  do  chudthromachd  fein  gus  an 
cuirear  chum  cleachd  iad. 


M 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Miios  an  Earraicli,  1876. 


CUMHA   HIETEACH. 


f:f  :r    I   l:-.f  :  D  .,  r     |   f  :f:s   |    s:-.f:F.,s   1 


^^pflÌÌ=È=3z=Ìll=3=| 


1:1    :  dM   d^  :1   :  EM 

Fonn. 


Chaidh  an  Cumha  so  a  dheanamh  le  mnaoi  big  Hirteich  d'  a  fear-pòsda;  do  'n  do 
'thaclaair  dol  leis  a'  chreig  anus  an  robh  e  ag  ianach  ann  an  Sòthaidli,  aon  de  na 
h-eileanan  beaga,  creagach,  a  tha  laimh  ri  eilean  Hirt;  an  t-àite  anns  an  cuala  mi  an 
luchd-seinn  òran  agus  shabn,  a  's  fonnmhoire,  's  a  's  rèidhe,  's  a  's  binne  guth  dheth 
na  chuala  mi  riamh.  I).  E-  M. 


■'S  ann  air  traigh  eilean  Shòthaidh 
'Dh'  fhag  mi  m'  òganacb  gleusda; 
Urra  'dbeanadh  mo  thacar, 
'S  tabbairt  dbachaidb  na  sprfidbe, 

Ponn — Fàth  mo  dhiachainn  's  mo  lebnaidh! 
Mo  chreach  hhrbin,  's  mo  chreach  leiridh! 
Mo  chridh'  adhlaict'  an  dòlas, 
Cha  tog  ctòl,  no  cung  IJigh  e. 

Ged  a  thiiit  thu  bho'n  chreig  ud, 
Cha  b'  e  'n  t-eagal  a  l(?um  thu; 
'S  ann  a  finn  do  chas  sraonadh, 
'S  cha  do  dh'  fhaod  thu  riamh  eiridh. 
Fàth  mo' dhiachainn,  lùc. 

Dhòirteadh  d'  fhuil  air  a  chloich  ud, 
Bha  do  lot  an  deigh  leumadh, 
Bha  thu  muigh  air  bhàrr  stuaidhe, 
'S  muir  ga  d'  Ihuasgladh  bho  cheile. 
FàtTi  mo  dhiachainn,  etc. 

Thainig  thugam  do  mhkthair, 
Gun  i  'charadh  a  breid  out', 
'S  ruith  do  phiuthar  'n  uair  'chual'  i, 
•  Ach  b'  fhad'  uainn  far  an  d'  eug  thu. 
Fàth  mo  dhiachainn,  <£-c. 

'N  uair  a  thainig  do  bhràthair, 
B'  ard  a  ran  ga  do  lèirsinn, 


'S  gath  'n  ar  cridhe  ga  shkthadh, 
Taicinn  d'  kmhghar  an  cein  uainn. 
Fàth  mo  dhiachainn,  (te. 

'S  e  'tha  'torradh  mo  thruaighe 
Mar  'thuit  fuar-bhuille  'n  èig  ort, 
Gun  neach  fagnis,  a  ghaoil,  ort, 
'Bheireadh  faochadh  'n  a  d'  flie'um  dhut. 
Fàth  mo  dhiachainn,  tSjc. 

A  sheachd  beannachd  Can  oàirdean, 
'S  a  Ion  laidir  na  feuma, 
Tha  mo  chuid-sa  de  'n  ianlaith 
Feadh  na  h-iarmailt  ag  eigheach- 

FCtth  mo  dhiachainn,  d;c. 
Tha  mo  chuid-s'  dheth  na  h-uibhean 
Aig  a'  bhuidhinn  a  's  tr^ubhaich'  ; 
Cha  'n  'eil  dhòmhs'  ach  'bhi  riaraicht' 
Le  cruaidh  dhioghlum  na  h-èiginn. 

Fàth  mo  dhiachainn,  etc. 
•Eòin  nan  sp^ur,  's  iasg  nan  cuantan, 
Learn  bu  shuarrach  gu  le'ir  iad, 
Na  'm  biodh  laimh  rium  mar  'b'  abhaist 
Pearsa  ghràidh  fir  mo  sp^ise. 

Fàth  mo  dhiachainn,  <&c. 
Ach  cha  ghluais  guth  mo  bhròin-sa 
Dhachaidh  beò  thu  gu  d'  cheUe — 
'S  ann  air  traigh  eilean  Shothaidh 
'Dh'  fhag  mi  m'  òganach  gleusda. 

Fàth  mo  dhiachainn,  d:c. 


THE     G-^EL, 

ENGLISH  DEPAETMENT. 


Vol.  V.  FEBRUARY  1876.  No.  50. 

THE  SKULL. 

By  Dugald  Buchanan. 

From  the  Gaelic,  by  Professor  Blackie. 

This  poem  has  long  enjoyed  great  popularity  and  an  extensive  circula- 
tion among  the  devout  Gaels.  It  has  been  translated  already,  several  times, 
but  always,  I  believe,  by  native  Highlanders.  This  is,  perhaps,  the  first  time 
that  it  has  been  attempted  by  a  rhymer  who  was  not  born  with  Gaelic  in  his 
blood.  To  those  who  are  familiar  with  the  original,  I  wish  to  make  the 
remark  that  they  will  not  find  here  what  some  persons  may  expect,  a 
strictly  literal  version,  line  for  line,  of  the  Gaelic.  I  have  no  faith  in 
literal  versions  of  lyrical  poetry,  nor  indeed  of  any  work  where  an 
sesthetical  effect  is  intended  to  be  produced ;  in  the  domain  of  art,  even 
more  than  in  religion,  it  is  "  the  letter  that  killeth,  and  the  spirit  that 
maketh  alive."  What  ought  to  be  brought  out  in  a  poetical  translation 
is  the  characteristic,  not  the  literal ;  and  the  characteristic  element  in 
the  poem  must  be  expressed  with  spirit  and  force,  and  with  an  easy, 
natural  movement;  for  dancing  in  fetters  is  no  dancing  at  all,  and  worse 
than  the  most  clumsily  executed  piece  of  a  plain  prose  march.  To  the 
English  reader  I  would  say  that  he  may  probably  deem  the  poetical  merit 
of  this  piece  somewhat  inferior  to  its  high  reputation  among  the  Gaels ; 
and  no  doubt  it  is  true  that  religious  poetry  often  gains  a  circulation 
among  devout  persons  out  of  all  proportion  to  the  festhetical  merit  of  the 
production.  Personally,  I  cannot  help  thinking  it  pretty  plain  that  this 
poem  would  have  been  considerablyimproved,if  it  had.been  more  condensed, 
and  kept  more  free  from  the  tone  of  the  pulpit,  especially  towards  the 
close.  On  the  other  hand,  the  admirers  of  the  composition  may  reason- 
ably say  that  the  Bard  of  Rannoch  was  a  preacher,  and  that  he  was  as 
much  entitled  to  mingle  preaching  with  poetry  as  the  prophet  Isaiah  was, 
or  Solomon,  king  of  Israel.  So  be  it !  Let  "The  Skull"  be  denominated 
an  excellent  sermon  in  verse,  and  all  parties  ought  to  be  pleased. 

J.  S.  B. 


56  THE  GAEL.  February,  isre. 

I  sat  all  alone 

By  a  cold  grey  stone, 
And  behold  a  skull  lay  on  the  ground  ! 

I  took  in  ray  hand, 

And  pitiful  scanned 
Its  ruin,  ail  round  and  round. 

Without  colour  or  ken, 

Or  notice  of  men, 
When  a  footstep  may  trample  the  ground ; 

A  jaw  without  tooth, 

And  no  tongue  in  the  mouth, 
And  a  throat  with  no  function  of  sound. 

In  thy  cheek  is  no  red,  * 

Smooth  and  cold  is  thy  head. 
Deaf  thine  ear  when  sweet  music  is  nigh ; 

In  thy  nostril  no  breath. 

And  the  savour  of  death 
In  dark  hollow,  where  beamed  the  bright  eye. 

No  virtue  now  flashes 

'Neath  eyelids  and  lashes, 
Ko  message  of  brightness  is  sped; 

But  worms  to  and  fro 

Do  busily  go, 
Where  pictures  of  beauty  were  spread. 

And  the  brain  that  was  there 

Into  ashes  or  air 
Is  vanished,  and  now  hath  no  mind 

To  finish  the  plan 

It  so  boldly  began. 
And  left — a  proud  folly — behind. 

From  that  blank  look  of  thine 

I  gather  no  sign 
Of  thy  life-tale,  its  shame  or  its  glory  ; 

Proud  Philip's  great  son 

And  his  slave  are  as  one, 
When  a  skull  is  the  sum  of  their  story. 

Thou  who  pliest  the  trade 

With  shovel  and  spade, 
To  make  beds  for  the  dead  in  the  land, 

Declare,  if  thou  can, 

Be  it  maiden  or  man 
Whose  skull  I  now  hold  in  my  hand. 


February,  1S76.  THE   GAEL. 


A  maiden  wert  thou, 

Of  bright  eye  and  fair  brow, 
And  a  witchcraft  of  smiles  in  thy  face  Ì 

And  was  thine  the  hue  art 

To  enmesh  the  weak  heart 
Of  each  youth  that  might  sigh  for  thy  grace  ? 

And  what  art  thou  now, 

With  no  grace  on  thy  brow, 
And  thy  witchery  turned  to  disgust  1 

Cry  shame  on  bhick  Death 

That  stopped  thy  fair  breath. 
And  trampled  thy  bloom  in  the  dust ! 

Or  a  lawyer  wert  thou. 

Wise  and  true  to  thy  vow, 
To  hold  all  offenders  in  awe. 

Without  favour  or  grudge 

To  weigh  and  to  judge, 
And  to  keep  the  straight  line  of  the  law  ? 

Or  wert  thou  a  knave, 

A  tool  and  a  slave 
To  the  rich  who  could  buy  thee  with  gold, 

But  no  virtue  couldst  see 

In  the  poor  man's  plea, 
And  left  him  to  starve  in  the  cold  ? 

If  thou  wert  expert 

To  refine  and  pervert. 
Till  right  became  wrong  in  thy  hand ; 

A  court  waits  for  thee. 

Where  no  fictions  may  be, 
And  only  the  truth  may  stand. 

Or  wert  thou  a  leech, 

Keen  to  know  and  to  teach 
All  the  pharmacy  tabled  in  science, 

With  a  balm  in  thy  hand 

For  each  plague  in  the  land, 
Biddmg  death  and  disease  defiance  ? 

But  alack  for  the  man 

That  so  bravely  could  plan, 
From  disease  and  distemper  to  save ; 

In  vain  all  his  skill, 

With  potion  and  pill. 
To  respite  himself  from  the  grave ! 


58  THE  GAEL.  February,  isre. 

Or  a  soldier  wert  tliou, 

With  storm  on  thy  brow, 
On  the  sword  of  thy  vengeance  relying, 
<  Careering  with  power, 

In  victory's  hour, 
O'er  heaps  of  the  dead  and  the  dying  1 

Was  thy  sword  in  thy  sheath 

When  confronted  with  death, 
Or  did  thy  heart  faint  in  the  day, 

When  the  stout  heart  must  yield 

To  light  swarms  in  the  field, 
And  vile  armies  that  creep  through  the  clay  Ì 

No  whit  care  the  worms 

For  the  strong  man  of  arms, 
On  his  brain  they  will  banquet  full  well ; 

And  the  skull  of  the  bold 

Is  a  garrison  hold 
For  the  black-mantled  beetle  to  dwell. 

Some  are  digging  beneath 

The  fence  of  thy  teeth. 
Thine  ears  some  are  boring  within. 

And  some  creeping  out. 

In  a  revelling  rout, 
Are  spoiling  the  bloom  of  thy  skin. 

Or  wert  thou  a  lord 

Of  strong  drink  at  the  board, 
AVhere  the  cup  was  the  deepest  to  drain, 

With  no  heaven  but  this, 

To  v.-allow  in  bliss, 
With  the  ferment  of  Avine  in  thy  brain  Ì 

And  did  oaths  at  thy  board 

Sweetest  music  accord 
To  thy  filthy  carousers  and  thee, 

Till  your  senses  were  drowned. 

And  you  reeled  on  the  ground, 
More  swinish  than  swine  may  be  ? 

Or  wert  thou  a  man 

Of  the  temperate  clan. 
With  the  gentle  control  of  the  brain 

To  reason  thy  whim, 

When  passions  o'erbrim. 
And  a  king  in  thy  kingdom  to  reign  ? 


February,  1876.  THE   GAEL.  59 

Or  wert  thou  a  glutton 

To  gorge  and  to  fatten, 
Thy  carcase  unseasoned  by  soul, 

In  thy  belly  to  find 

A  god  to  thy  mind, 
And  a  worship  in  draining  the  bowl  ? 

Now  the  belly,  thy  god, 

Must  rot  in  the  sod, 
With  the  cold  ooze  dripping  round  thee. 

Thy  teeth  may  not  bite, 

Nor  thy  tongue  taste  delight, 
Where  the  fetters  of  death  have  bound  thee. 

Or  wert  thou  a  man, 

The  chief  of  thy  clan. 
The  broad-acred  lord  of  the  soil, 

A  help  still  at  hand, 

To  the  good  in  the  land, 
But  a  rod  and  reproof  to  the  vile  Ì 

Or  was  it  thy  plan, 

A  hard-faced  man. 
Thy  people  to  grind  and  to  flay,' 

To  exact  to  the  letter 

Thy  right  from  thy  debtor, 
AVhile  Mercy  cried  out  for  delay  1 

And  never  from  thee. 

In  the  pride  of  degree, 
Could  the  old  man's  voice  bring  a  tear, 

As  he  stood  in  the  air. 

With  his  bald  head  bare, 
And  the  sharp  East  Avind  in  his  ear. 

But  now  the  poor  thrall 

Waits  not  in  thy  hall, 
Forced  honour  and  homage  to  pay ; 

Death  loved  the  poor  man. 

When  he  bravely  began 
To  level  thy  pride  with  the  clay. 

Or  wert  thou  a  teacher 

Of  truth,  and  a  preacher, 
With  message  of  mercy  to  tell, 

AVith  an  arm  swift  and  strong 

To  pull  back  the  throng. 
That  headlong  were  plunging  to  hell  Ì 


60  THE  GAEL.  F«bruary,  isro. 

Or  wert  thou  a  man 

Of  the  moderate  clan, 
To  shepherd  the  sheep  at  thy  leisure  Ì 

If  the  fleece  were  but  thine, 

Old  Eeynard  might  dine 
On  the  lambs  of  the  flock  at  his  pleasure. 

But  woe  for  thy  doom 

When  the  judgment  shall  come, 
And  the  eye  of  the  Master  shall  find  thee, 

To  cast  the  amount 

Of  thy  hollow  account. 
When  the  fetters  of  death  shall  bind  thee  ! 

Or  wert  thou  a  head, 

The  hot-house  and  bed 
Of  evil  devices,  uncaring 

For  statute  or  law 

To  temper  with  awe 
The  restless  career  of  thy  daring  Ì 

A  forger  of  lies. 

And  the  rumour  that  flies 
On  the  pinions  of  calumny  strong ; 

With  lips  of  deceit. 

And  a  smile  bitter-sweet, 
And  the  poison  of  asps  on  thy  tongue  Ì 

But  now  still  in  death. 

With  no  voice  to  give  breath. 
That  tongue  shall  no  more  be  offender ;  . 

While  maggots  shall  go 

In  thy  mouth  to  and  fro 
And  gnaw  at  the  root  of  thy  slander. 

And  if  thou  didst  go 

All  sin-laden  so. 
With  a  lie  in  thy  throat  to  the  tomb ; 

The  cold  grave  shall  be 

The  sole  heaven  for  thee 
Till  the  trumpet  shall  call  thee  to  doom. 

Like  an  ugly  old  toad 

Fi'om  thy  miry  abode. 
Who  shalt  crawl  to  reproof  of  the  day ; 

To  encounter  thy  God 

AVhen  he  comes  with  a  rod 
The  reward  of  thy  doings  to  pay. 


bmary,  1S7G.  THE    GAEL.  Gl 

0  then  in  tliine  ear, 

AVith  voice  sharp  and  clear, 
The  Judge  shall  thy  doom  deliver, 

With  devils  to  dwell 

In  the  furnace  of  hell, 
And  his  curse  on  thy  head  for  ever. 

Nor  deem  that  the  fire 

Shall  kindly  conspire 
To  ashes  unfeeling  to  turn  thee, 

Thy  flesh  and  thy  bones 

Shall  be  hardened  to  stones, 
And  the  flame  that  shall  scorch  may  not  burn  thee  ! 

Or  wert  thou  a  wight, 

That  strove  for  the  right, 
With  God  for  thy  guide  in  thy  doing  Ì 

Though  now  thou  lie  there, 

All  bleached  and  bare. 
In  the  blast  a  desolate  ruin, 

From  the  tomb  thou  shalt  rise 

And  mount  to  the  skies, 
When  the  trump  of  the  judgment  shall  bray ; 

Thy  body  of  sin 

Thou  shalt  slip  like  a  skin, 
And  cast  all  corruption  away. 

Thy  form  shall  be  bright, 

As  the  fair  lady  Light, 
When  in  redness  of  morn  she  advances,* 

Like  stars  Avhen  they  shine, 

Thy  far-seeing  eyne, 
Shall  pierce  through  the  dim  with  their  glances. 

Thy  mouth  shall  o'erbrim 

From  God  with  the  hymn 
Of  His  praise  in  the  high  habitations ; 

He  ^Yilì  open  thine  ear 

In  rapture  to  hear 
The  psean  of  deathless  ovations  ! 

When  in  glory  divine 

The  Redeemer  shall  shine, 
The  hosts  of  His  people  to  gather, 

When  the  trumpet  hath  blared, 

Like  an  eagle  repaired, 
Thou  shalt  rise  to  the  home  of  thy  Father. 

*  Grian,  tlie  sun  is  feminine  in  Gaelic. 


G2 


THE  GAEL. 


February,  187G. 


He  shall  greet  tliee  His  own, 
From  the  light  of  the  throne, 

AVhence  joyfulness  flows  like  a  river  ; 
Thou  shalt  bloom  in  His  sight, 
Without  blast,  without  blight, 

In  an  Eden  of  glory  for  ever. 

0  listen  and  learn, 

And  timefully  turn, 
From  delusions  that  fondly  deceive  you  ! 

While  the  Saviour  stands 

With  welcoming  hands 
And  a  door  open  wide  to  receive  you ! 


EREUNA.* 

We  hardly  know  what  to  make  of 
this  book.  It  is  a  small  volume  of 
about  180  pages,  tastefully  got  up, 
and,  so  far  as  we  are  able  to  judge, 
accurately  printed.  It  is  divided 
into  three  chapters :  Etymons  of 
ancient  classical  words  and  names  ; 
Hebrajo-Celtic  affinities;  and  Ety- 
mons of  Hebrew  words  and  names. 
It  is  written  in  a  remarkably  clear 
and  lively  style.  The  author  has 
evidently  read  extensively  in  his 
subject,  and  shows  capacity  to  grasp 
philological  principles.  But,  beyond 
this,  one  is  at  a  loss  what  to  say. 
"  Celtophile"  does  not  consider  him- 
self bound  by  any  rule,  philological 
or  logical.  "  Nullius  addictus  jurare 
in  verba  magistri  "  is  his  motto  and 
his  principle,  and  he  follows  the 
dictum  in  the  most  unflinching 
manner,  even  when  the  magister 
happens  to  be  "  Celtophile  "  himself. 
He  freely  wanders  over  this  earth  of 
ours  from  Kamtschatka  to  Mexico, 
from  CafFraria  to   Connaught,  and 

*  "Ereuna  ;  or,  An  Investigation  of  the 
Etymons  of  Words  and  Names,  Classical 
and  Scriptural,  through  the  Medium  of 
Celtic  :  together  with  some  Remarks  on 
Hebraeo-Celtic  Afhiiities.  By  a  Celtophile. 
Williams  and  Norgate,  London  and  Edin- 
burgh.    1875." 


finds  the  names  of  its  places,  men, 
and  gods,  ancient  and  modern,  in- 
telligible only  through  the  medium 
of  the  Celtic  tongues. 

Vowels  and  consonants  which  are 
usually  treated  with  considerable 
disrespect  by  philologists  are  tum- 
bled about  by  "Celtophile"  in  a 
manner  truly  alarming.  And  yet 
the  happy  and,  in  some  cases,  beau- 
tiful interpretation  which  he  is  able 
to  give  of  the  names  of  the  old  gods 
and  goddesses  by  means  of  his  Celtic 
key  makes  one  almost  believe  that 
the  interpretation  is  sometimes 
true.  Triton  becomes  easily  Triath- 
thoim,  "  the  lord  of  the  waves  ;" 
Lares,  Làr{dh)e,  "  the  gods  of  the 
floor;"  and  Laomedon,  Letli-amadan,, 
"half  a  fool."  Atldnai  as  Aite- 
naomh,  "a  holy  place,"  is  a  little 
more  obscure.  Neamh  is  a  prolific 
word.  Signifying  cruel,  liitiless,  it 
explains  Nemesis.  In  its  more 
common  acceptation  of  heaven  it  is 
made  to  explain  {n)ambrosia,  manna, 
and  the  riv^r  Nile, — if  the  meaning 
of  this  last  word  be  referred  to  the 
blue  colour  of  the  river  or  to  its  un- 
ascertained source  ;  if  the  Avord 
means  misty  or  cloudy,  as  an  ancient 
scholiast  suggests,  it  is  merely  the 
Gaelic  nlul.  The  fertility  of  the 
author's   invention   stands    him   in 


Februar>',  1S7 


THE  GAEL. 


0  3 


good  stead  when  explaining  the 
name  of  the  great  deity  of  Egypt, 
Osiris.  The  siris  or  siride  is  clearly 
the  Gaelic  siorruith,  "  eternal."  The 
0  may  signify  fire,  in  which  case 
Osiris  is  the  Sun-god ;  or  eye,  when 
the  meaning  of  tlie  name  is  the 
eternal  eye  (of  Providence).  0,  it  is 
said,  means  also  xcater  in  Celtic,  like 
the  French  eau.  "  Taking  the  word 
in  this  sense,  the  compound  form 
Osiride  would  denote  the  ever-flow- 
ing water  of  the  river  of  Egypt." 
But,  finally,  o  may  be  prosthetic. 
If  so,  the  name  is  explained  by  a 
Greek  quotation  from  Dionysius 
Afer.  "We  Avould  add  one  more 
meaning  to  the  ubiquitous  o— viz., 
froin  (bho,  usual  contraction  o).  The 
meaning  then  would  be,  From  eter- 
nity or  The  eternal. 

In  some  cases  we  are  sorry  to 
find  the  author's  fertile  fancy  fails 
him.  Piromi,  "  fair  and  good,"  from 
ro  mhaith,  "'very  good,"  is  a  stroke 
of  genius ;  but  the  author  is  obliged 
to  confess  that  "  the  first  part  of  the 
composite  form,  Piromi,  is  not  so 
plain,  and  may  be  either  the 
Egyptian  definite  article  or  else  a 
word  related  to  a  Semitic  expression 
for  fair."  Again,  Sijhil  as  saobJi- 
chiall,  "the  occult  meaning,"  is  more 
than  doubtful ;  for  saobh  is  ivander- 
ing,  jierverse,  false,  rather  than 
occult,  as  the  author  elsewhere  states, 
(cf.  saobh-chreidimh,  "superstition;" 
saobh-shruth,  "  cross  current ").  We 
would  prefer  sitJi-bheid,  "  peace,"  or 
"  mystic  mouth,"  both  for  sound  and 
sense.  "  Celtophile's"  derivation  of 
pisces,  horn,  tiisgc,  "water,"  and  fiadh, 
"  a  deer,"  "  wild,"  is  no  doubt  in- 
genious, but  unsatisfactory.  He  first 
conjoins  the  two  words  uisge-fiadh, 
which  he  pronounces  wisk-i,  and 
then  transposes  them,  fiadh-uisge 
ifisk),  and  from  the  transposition 
evolves  pisccs.  AVe  confess  we  would 
have  preferred  the   natural  to  the 


transposed  form,  even  if  the  ti'uo 
etymology  of  pisces  had  still  to  be 
traced ;  for  we  would  have  an  admir- 
able derivation  and  an  apposite 
meaning  for  our  national  bever- 
age, ivhisky.  A  keener  feeling  of 
disappointment  arises  when  perusing 
the  felicitous  analysis  of  chiton,  "  a 
garment,"  from  cui,  "  a  covering," 
and  ton,  "the  fundament;"  for  the 
author  should  remember  that  the 
first  syllable,  chi,  is  a  proper  Gaelic 
word  for  "  see,"  and  that  therefore 
the  true  meaning  of  chiton  is  not 
the  concealment  but  the  exposure  of 
that  portion  of  the  person.  This 
derivation,  in  addition  to  the  beauti- 
ful simi^licity  of  it,  combines  the 
further  advantage  of  silencing  for 
ever  the  attempt  lately  made  by 
Hill  Burton  and  others  to  assign  a 
modern  date  to  the  invention  of  the 
kilt. 

Two-thirds  of  the  volume  is  taken 
up  with  an  explanation,  by  means  of 
the  Celtic  tongue,  of  Hebrew  words 
and  names.  With  reference  to  this 
portion  of  his  subject  the  author's 
position  is  peculiar,  and,  what  is 
more  remarkable,  he  admits  it  to  be 
so.  In  the  preface  he  speaks  of  the 
pernicious  tendency  of  geologists 
and  philologists  to  conduct  "  their 
pursuits  on  principles  which  seem  to 
ignore  the  truths  of  Revelation." 
His  analysis  of  Scripture  names, 
however,  leads  him  to  the  conclusion 
that,  if  his  conjectures  have  any 
foundation  (an  important  saving 
clause),  "  the  reasons  assigned  for 
the  names  in  our  present  copies  of 
the  Scriptures  must  be  mere  conjec- 
tural glosses,  foisted  into  the  text 
by  ignorant  copyists,  and  should  be 
rejected  accordingly."  Here  truly 
is  a  field  opened  up  to  the  most 
advanced  school  of  German  theo- 
logians which,  from  their  point  of 
view,  might  yield  a  luxuriant  crop. 
Our  author  is,  however,  decidedly 


64 


THE  GAEL. 


February,  1S7C. 


orthodox.  He  would  be  "grieved 
if  auglit  advanced  by  him  should 
militate  in  any  sense  against  the 
veneration  due  to  the  Revealed 
Word."  He  fiuds  consolation  in 
the  fact  that,  "  though  Celtic  seems 
to  discredit  in  some  minor  points 
what  has  been  hitherto  received  as 
Scripture,  it  serves  to  confirm  our 
faith  in  what  is  of  more  importance." 
And  accordingly  he  analyses  a  host 
of  Scripture  names  with  the  same 
combination  of  shrewdness  and 
whimsicality  which  we  have  illus- 
trated from  his  treatment  of  clas- 
sical names.  The  derivation  of 
Solomon  and  Solon  from  so,  "  well," 
and  ollamh,  "  learned,"  we  consider 
to  be  peculiarly  happy;  that  of 
Beelzebub  through  diabulus  from 
dia-aoibheil  we  consider  to  be  an 
example  of  the  ingenious. 

Some  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago, 
when  the  principles  of  philology 
were  but  imperfectly  known,  Celto- 
2)hilists  delighted  in  tracing  resem- 
blances between  the  language  of  the 
Gael  and  the  language  of  the  Jew. 
At  that  time  similarity  in  sound  and 
accidental  resemblances  in  vocables 
Avere  considered  convincing  proofs 
of  identity  in  origin.  But  the  pub- 
lication of  Pritchard's  "  Eastern  Ori- 
gin of  the  Celtic  Nations,"  while 
establishing  the  antiquity  of  the  Cel- 
tic people  and  language  on  a  basis 
sufficiently  firm  to  satisfy  the  most 
ardent  Celt,  taught  succeeding  in- 
quirers to  look  for  the  blood  rela- 
tions of  the  Celt  among  the  Hindoos 
and  the  various  European  nations 
rather  than  among  the  Hebrews. 
The  labours  of  succeeding  philolo- 
gists have  confirmed  the  soundness 
of  the  theory  which  Pritchard  was 
the  first  to  establish.  It  is  now  an 
accepted  fact  that  the  Celtic  lan- 
guage and  the  Celtic  people  are  a 
member,  and  historically  by  no 
m,eans  the  least  interesting  member, 


of  the  great  Indo-European  or  Aryan 
family.  But  while  the  Celt  and  his 
language  have  had  their  true  place 
assigned  to  them  among  the  nations 
and  tongues,  it  by  no  means  follows 
that  resemblances  important  to  the 
philologist  and  interesting  to  the 
general  reader  are  not  traceable  be- 
tween the  Celtic  language  and  Heb- 
rew. One  of  the  oldest,  if  not  the 
oldest,  members  of  the  Aryan  family, 
the  Celtic  tongue  has  somehow 
managed  to  preserve,  in  the  various 
dialects  spoken  in  this  country,  the 
sounds  and  forms  and  idioms  Avhich 
belonged  to  the  remote  past  in 
greater  perfection  than  any  other 
member  of  the  group,  Avith  the 
doubtful  exception  of  Sanscrit.  It 
would  be  surprising,  therefore,  if  in 
the  comparison  of  primitive  tongues 
our  language  should  not  hold  a  fore- 
most place  in  the  estimation  of  the 
philologist.  It  would  be  even  haz- 
ardous to  say,  with  our  present 
knowledge,  that  among  the  many 
fantastical  derivations  of  Hebrew 
names  given  by  Celtophile,  none  can 
stand  the  test  of  scientific  analysis. 
Comparative  philology  has  made 
rapid  strides  of  late  years,  but  it  is 
as  yet  only  emerging  from  its  in- 
fancy. 

From  the  examples  Ave  have  ad- 
duced, it  will  be  seen  that  "Ereuna" 
is,  if  not  a  scientific  treatise,  an 
amusing  and,  in  a  sense,  an  instruc- 
tive book.  It  deserves  to  be  read  by 
all  Avho  take  an  interest  in  the  sub- 
ject of  Avhich  it  treats.  We  haA^e 
seen  Celtophilism  exhibited  in  a 
more  extravagant  fashion,  and  in  all 
soberness  on  the  part  of  the  author. 
We  have  it  exhibited  in  this  book, 
combined  Avith  such  manifestations 
of  talent,  that  we  cannot  but  suppose 
the  lively  author  satirizes,  though 
he  very  skilfully  conceals  it,  Avhat  is 
considered  by  many  to  be  one  of 
the  amiable  weaknesses  of  our  day. 


^      '"<^^'''H 


U-^i^*^ 


/i-»— 


AN 


G^A,IDHEA.L 


Mar  ghath  soluis  do  m'  anamfein 

Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fhalhh." — Oisban. 


V.  Leabh.]         bar  a.  MIOS  AN  EARRAICH,  1876. 


[51  AiK. 


EACHDRAIDH-BEATHA 
PROFESSOR  BLACKIE. 

EuCxADH  EoiN  Stiuart  Blackie, 
no  "Dubhaig"  mar  a  their  e  fhèin 
ris,  anil  an  Glascho  's  a  bliliadhna 
1809.  Bha  'athair  'n  a  bhancfhear 
an  Abaireadhain.  Fhuair  e  a  chuid 
ionnsachadh-sgoile  ann  an  Abair- 
eadhain agus  ann  an  Duineidin. 
Chuir  e  da  bhliadhna  seachad  ann 
an  Gottingen,  Berlin,  agus  's  an 
Roimh,  agus  fad  na  h-aimsir  sin 
shaothraich  e  gu  mòr  ag  ionnsach- 
adh  na  cainnt  Gearmailtich,  agus  na 
cainnt  Eadailtich,  agus  maille  ri  sin 
an  daimh  anns  am  bheil  seana  chan- 
ainean  ainmeil  dhaoine  a  'seasamh 
d'a  chèile.  'S  a  bhhadhna  1834 
chuir  e  an  clò  eadar-theangachadh 
am  meadar  air  "  Faust,"  toradh 
saothair  a'  bhaird  mhòir  Ghearmaiìt- 
ich,  Goethe,  le  sgriobhaidhean  foills- 
eachaidh  aira'bhardachd;  agus  thug- 
adh  a  stigh  e  mar  f  hear-tagraidh  ann 
an  Cuirtibh-lagha  na  h-Albann. 
Sgriobh  e  mòran  aig  an  am  sin  air 
litreachas  na  Gearmailt,  ann  an 
"  Leabhar-mios  Bhlackwood,"  agus 
ann  an  "  Leabhar-mios  Tait/'  agus 
"  Leabhar  sgriidaidh  Ràidheil  air 
cuisibh  an  cein."  'S  a  bhhadhna 
1841,  fhuair  e  a'  chaithir-theagaisg 
Laidinn  a  chuireadh  suas  as  ùr  an 
Oilthigh  Mharischal  Abaireadhain. 
Dh'fhan  e  an  sin  aon  bhadhna  deug 
a'  cuideachadh  gu  mòr,  fad  na 
h-ùine,  leis  an  athleasachadhabha  air 
iarraidh    air   Oilthighibh   na   h-Al- 


bann,  agus  a  rinneadh  le  Achd 
Parlamaid  's  a  bhliadhna  1858,.  a' 
toirt  mòr  adhartais  do  ard-ionnsach 
adh  's  an  tir.  Sgriobh  e  mòran  air 
cumadh  agus  co-cheangal  cainnte 
anns  a'  "  Chlassical  Museum "  's  a 
bhliadhna  1850;  agus  le  sin  chuir 
e  an  clò  eadar-theangachadh  air 
a  bliàrd  Ghreugach,  ^schylus,  ann, 
am  ,  meadar.  Choisinn  so  dha  's 
a  bhliadhna  1852  Caithir-theag- 
aisg  na  Greugais  ann  an  Oilthigh 
Dhhineidin.  Chuir  e  mach  iomadh 
sgriobhadh  an  deigh  sin,  nach  'eil  e 
farasd  ainmeachadh  's  a  Ghaelig. 
Bha  sgriobhadh  air  "  Doigh  labhairt 
na  Greugais"  's  a  bhliadhna  1852  ; 
"  Sgriobhadh  air  Maise,"  le  beachd- 
an  àraidh  air  barail  Phlato  mu 
"  nàdur  Maise  "  's  a  bhliadhna  1858. 
Bha  Bardachd  air  a  chur  a  mach, 
leis,  a'  mhòr  chuid  dith  air  Seann 
sgeoil  dhuthchasach  nan  Greugach, 
's  a  bhliadhna  1857  ;  agus  Bardachd 
Bheurla  'us  Laidinn  's  a  bhliadhna 
18G0.  Air  a  bhliadhna  1853  ghabh 
e  turns  's  a'  Ghreig,  agus  sgriobh  e 
leabhran  a'  moladh  gu  mòr  daoiue  a 
chur  eòlais  air  Greugais  an  latha  an 
diugh,  le  sgriobhaidhean  eile  ann  an 
leabhraichean-mios  'us  ràidh  air  a 
Ghreig  a.  th'  ann  a  nis.  Sgriobh  e 
mu  "  Phlato  "  agus  mu  "  Homer  " 
gu  li-ealanta,  ionnsaichte.  A  thuill- 
eadh  air  obair  na  cathrach-theagaisg 
aige,  tha  e  easgaidh,  ealamh,  gu  dol 
air  feadh  na  tire  a'  teagasg  dhaoine 
agus  tha  e  eudmhor  thar  mòran  mu 
nithibh  a  bhuineas  do  cbliii  na 
h-Albann.     Anns  an  deasboireachd  a 


68 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


bh'  ann  's  a  bhliadhna  1867,  mu  'n 
Athleasachadh  air  an  t-suidheachadh 
cliura  daoine  a  thaghadli  do  'n  Phar- 
lamaid,  labhair  e  gu  fearail  an 
aghaidh  nan  daoine  a  blieireadli 
riaghailt  America  a  stigh  'n  ar 
nieasg,  agus  thagair  e  a  chùis  an 
agliaidh  Ernest  Jones,  duine  a  bha 
diàn  air  an  taobh  eile.  Bha  na 
beachdan  aig  air  "  Eiaghladh  nan 
nile  dhaoine"  (Democracy),  air  an 
cur  an  clò  sè  uairean  ann  an  ceithir 
la  deug  Ì  Chuir  e  gu  làidir  air 
taobh  na  h-Achd  a  shaor  luchd- 
teagaisg  Oilthighean  na  h-Albann  o 
bhi  fo  eigin  iad  f  hèin  a  cheangal  ri 
creidimh  na  h-Eaglais  Stèidhichte. 
'S  a'  bhliadhna  1866,  chuir  e  mòran 
d'a  shaothair  an   clò,  agus  ann  an 

1869,  chuir  e  machBardachd  airson 
foghlumaich  agus  luchd-frithealaidh 
nan    oilthighean.      'S  a'  bhliadhna 

1870,  chuir  e  an  clò  orain-catha  nan 
Gearmailteach,  agus  sgriobh  e  gu 
treun  air  taobh  nan  Gearmailteach 
ann  an  cogadh  ris  na  Frangaich.  'S 
a  bhliadhna  1872,  chuir  e  an  clò, 
"  Laoidhean  na  Gaidhealtachd  agus 
nan  Eilean."  Cha-n  fhad  o  sheas 
Professor  Blachie  suas  an  Lunnun  a' 
cur  gu  h-ealanta,  glic,  an  aghaidh 
bheachdan  Mr.  Eoin  Stiuart  Mill  air 
Feallsanachd  Mhoghail,  Mr.  Grote 
mu  Fheallsanaich  Greugach  ris  an 
abradh  iad  na  Sophists,  agus  Mr. 
Max  Muller  mu  mhineachadh  nan 
seann  sgeoil  dhuthchasach.  Chuir 
fc  a  bheachdan  fhein  an  cl-ò  's  a 
bhhadhna  1871.  Ann  an  leabhrain- 
ean  air  am  bheil  "  Horfe  Hellenicse  " 
leig  6  ris  a  bheachdan  air  daimh  agus 
co-cheangal  chànainean  am  measg 
dhaoine  agus  chuir  e  liiach  leabhar 
beag  airson  fhoghlumach  air  am 
bheil  "  Fein  eideachadh,"  leabhar  a 
fhuair  mòran  cliu  ann  an  Sasunn 
agus  ann  an  America.  0  cheann 
ghoirid  chuir  e  a  ghualainn  ri  caithir- 
theagaisg  na  Gaelig  a  chur  air  chois 
ann  an  oilthigh  Dhùineidin.     Agus 


cha-n  'eil  teagamh  air  a  nis  nach  teid 
a  chilis  leis  mar  a  b'  àill  leis.  Tha 
e  air  an  tir  a  shiubhal  air  fad,  agus 
sgriobhadh  a  dh'  ionnsuidh  gach 
cearnaidh  de  'n  t-saoghal  's  am  bheil 
boinne  de  f  liuil  nan  Gaidheal  a  ruith 
ann  am  feith,  agus  tha  ainmean  air 
an  cur  sios  aige  airson  corr  us  ochd 
mile  punnd  Sasunnach.  Ach  cha 
leòr  sin.  Tha  tuilleadh  uaith  chum 
beo-shlainte  f  hreagarrach  bhi  ann  do 
'n  fhear-theagaisg,  agus  cha  'n  'eil 
e  neo-choslach  nach  ruig  e  air  an  t- 
suim  air  am  bheil  a  chridhe  suidh- 
ichte  mu  'n  tig  fad.  Is  maith  's 
f  hiach  e  cliii  ona  h-uile  duine,  Gaidh- 
ealach  'us  Gallda,  aig  am  bheil  taobh 
ris  a'  Ghaelig.  Agus  tha  sin  aig  'us 
bithidhbarrachd  aige  fhathastdheth. 
Cha-n  'eil  sinn  ag  radh  mu'r  caraid 
flathail  ach  mar  a  theireadh  an  seann 
sluagh,  *'  Gu  mu  fada  beò  e,  'us  ceo 
dhe  a  thigh." 


DONULL  GOEM. 

[Fhuair  sinn  an  dan  so  bho  'n  nasal 
cheanalta,  Alastair  MacGille-Mhicheil, 
an  Uithist.  Thug  e  dhuinn  eachdraidh  an 
dan  am  Be'urla  ;  ach  tha  sinn  ro  dhuilich 
nach  urrainn  duinn  a  toirt  seachad  's  an 
àirimh  so.  Theagamh,  air  a  shon  sin,  gun 
tachair  sinn  fhathast.  Mairionn,  buan 
do'n  fhior  Ghàidheal  so  ;  agus  deoch-eòlais 
air.  Tha  sinn  cinnteach  nach  'eil  Gaidheal 
"  air  chuairt  no  thaU  an  cuan  "  nach  òl  gun 
obadh  i — am  fear  nach  dian  air  son  fearais- 
chinnidh  e  gu'n  dian  e  e  air  son  fearais- 
dhùthcha.] 

'X  kill  leibh,  ohi, 

Ar  leam  gur  h-i, 
'Ghrian  's  i  'g  ^irigh. 
'N  kill  leibh  ho  hau. 

Nkile,  nàile, 

Nkile  ri  triall,  ho, 
Gu  chirt  Dhònuill 
Nan  sgiath  ball-bhreac. 
Nan  laim  ceann-gheal. 
Nan  saighead  siiibhlach. 
Nan  long  seòlach, 
Nam  fear  meanmnach. 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1S76. 


AN  GATDHEAL. 


69 


Nàile,  nàile,  h6, 

Naile,  naile. 

Nàile  gu  trial!, 

Naile,  h6,  naile. 

Moch  am  màireach. 

'N  uair  theid  mac,  ho, 

Gu  'n  d'  fhaighneachd  a'  bhean 

Mo  righ-sa  deiseal. 

De  'n  mhnaoi  eile  : 

Cha'n  ann  air  chdignear, 

Na,  CO  i  'n  long  ud 

Cha  'n  ann  air  sheisir, 

Siar  an  eirthir 

No  mhdr-slieisir, 

'S  a'  chuan  Chananach  ? 

Cha'n  ann  air  naoinear, 

Don-bidh  ort  ! 

Cha'n  ann  air  dheichnear, 

C'uime  'n  ceilinn, — 

Ciad  'n  an  suidhe  leat, 

Co  ach  long  DhònuiU— 

Ciad  'n  an  seasamh  leat, 

Long  mo  leinibh. 

Ciad  eile,  ho  !  bhi  cur 

Long  mo  righ-isa, 

A'  chupa  deiseal  dhut ; 

Long  nan  Eilein. 

D;i  chiad  diag 

'S  mòr   leam  an  trom 

Bhi  dianamh  chleasa  leat ; 

Tha  'n  a  deireadh. 

Da  chiad  diag 

Tha  stiùir  òir  oirr', 

A  bhi  'g  iomairt 

Tri  chroinn  sheilich. 

A'  bhuill-choise  leat ; 

Gu  'm  beil  tobar  fiona 

Da  chiad  diag, 

Shios 'n  a  deireadh, 

'Bhi  'n  òrdugh  gleachda  leat. 

'S  tobar  fior-uisg' 

'S  a'  cheann  eile. 

Naile,  naile,  h.6, 

Nijle  SQ,  hrugaibh  i. 

'N  uair  theid  mac 

Ho,  naile,  nkile, 

Mo  righ  fo  uidhim, 

Nàile,  ri  trial!. 

Cha  'n  i  Mhòrthir 

Moch  am  màireach. 

A  cheann-uidhe  ; 

Nàile  chuirinn  geall 

He  's  Cinntire, 

'S  mo  shean-gheall, 

'N  Ròimh  's  a  Mhuthaim, 

Am  faod  silih  àicheadh, 

Diithaich  Mhic-Suain, 

'N  uair  theid  mac 

'S  dhthaich  Mhic-Aàoidh, 

Mo  righ-sa  dh'  Albainn, 

Guide  riutha. 

Ge  b'  6  cala 

Tàmh,  no  àite, 

Cha  lean  dris 

Gum  bi  mire, 

Air  an  droighionn  ; 

Cluith,  a's  gaire, 

Bualadh  bhiog, 

'S  leòis  air  dheamaibh  ; 

No  sguab  choirc'. 
Air  achadh  foghair  ; 

No  sop  seaun-todhair, 

Bithidhsid, 

Air  ta,obh  -tighe, 

A's  iomairt,  h.6  ! 

No  'n  ci\irt  Dh^nuill, 

Air  an  taileasf, 

Sgiath  a's  claidjieamh  ; 

Air  na  cairtean 

Clogaide  gorm-dheas. 

Breaca,  bana  ; 

A's  balg-shaighead. 

'S  air  na  disnean 

«               *               ♦               » 

Geala  chnàmha. 

Mhirn  a's  meaghail, 

Gur  lionar  boineid 

Ghorm  air  staing  ann. 

H(5  naile,  nkile, 

'S  coinneal  chi^ire 

Nkile  le  cheile. 

Laiste  'n  laiiintir. 

Ge  b'  e  aite 

'N  tàmh  thu  'n  Alba, 

Nkile,  nkile 

Bithidh  sid 

Ho,  nkile  le  cheile. 

Mar  ghnàth's  ann  : 

'N  uair  theid  mac 

Ceòl  a's  seanchus, 

Mo  righ-sa  'n  a  'eideada, 

Piob  a's  clàrsach, 

Gu'n  robh  gach  dull 

Àbhachd,  's  dannsa  ; 

Mar  thk  mi  f  hein  da  ; 

Bithidh  eairt  uisge 

'D  è  ma  bhitheas, 

Suas  air  flanga  ; 

Cha  tachair  bèud  da. 

01  -fiona 

Gu  'm  beil  mi  dhut, 

'S  beòir  'ad  champa  ; 

Mar  tha  do  phiuthar  ; 

'S  gur  lionar  triubhas 

Mur  h-'eil  mi  bkrr — 

Saoitbreacb,  seang,  aim. 

Tha  lai  uibhir. 

AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraicli,  1S76. 


Neart  na  gile  dliut, 
Neart  na  grèine, 

Bhi  eadar  DònuU  Goriii 

'S  a  lèine  ; 
Neart  an  fhochuinn 
Anns  a'  Ch^itein, 

Bhi  eadar  DònuU  Germ 

'S  a  Idine. 
Neart  na  tuinne, 
'N  tuinne  thrèubhacli, 

Bhi  eadar  l>ònull  Gorm 

'S  a  ìème. 
Neart  a'  bhradain 
Is  liraise  l^umas, 

Bhi  eadar  DònuU  Gorm 

'S  a  Mine 
Neart  Chuchullainn 
Fo  'Ian  èideadh, 

Bhi  eadar  Dònull  Gorm 

'S  a  Idine 
Neart  sheachd  caithean, 
'S  feachd  na  Feinne, 

Bhi  eadar  Dònull  Gorm 

'S  a  lèine. 
Neart  Oisein  bhinn, 
Neart  Oseair  ^uchdaich, 
/Bhi  èf^dar  ÌDònuU  Gorm 

'S  a  Itìne. 
Neart  Ghoill 
Nan  troni  chrèuchdan, 

Bhi  eadar  Dònull  Gorm 

'S  a  lèine. 
Neart  Fhinn 
Nan  ioma  beuma, 

Bhi  eadar  Dònull  Gorm 

'S  a  le'ine. 
Neart  gach  abhna, 
'S  gach  allt  sk'ibhe, 

Bhi  eadar  Dònull  Goi-m 

'S  a  l^ine 
Neart  na  stoirme, 
'S  na  toirm-ghaoith  r^ubaich, 

Bhi  eadar  Dòmill  Gorm 

'S  a  Idine. 
Neart  an  torruinn, 
'S  na  beithreach  èitidh, 
.  Bhi  eadar  Dònidl  Gorm 

'S  a  leine. 
Neavt  an  dealain, 
'S  an  tairnich  bh<^uraich, 

Bhi  eadar  Dònull  Gorm 

'S  a  l^ine. 
Neart  na  miola 
Mdire  's^ideadh, 

Bhi  eadar  Dònull  Gorm 

'S  a  leine. 
Neart  nan  dtil, 
A's  chlanna-spèura, 

Bhi  eadar  Dònull  Gorm 

'S  a  leine. 
Gach  aon  diubh  sid, 
A's  neart  Mhic  Dhè 


Bhi  eadar  DònuU  Gorm 
'S  a  leine. 
'D  è  ma  bhitheas 
Cha  tachair  b^ud  dut, 
Ar  leam  gur  h-i 
Ghrian  's  i  'g  ^irigh 
'N  àill  leibh  ohi 
'N  kill  leibh  oho  hkù. 


COMHRADH 

EADAR  MUEACHADH  BAN  AGUS 
CÒrNNEACH  CIOBAIR. 

Mti  R. — "  Bha  dtisal  cadail  orm, 
agus  an  am  domh  dùsgadh  suas,  air 
domh  na  coin  a  cliluinntinn  a'  comh- 
artaich  aig  an  dorus,  is  beag  dùil  a 
bh'  agam  gur  e  Coinneach  Ciobair  a 
bha  aig  an  stairsnich  aig  an  uair 
anmoich  so  dhe'n  oidhche.  Thig  a 
steach,  fhir  mo  ghràidh,  agus  innis 
detail  ciod  is  cor  dhuit,  agus  cia  mar 
a  dh'  fliàg  thu  iad  gu  leir  's  a' 
Ghoirtean  Ihraoich  "2 " 

Coin. — "  Ma  ta,  a  Mhurachaidh, 
is  fear  gun  nàire  'cliuireas  dragh  air 
teaghlach  sam  bith  aig  an  uair  neo- 
iomchmdh  so,  agus  uime  sin,  is  fear 
gun  nàire  mise,  oir  tha  thu  'faicinn 
gu'n  d'  rinn  mi  sin." 

M. — "  Diiin  do  bheul,  a  cbaraid, 
agus  na  cluinneam  smid  tuilleadh 
dheth  leithid  sin  de  sheanchas,  oir 
tha  deagh-f  hios  agad  nach  'eil  anam 
beò,  a  mach  o'm  theaghlach  fein,  a 
bheireadh  barrachd  sòlais  do  m' 
chridhe  fhaicinn  na  Coinneach 
Ciobair  aig  uair  sam  bith  dhe'n  la, 
no  dhe'n  oidhche.  Dean  suidhe,  ma 
ta,  gus  an  dùisg  mi  bean-an-tighe." 

C— "  Bean-an-tighe  !  cha  dean 
thu  idir  e, — is  tu  nach  diiisg,  oir 
cha'n  'eil  ni  sam  bith  a  dh'  uireas- 
bhuidh  ormsa  ach  beagan  bhriathra- 
seanchais,  agus  ciiil  bheag  chum  mo 
cheann  a  chur  fodham  gu  mad- 
liinn." 

M. — "Bi  'n  ad  thosd,  a  Choinnich, 
tha  e  cianail  mar  'eil  comas  aig  duine 
bochd  a  thoil  a  dheanamh  'n  a  thigh 


Dara  Mìos  an  Earjraich,  IS" 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


71 


feiu.  Eiricli  a'  bhean,  eirich,  agus 
laic  CO  a  th'againn  an  so." 

Air  ball,  bha  bean  Mhuracbaidb 
air  a  bonnaibb,  agus  an  sàs  ann  an 
Coinneach,  a'  cur  fàilt  is  furain  air, 

C. — "  Is  obair  gun  aobhar  so  air 
fad,— 

M.— "Xa  cluinneam  tuilleadb 
dheth  sin,  a  Ghraidh  nam  fear,  oir 


phiinnd  air  a'  cbeann,  acb  is  cinnte- 
ach  gu'n  robb  iad  ciatach. 

C. — Bha  iad  mar  a  blia  am  baile 
ann  an  Baideanach,  an  eatorras,  acli 
cliuir  duin'-uasal  àraidli'd'am  b'  ainm 
Mac-an-Fhleisteir,  fios-dealain  orra 
dh'  ionnsuidli  Shir  Seumais,  agus 
chord  iad  fein  mu'n  luach,  acb  thug 
e    dbòmhsa    òrdugh-banca  do   Shir 


ired  nacli  deachaidh  do  cbuid  's  a'  ì  Sèumas  air  son  sea  cèud,  a  thuilleadh 


phoit,  tha  driibhag  's  an  t-searraig 
dhnibb  a  fhliucbas  do  sgòrnan,  agus 
cha  mhisd'  thu  boinne  beag  an  deigh 
do  thurais,  maille  ri  crioman  as  a' 
nihulacliaig  agus  greim  dhe'n  aran. 
Goilidb  a'  bhean  an  coire  beag,  agus 


air  ciiig  biiinn  oir  a  chuir  e  am  laimh 
fein  air  son  mo  shaoithreach. 

M. — B'e  'n  duin'-uasal  e  da  rireadh, 
agus  cha  nihiste  leam  agad  na  cuig 
buinn  sin,  is  bòidheacli  iad,  agus  is 
maitli  'n  an  àite  fein.     Cuiridh  iad 


is  feairrd   thu  diodag  bhlàth,  mu'n  '  brogan  air  Seonaid  agus  air  na  pàis- 


cuir  thu  do  cheann  far  am  bi  dull 
agad  'fhaotuinn  's  a'  mhaduinn." 

C. — Gu  dearbh  's  gu  cinnteacb 
cha  ghabh  mi  boinne  blàtb  an  nochd, 
agus  cha'ii  'eil  stàtb  a  bhi  'bruidhinn. 
An  deigh  dhuinn  an  Leabhar  a 
ghabhail,  rachamaid  le  beannachd  a 
chadal,  agus  gheibhear  gach  ùr-sgèul 
's  a'  mhaduinn. 

M. — "Mar  bi  e  air  mo  chomhairle- 
sa,  biodh  e  air  do  chonihairle  fein,  a 
riiin  mo  chridhe.  Oidhche  mhaith 
agus  deagh  fhois  dhuit.  Do  bhrigh 
gu'm  bheil  thu  sgitli,  na  dean  cabliag 
's  a'  mhaduinn." 

C. — Fàilt  ort,  a  ]\Ihurachaidh,  is 
moch  thu  air  do  bhonnaihh  mar  a  b' 


dibh. 

C. — Cha  b'e  sin  an  gnothuch  fur- 
ast  an  diugb,  a  Mhurachaidh, — na 
brògan !  Ach  coma  co  dhiùbh,  is 
taitnich'  airgiod  nam  bròg  na  duais 
an  lèigb  ;  agus  is  fearr  a  bhi  'caith- 
eadh  nam  bròg  no  nam  plaideachan. 
Ach,  a  Mhurachaidh,  cba'n  'eil  mi 
tuigsinn  fo'n  ghrein  ciod  is  ciall  do'n 
telegram  sin  a  thug  Sir  Seumas  o 
cheann  mios  air  ais  dh'  ionnsuidh  a 
Chaisteil  aige.  Tha  e'  dol  os  ceann 
mo  sgil  agus  mo  sgoil,  agus  cba'n  'eil 
dùil  agam  gur  ni  e  a  ta  cneasda. 
Tha  òganach  an  sud  ann  an  seòmar 
beag  a'  sir-amharc  air  aghaidh  rud 
cosmhuil  ri  uaireadair  Gearmailteach, 
àbhaist,  am  bheil  thu  gu  fallain,  slàn,  |  air  am  bheil  da  laimh  bhig  a'  grad- 


surdail  an  duigh  % 

M. — Is  dan  a  bhi'  talach,  aChoinn- 
ich,  acb  carson  a  dli'  eiricb  thu  co 
moch,  air  duit  a  blii  airsnealach, 
sgith  an  raoir,  ach  cha  robh  bine 
agam  f  bòighneachd  ciod  an  gnotbuch 
mu'n  robh  thu  an  de,  an  uair  a 
thàinig  thu,  mar  an  sneachd,  gun 
diiil  riut  ? 

C— Bha  mi  air  Feill  Mo-Chalm- 
aig,  far  an  do  reic  mi  tri  cheud  molt 


cblisgeadb  a  null  's  a  nail,  agus  tha 
greim  aige  air  gnè  iucbrach  leis  am 
bheil  e  do  gbnàth  a'  gliogairsich, 
agus  a'  cur  nan  lamb  beaga  air 
cbrith-ghluasad  gun  sgur  Cba'n 
aithne  dhomh  idir  ciod  is  ciall  da. 

M. — Tha  mi  'g  ad  chreidsinn,  a 
Choinnicb,  acb  is  e  an  iekr/raph  aon 
de  na  b-innleacbdaibb  miorbhuileach 
sin  a  fhuaradh  a  macb  o  cheann 
beagan    bhliadhnaichean,    agus  cha 


le  Sir  Seumas  air  son  an  d'thugadh  j  lugha  na  ceithir  no  ciiig  dhiubh,  co'- 
dhomh  diibladh  sin  de  phiiinnd  ionnann  iongantach  annta  fein,  a 
Shasunnacb.  j  fhuaradh  a  mach  o'n  bha  d'athair  'n 

M. — Fhuair   thu    mil's    mòr,   dcà  '  a  leanabh. 


7-3 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  187C. 


C. — Ainmicli  iad  sin,  a  Mliurach- 
aidh,  a  chum  gu'm,  bi  cnimhn'  agam 
orra. 

M. — O'n  a's  cuimhne  learn  fein 
fhuaradh  a  macli  an  telegraph,  an 
toit-chumhachd,  an  gas-sholus,  agus 
dealbh-tharruing  na  gròine,  a  ihnille- 
adh  airiomadhathleasachadh  feumail 
eile. 

C. — Minich  dhomh  an  telegraph 
an  toiseach,  a  Mhurachaidh,  oir  is 
niinic  a  chunnaic  mi  na  caol-shlatan 
iaruinn  air  an  sineadh,  agus  air  an 
teannachadh  air  mullach  nan  crann 
àrda,  agus  is  trie  a  chual  a  mi  na 
naigheachdan  a'  dol  seachad  k  srann- 
fliuaim  air  na  slataibh,  agus  a'  toirt 
orra  a  bhi  seinn  mar  air  teudaibh 
fidhle.  A  reir  coslais  is  iad  nadeagh- 
naigheachdan  a  bheir  a  mach  binn- 
cheòl  dhe'n  t-seòrsa  sin,  oir  cha'n 
'eil  ni  sam  bith  toilichte  no  taitneach 
mu'n  droch  naigheaclid. 

M. — Tha  thu  gu  tur  air  do  mheall- 
adh  mu  na  nithibh  sin,  a  Choinnich, 
oir  cha'n  iad  na  naigheachdan  a  ta 
deanamh  na  fuaime,  ach  an  osag 
ghaoithe  a  gluasad  nau  slat  a  ta  air 
an  teann-tharruing  mar  th^udan  na 
cruite-ciuil. 

C. — Ciamar,  uime  sin,  a  chuirear 
ai^  naigheaclid  air  falbh  1 

M. — Tha  sin  'g  a  dheanamh  le 
deaianach  nan  spèur.  Tha  fios  agad, 
a  Choinnich,  gu'm  bheil  e  comusach, 
an  deaianach  a  dheanamh  le  stuth- 
annaibh  sònraichte,  agus  a  ghleidh- 
eadh  ann  an  searragaibh  àraidh  a  ta 
air  an  cumadh  air  a  shon.  An  uair 
a  nithear  an  deaianach  air  an  doigh 
so,  tha  comas  aigesan  a  ta  'gabhail 
cùraim  deth  air  a  dheanamh  lag  no 
làidir  a  reir  a  thoil  fein.  Leis  an 
iuchuir  ud  'n  a  làimh  tha  e  cui:  an 
dealanaich  troimh  nan  cuibhleachan, 
agus  tha  na  cuibhleachan  sin 
a'  gluasad  nan  làmh  beaga  ud  a 
chunnaic  thu,  agus  a'  comharrachadh 
a  mach  litrichean  àraidh  a  ta,  mar 
sin,  a'  deanamh  suas  bhriathra  na 


teachdaireachd.  Tha  cumhachd  an 
tein'-adhair  sin  a'  ruith  air  na  slataibh 
a'  ruigheachd  ann  am  priobadh  na 
sùla  nan  ionadan  a's  faide  air  falbh 
dh'  ionnsuidh  am  bheil  an  teachd- 
aireachd a  dol,  agus  an  sin  a'  cur 
làmhan  eile  air  ghluasad  a  chuireas 
an  teachdaireachd  air  ball  an  ceill. 
Ach  cha'n  f  hurast  sin  a  mhineachadh 
le  briathraibh,  a's  eugais  sealladh 
nan  sul. 

C. — Is  miorbhuileach  an  ni  cumh- 
achd a  bhi  aig  duine  peacach,  dall, 
aineolach,  thairis  air  deaianach  nan 
spèur,  agus  seirbhiseach  a  dheanamh 
dheth.  Dh'  aindeoin  gach  cùis,  tha'n 
duine  'n  a  chreutair  innleachdach. 

M. — Kocheart,  a  Choinnich,  ach 
cha'n  'eil  sinn  ach  'n  a  thoiseach 
f  hathast,  oir  gun  teagamh  meuduich- 
ear  an  innleachd  sin  gu  mòr  là  èigin, 
oir  tha  nithe  ùra  'g  am  faighinn  a 
mach  gach  la.  Am  bheil  fios  agad 
gu'm  bheil  gnè  dhealanaich  ach  beag 
anns  gach  ni  mu'n  cuairt  duit, 
Gabh  cat  ann  an  seòmar  dorch,  agus 
sliob  sios  bian  a  dhroma  gu  cruaidh 
re  mionaid  na  dhà,  agus  a  ris  grad- 
shuath  e  an  aghaidh  a'  chuilg,  agus 
chith  thu  sradan  teine  a'  boisgeadh 
as  a  dhruim,  agus  is  gnè  dhealanaich 
a  ta  an  sin. 

C. — Is  miorbhuileach  gach  ni  a  ta 
ann  !  Co  a's  urrainn  an  gabhail  gu 
leir  a  steach  !  Ach  ciod  mu'n  toit- 
chumhachd  Ì 

M. — Tha  thu  fein  eòlach  air  an 
toit-chumhachd  leis  am  bheil  na 
luingeasan  air  an  greasadh,  na 
h-eich-iaruinn  air  an  gluasad,  na 
h-achan  air  an  treabhadh,  agus  air 
am  buain,  na  h-eudaichean  de  gach 
gnè  air  an  sniomh  agus  air  am  figh- 
eadh, — na  leabhraichean  air  an 
clòdh-bhualadh,  —  agus  na  muill- 
nean  de  gach  gnè  air  an  greasadh. 
Tha  'n  toit-chumhachd  mar  so  'g  a 
fhoillseachadh  fein  fo  mhile  riochd, 
agus  'g  a  chleachdadh  chum  ach 
beag  gach  obair  agus  ealaidh  a  chur 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


73 


air  an  aghaidh.  Na'n  togadh  do 
slieanathair  a  cheann  as  an  duslaich, 
ciod  a  theireadh  e  an  uair  a  chith- 
eadh  e  na  carbadan  a'  ruith  gun 
eicli, — na  li-achau  'g  am  buain  le 
cumhachd  teine  agus  nisge, — agus 
na  longan  a'  ruith  air  cliuibhleacli- 
aibh,  agus  a'  grad-shiubhal  gun 
sheòl,  gun  ràmh,  an  aghaidh  an 
t-sruth  agus  na  gaoithe?  Is  cinn- 
teach  gu'n  abradh  do  sheanathair 
coir  gu'n  robh  làmh  aig  do  chaird- 
ibh  na  sithichean  anns  a'  ghnothuch, 
agus  gu'n  robh  barrachd  na  cumh- 
achd talmhaidh  air  fhoillseachadh 
anns  a'  chùis. 

C. — Tha  mi  fein  a'  deanamh  gnè 
thuigsinn  air  an  toit-chumhachd,  oir 
is  minic  a  chunnaic  mi,  an  uair  a 
bhiodh  Seònaid  a'  goil  a'  choire 
dhuibh,  air  son  drùbhaige  dhe'n  ti 
a  dheanamh  's  a'  mhaduinn,  nacli 
b'  f  hurast  an  ceann  a  chumail  air  a' 
choire  le  cumhachd  na  toit. 

M. — Tha  thu  gle  cheart,  oir  is 
ann  le  coire  beag  mar  sin  a  f  huaradh 
an  cumhachd  sin  a  mach  an  tois- 
each. 

C. — Ach  ciod  mu'n  ghas-sholus  ? 
Chunnaic  mi  fein  e  's  na  bailtibh- 
mòra,  agus  gu  cinnteach  cha  d'  thug 
mi  mo  bheannachd  air. 

M. — Ud  !  ud  !  ciod  so  a  dh'  eirich 
dhuit,  a  charaid  Ì 

C. — Ciod  a  dh'  eirich  dhomh  ! 
Innsidh  mi  sin,  ach  na  dean  gtàire 
rium,  a  ghràidh  nam  fear.  Gun 
teagamh  air  oidhche  àraidh  theab  e 
an  gnothuch  a  dheanamh  orm. 
'Ncàm  domh  a  bhi  ann  an  Glaschu 
maille  ri  Sir  Seumas,  tha  cuimhn' 
agad,  air  an  turas  a  thug  sinn  a 
dh-Eirinn,  chuireadh  a  steach  do 
sheòmar  àluinn  cadail  mi,  far  an 
robh  lasuir  mhòr  dhe'n  ghas,  mar 
sgiathan  eòin,  a'  gabhail  gu  soilleir. 
An  deis  domh  mo  bheannachadh 
fein,  agus  ochan  !  is  ann.  agamsa  a 
bha  feum  air  beannachadh  o'n  Airde 
an  oidhche  sin,  sheid  mi  as  an  solus, 


agus  thilg  mi  mi  fein  's  na  plaid- 
eachaibh  ;  sheid  mi  gu  grad  as  e, 
mar  a  b'  àbhaist  domh  coinnlean 
geire  nam  molt  a  chur  as,  agus 
thug  mi  mo  leabuidh  orm.  Ann  am 
meadhon  na  h-oidhche,  bha  mi 
'n  impis  mo  thachdadh ;  dh'  eirich 
mi,  ach  cha  robh  anail  agara,  agus 
thòisich  mi  air  gleadhraich  a  dhean- 
amh air  feadh  an  t-seòmair,  a'  tilg- 
eadh  nam  bòrd  thairis,  a'  briseadh 
nan  soithichean-ionnlaid,  agus  a' 
fairtleachadh  orm  dorus  no  uinneag 
fhaotuinn  thall  no  bhos.  Bha  mo 
cheann  'n  a  bhreislich,  agus  bhuail 
mi  an  t-ùrlar  gu  cruaidh  air  son 
furtachd.  Mu  dheireadh,  dh'  fhosg- 
ail  neach  èigin  an  dorus,  agus 
ghlaodh  e  mach — Gracious  goodness! 
I  ivhat  is  this  Ì — Ghlaodh  e  gas,  gas, 
'  gas — agus  ged  a  bha  esan  mar  an 
'  ceudna,  an  impis  a  thachdadh,  rug  e 
air  ghualainn  orm,  agus  threòraich 
e  mi  gu  ceann  na  staidhreach, 
riiisgte  mar  a  rugadh  mi,  agus  dh' 
fhosgail  e  na  h-uinneagan  air  ball. 
Bha'n  t-àite  dubh,  dorch,  agus  gaotli 
fhuar  a'  seideadh  air  mo  choluinn 
ruisgte.  Dh'  innis  e  dhomh  gu'm 
bithinn  ann  an  siorruidheachd  na'm 
biodh  esan  leth-uair  eile  gun  tighinn 
a  steacli,  agus  gu'm  biodh  an  tigh 
air  a  sheideadh  suas  mar  le  f  lidair, 
na'n  tugteadh  coinneal  laiste  do'n 
t-seòmair. 

M. — Fhuair  thu  cuimhneachan 
air  cumhachd  an  t-soluis  sin,  a 
Choinnich,  a  leanas  riut  am  feadh 
is  beò  thu,  oir  is  caol  a  thèarnadh 
thu  gun  teagamh.  Tha  fios  agad 
gum  bheil  an  gas  air  a  dheanamh  as 
a'  ghual.  Gabh  piob-thombaca  le 
cois  f  hada,  agus  lion  sòrn  na  piòba 
le  gual  gu  min  air  a  phronnadh,  agus 
còmhdaich  e  le  potaig  dechreadhaidh 
air  a  h-oibreachadh  gu  reidh.  Càr- 
aich  ceann  na  piob  anns  an  teine,  a' 
fàgail  na  coise  direach  a  mach.  Ann 
an  hine  ghoirid  chith  thu  ceo  a' 
brlichdadh  a  mach  as  a'  chois,  agus 


74 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


ma  chuireas  tu  teine  ris,  loisgidh  e 
gu  soilleir,  agus  bheir  e  deagli  sholus 
uaithe.  Is  ann  air  an  dòigli  cheudna, 
uime  sin,  a  nithear  an  gas  ann  an 
tomhas  mòr  chum  na  bailtean  a 
shoillseachadh,  mar  a  chith  thu  iad 
anns  gach  àite. 

C. — Mòran  taing  dhuit,  a  Mhur- 
acliaidh,  is  iongantach  an  t-eòlas  a 
ta  air  a  sparradh  's  a'  clieann  sin 
agad,  agus  cha'n  fhios  domh  idir 
ciamar  a  rinn  thu  grèim  air.  Ach 
ciod  a  nis  mu  dhealbh-tharruing  na 
grèine,  a  ta  co  h-iongantach  ri  aon 
de  na  h-innleachdaibh  a  dh'  ainmich- 
cheadh  leat  a  cheana  1 

M. — Ma  ta,  a  Choinnich,  cha'n 
fhurasda  dòmhsa  sin  a  mhineachadh 
dhuit,  a  chionn  nach  'eil  mi  fein  'g 
a  thuigsinn  gu  soilleii'.  Goirear  anns 
a'  Bheurla  "  Photogrccphy "  ris  ; — 
focal  a  ta 'ciallachadh  "Sgriobhaidh," 
no  "Tarruing"  le  solus  na  gieine. 
Tha  clàran  beaga  gloine  ceithir- 
shliosnach  air  an  ullachadh,  agus 
air  an  ionnlad  ann  an  gèur-shùbh 
làidir,  agus  tha  aon  de  na  gloine- 
achaibh  sin  air  a  shuidheachadh  ann 
am  bocsa  cosmhuil  ri  gloin-amhairc. 
Suidhidh  an  ti  a  tharruingear  fa 
choinneamh  a'  bhocsa  so,  le  'shùil 
air  a'  ghloine,  agus  air  do'n  dealbh- 
adair  a  bhi  'n  a  sheasamh  air  an 
taobh  eile  dhe  'n  bhocsa,  tha  e' 
togail  suas  spèilean,  no  dorus  beag, 
chum  solus  na  greine  a  leigeadh  a 
stigh  do'n  bhocsa.  An  sin,  ann  am 
priobadh  na  siila,  tha'n  dealbh  air  a 
nochdadh  air  a'  ghloine,  ach  tha'n 
dealbhadair  gu  grad  'g  a  spionadh 
air  falbh  gu  seomar  dorcha,  agus  'g 
a  thilgeadh  ann  an  stuth  araidh,  leis 
am  bheil  an  dealbh  aira  cho'-dhaingn- 
eachadh  air  a'  ghloine.  Tha'n 
dealbh  sin  a  ris  air  a  chlòdh-bhual- 
adh  bhàrr  na  gloine  air  paipeir  tana, 
agus  tha'm  paipeir  sin  air  a  ghlaodh- 
adh  air  cairt  làidir  ghil,  chum  a 
ghleidheadh  tèaruinte,  agus  tha'n 
dealbh  an  sin  deas. 


C. — B'e  sin  d'a  rireadh  an  obair 
eagnuidh,  iongantach,  agus  is  firinn- 
each  a  nochdas  e  riochd,  agus  aogas 
an  duine.  Thug  Sir  Seumas  a 
dhealbh  do  Sheònaid  an  la  roimhe, 
agus  chab'urrainn  nisambith  coslas 
an  Ridire  a  nochdadh  na's  fearr. 
Cha'n  'eil  fiii  gaoisdean  air  a  mhal- 
aidh  nach  f  haicear  an  sin  gu  soilleir, 
agusthafuilteanan  a  cliinn  gu  riochd- 
ail  air  an  leigeadh  ris.  Is  anabarr- 
ach  an  innleachd  e. 

M. — Tha  mi  'creidsinn  sin  uile,  a 
Choinnich,  ach  a  nis,  o'n  thug  an 
duin'-uasal  coir  sin  air  Feill-Mo-Chal- 
maig  na  chig  bUinn  òir  dhuit,  glac  a' 
chèud  chothrom  chum  aon  diubh  a 
chur  a  mach  ann  an  dealbh  far  an 
nochdar  thu  fein  agus  Seònaid,  agus 
an  òigridh  uile,  'n  ur  n-aon  chomunn 
air  aon  chàirt. 

C. — Cha  dearmaid  mi  do  chomh- 
airle  a  ghabhail,  a  Mhurachaidh,  oir 
is  taitneach  teaghlach  fhaicinn  uile 
cuideachd  mar  sin,  air  da  a  bhi  'n  a 
ni  cinnteach  gu'n  sgapar  iad  am  fad 
's  am  farsuing  ann  an  iiine  ghoirid. 

M. — Tha  Bean-an-tighe  'g  ar  n- 
iarraidh,  a  ghraidh  nam  fear,  agus  is 
coir  duinn  dol  a  dh-fhaicinn  ciod  a 
th'aice  air  ar  son. 

Alasdair  Euadh, 


ORAIX  LE  IAIN  LOM. 

RiNNEADH  an  dk  òrain  a  leanas  le  le 
Iain  Lom.  Is  ann  bho  'n  Urramaeh  A. 
Maclean  Sinclair,  an  Canada,  a  f  huair  mi 
iad.  Cha'n  f  hiosrach  mi  gu'n  robh  iad 
riabh  roimhe  'n  clò.  An  treas  fear,  eadar 
Iain  Loin  's  Gilleaspuig  Gruainach,  fhuair 
an  uiridh  's  a'  Bhraighe. — Abrach. 

lORRAM  DO  MHAC-GILLEAIN  DHDBHAET. 

Ged  is  fhada  mu  thuath  mi 

'S  math  leam  slkn  do  na  h-uaislean, 

Leam  gur  mithich  bhi  giuasad  gu  m'  thir. 

Gu  dilthaichi  shir  Lachainn, 
Nam  piob  a's  nam  bratach, 
'S  mòr  mo  dhiùbhail  ri  faction  an  rìgh. 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


75 


Cha  b'  e  leantainn  na  lùdaig' 

Eis  na  tèudan  bu  dltiithe 

A  thug  inise  do'r  dùthaich  bhig,  chrin. 

Ach  bas  Mbic-GiUeain — 

E  'n  rèilig  Odhrain  'n  a  laidhe, 

'S  e  dk'  fhàg  mise  gun  aighir,  gun  phleid. 

Agus  Eachann  's  an  kraich, 

Eo  thrupa  nan  nàmbad,— 

Eàth  mo  thùrsa  gach  la  bhi  'g  ur  caoidh. 

'S  math  thigeadh  clogaide  cruadhach, 

Air  ciil  bachlach  nan  dual  glan, 

Gnùis  fhlathail  a's  gruaidh  mar  am  fion. 

Agus  spàinteach  ghèur,  thairis, 
Ann  an  ceann  claiginn  ealant', 
A's  sgiath  bhreac  nam  ball  daingeaiin  'g  ad 
dhion. 

Xa  'm  biodh  agam  air  blàran, 

De  Chlann-Dònuill  's  de  m'  chàirdean, 

ISIhiad  's  a  chunnaic  mi  'n  armailt  an  righ. 

Mhiad  's  a  chunnaic  mi  fhèin  diubh, 
Teachd  air  loingeas  a  Eirinn, 
De   shliochd  gasda  Chuiiin-Cheud-Cha'ich 
nam  pios. 

Cha  bu  shiochaint  ur  cogadh, 
'N  am  dol  SÌCS  an  tùs  trod,  duibh, 
Dhrèam  rìoghail  nan  clogaid  's  nam  'pic. 

Chluinnteadh  farum  ur  clàidhean 

Air  claignibh  ur  nkmhaid, 

Agus  blaighdean  nan  ceann  'g  an  toirt  sios. 

'S  a  liuthad  cùbaire  gealtach, 

Tha  buidhinn  cuirt  ann  an  Sasonn, 

Bha  'g  a  chrubadh  mar  chat  arm  an  craoibh. 

Agus  rògaire  br^ugach, 

Bha  mu  mhilleadh  righ  Tèarlach, 

'S  a  tha  nis  oimn  ag  eirigh  gu  strith. 

'S  mur  caochail  sibh  faction, 

Gu  'm  bi  taobh  dearg  ur  leapa, 

Ur  full  bhi  taosgadh  an  claisean  's  an  di?. 


'Sgu'] 
An  lor: 


cluinnteadh  feadaireachd  luaidhe, 
^  sradag  na  cluaise, 
mnki  'g  acain — 's  cha  chruaidh  kinn  an 
caoidh. 


Is  bochd  an  eiridinn  pkisde, 
'X  uair  a  bhuail  an  lot-bkis  e, 
Bhi  gun  cheirein,  gun  phlksda,  gun  fheòir- 
nein. 

Bhi  gun  cheirein,  &c. 

Is  ann  de  'n  choinnimh  is  miosa, 
An  garadh-dronia  air  bristeadh. 
Mar  gu  'm  pronnadh  sibh  slige  le  òrdaibh 
Mar  gu'm  pronnadh,  &c. 

Is  ann  de  dh-fhortan  na  cùise, 
Ma  's  e  'n  Tore  th'  oirbh  a'  mùiseag, 
Gu'n  teid  stopadh  na  mxiile  'n  a  phòran. 
Gu'n  teid  stopadh,  &c. 

Tha  sgrib  fhiar  nam  peann  gearra, 
Cumad  dion  air  Mac-Caiiein, 
'S  e  cho  briathrach  ri  parraid  'n  a  chòmh- 
radh. 

'S  e  cho  briathi-ach,  &c. 

Thug  sibh  bhuainne  le  spleadhan, 

Gur  h-i  He  ghlas,  laghach, 

Us  Cinntire  le  'maghannan  gorma. 

Us  Cinntire,  &c. 

Ghlac  an  eire  na  teanchrach, 
Air  deagh  chinneadh  mo  sheanmhar, 
'S  lag  an  iomairt  ged  's  ainmeil  an  seòrs' 
iad. 

'S  lag  an  iom.iirt,  &c. 

Dh'  fhalbh  ur  cruadal  's  m-  gaisge, 
Le  Eachunn  Euadh  's  le  Sir  Lachunn, — 
lad  's  an  uaigh  far  'n  a  phaisgeadh  fo  'n  t- 
srol  iad. 

Dh'  fhalbh  ur,  &c. 

'S  Lachunn  Mor  a  fhuair  urram, 
Chaidh  a  bhualadh  an  Gruinneart, 
Cha  tugt'   uachdranachd   Mhuile  's  e  beò 
bhuaidh. 

Cha  tugt'  uachdranachd,  &c. 

Is  math  mo  bharaU  us  m'  earbsa, 
ISIur  a  roghainn  gun  dearmad, 
Nach  bu  chladhaire  cearbach  Fear  Bhròlais. 
Nach  bu  chladhaire,  &c. 

An  eaglais  I  Chaluim-ChiUe, 
Tha  sidnn  chròdha  gun  tioma, 
Chaisgeadh  dòruinn  's  gu   'n  tilleadh  iad 
tòrachd. 

dòruian,  &c. 


OEAX  DO  MHAC-GILLEAIN 

Mur  b'  e  'n  abhuinn  air  fas  oirnn,  '  Is  mor  a  b'  fhèairrde  dream  fhiata, 

'S  tuil  air  <5irigh  's  na  h-kithean,  1  Xan  each  seang-fhada  fiadhaich, 

Bhithinn  latha  romh  chkch  air  a'  chòdhail.  >  Eobhan  Abrach  Loch-Ial  agus  Lòchaidh. 
Bbithinn  latha,  &c.  Eobhan  Abrach,  &c. 


76 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1870. 


GILLEASBDIG   GRDAMACH   AGUS    IAIN   LOM. 

Gilleasbuig. 

A  bhean  nam  pòg  meala, 
'S  nan  gorm-shùilean  meallach  ; 
'S  ann  a  thà  mo  chion-falaich, 
Fo  m'  bhanuan  do  m'  ghrkdh. 
A  bhean,  &c. 

Cha  'n  'eil  mi  'g  ad  lèirsìnn, 
Ach  mar  gu  'm  biodh  reul  ann 
An  taic  ris  a'  ghrtìn  so 
Tha  'g  èiridh  gacb  la. 
Cha'n  'eil,  &c. 

Iain  Lom. 

Air  leatsa  gur  reul  i, 
.    'S  gur  coltach  ri  gr^in  i, 
'S  òg  a  chaill  thu  do  leirsinn, 
Ma  thug  thu  'n  èisg  ud  do  ghradh. 
Air  leatsa,  &c. 

Boladh  ùiUeadh  an  sgadain, 
De  dh-tirla  na  h-apa; 
'S  i  's  chbaiche  faicinn, 
A  tha  'n  taice  ri  tràigh. 
Boladh  ùiUeadh,  &c. 

Gilleasbuig. 

Fios  bhuam  gu  Iain  mabach, 
Do  'ra  bu  cheaird  a  bhi  'gadachd, 
Nach  co-ion  da  bhi  caig  rium 
'S  ri  cabaire  bàird. 
Fios  bhuam,  &c. 

Am  busaire  ronnach — 
Nam  pliut-chasan  croma; 
Tha  na  ciispan  air  lomadh 
Gu  bonnaibh  do  shkU'. 
Am  busaire,  &c. 

Am  pliutaire  busach — 
Nam  brusg-shùilean  musach; 
Cha  'n  fhasa  do  thuigsinn 
Na  plubartaich  cail. 
Am  pliutaire,  &c. 

Ged  tha  thu  'm  fhuil  dhirich, 
Nkile,  cumaidh  mi  sios  thu — 
Cha  'n  'eil  coiUe  gun  chrionaieh, 
Gu  dilinn  's  gu  brath. 
Ged  tha  thu,  &c. 

Fuigheall  fior-dheiridh  feachd  thu 
Cha  'n  fhiach  le  each  ac'  thu. — 
Chaill  thu  d'  iongnan  's  a'  Cheapaich 
Sgribeadh  phrais  agus  chlHr. 

lain  Lom. 


Fios  bhuamsa  dhut,  'ille, 
Chaill  thu  dualchas  do  chinnidh, 


Gu  'm  beil  thu  air  mhire, 

Làn  de  dh-inisgean  baird. 

Fios  bhuamsa,  &c. 

Mi  cho  saor  de  na  ronnan, 
Ei  aon  f hear  beò  d'  shloinneadh ; 
Nàile,  rinn  thu  briag  shoiUeir, 
Am  follais  do  chkeh. 
Mi  cho  saor,  &c. 

Ma  's  ann  ormsa  mar  dhhneas, 
Ghabh  thu  choill  as  a  crionaich; 
larr  an  doire  na  's  isle, 
Bho  iochdar  do  chlh,ir. 

Ma  's  ann  ormsa,  &c. 

Mur-bhi  dhomh  mac  d'  athar, 
Is  ann  dk  tha  mi  'g  athadh, 
Nàile,  chuirinn  ort  athais 
A  tha  faiste  'n  ad  chail. 
Mur-bhi  dhomh,  &c. 


DAMON  AGUS  PITIAS. 

An  uair  a  chaidh  Damon  a  dhit- 
eadh  le  Dionisius  ga  bhi  aii^  a  chur 
gu  bàs  air  latha  araidh,  ghuidh  e  gu 
'n  tugteadh  cead  dha  dol  turas  d'a 
dhuthaich  fein  a  chum  gnothaichean 
a  theaghlaich  bhronaich  a  chur  an 
òrdugh.  Chuir  an  t-uachdran  an- 
iochdmhor  roimhe  so  a  dhiultadh 
dha,  le  cead  a  thoirt  da  falbh  air 
cumhnantau  a  mheas  esan  neo-chom- 
asach  a  choimhlionadh  ;  b'  e  sin,  gu 
'm  fogadh  e  fear-eigin  mar  urras  gu 
'n  tilleadh  e  air  an  latha,  agus  mur 
tilleadh,  gu  'n  rachadh  am  fear-ionaid 
a  chur  gu  bàs  'n  a  aite.  Chuala 
Pitias  na  cumhachan  cruaidh,  agus 
cha  d'  fheith  e  gus  an  rachadh 
iarraidh  air,  ach  's  ann  a  thairg  e 
gun  mhoille  e  fein  rnar  urras  air  sou 
a  charaid ;  ni  ris  an  do  ghabhadh, 
agus  chaidh  Damon  a  ghrad  chur 
mar  sgaoil.  Ghabh  an  righ  agus  a 
chuid  comhairleach  mor-ioghnadh  ri 
gniomh  Phitiais  ;  agus  uime  sin,  an 
uair  a  bha  latha  na  binne  a'  teachd 
dluth,  chaidh  e  air  son  annais  a 
dh-f  haicinn  Phitiais  anns  a'  phriosan. 
An  deigh  dhaibh  a  bhi  a'  còmhradh. 
car  ùine  mu  chàirdeas  agus  mu 
dhillseachd,    thug   an   ri^^h   mar   a 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  187( 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


bharail  gu  'm  b'e  an  leas  agus  am 
math  fein  a  chosnadh  's  a  chur  air 
aghaidh  an  t-aon  iii  a  bha  a'  gluasad 
dhaoine  gu  gniomharan  sam  bith  a 
dheanamli ;  agus  air  son  subhailc, 
cairdeis,  fiughantachd,  gradh-duth- 
cha  agus  an  leitliide  sin,  thuirt  e  gu 
'n  robh  e  'g  am  meas  direach  mar 
bhriatliran  air  an  tionnsgnadh  le 
daoine  seolta  a  chum  muinntir  lag- 
iuntinneach  a  mhealladb.  "  Le  cead 
ur  morachd,"  arsa  Pitias,  le  gnuis 
t'hlathail  's  le  guth  ard,  "  b'  f'hearr 
leam,  na  'm  bu  chomasach  e,  mile 
bàs  'fhulang,  na  gu  'n  tigeadh  mo 
charaid  gearr  ann  an  aon  lide  d'  a 
onair  agus  d'  a  f  hirinn.  Cha  dean 
e  sin,  mo  thighearna ;  tha  mi  clio 
cinnteach  as  a  .dhillseaehd  's  a  tha 
mi  gu  bheil  mi  fein  beo  ann  an  so. 
Ach  tha  mi  ag  aslachadh  air  na 
diathan  arda  gu  'n  caomhain  iad 
araon  beatlia  agus  treibhdhireas  mo 
charaid  Damon.  Eiribh  'n  a  agh- 
aidh, a  ghaothan  na  h-iarmailt,  bac- 
aibh  dèine  agus  braise  a  dhichill 
chlitritich,  agus  nafuilingibh  dha  till- 
eadh  gus  an  deigh  dhomh&a  le  m'  bhàs 
a  bheathasan  a  shaoradh — a  bheath- 
asan  a  tha  mile  uair  na  's  luach- 
mhoire  na  mo  bheathasa  ;  na's  luach- 
mhoire  d'  a  mhnaoi  ghradhaich,  d'  a 
leanabanan  caomh,  d.'  a  chairdean, 
agus  d'  a  dhuthaich.  Bu  mhiosa 
leam  gu  mor  na  'm  bàs  gu  'n  tilleadh 
mo  Dhamon  caomh  an  am  gu  fulang 
e  fein."  Bha  Dionisius  fo  fhiamh 
agus  air  a  lionadh  le  ioghnadh 
le  uaisleachd  nam  briathar  so,  agus 
leis  a'  mhodh  anns  an  do  labhradh 
iad ;  mhothaich  e  a  chridhe  air  a 
bhualadh  le  plathadh  d'  an  fhirinn  ; 
ach  bu  mho  bha  de  imcheist  na  de 
thaiseachadh  'n  a  inntinn  uaibhrich. 
Thainig  an  latha  dòlasach.  Chaidh 
Pitias  a  thoirt  a  mach,  agus  le 
freiceadan  de  shaighdearan  air  gach 
taobh  dhe,  choisich  e  le  ceum  aotram, 
agus  a  ghnuis  suidhichte,  ach  gun 
smuiarean,  a   dh-ionnsaiuh  an   aite 


anns  an  robh  a'  bhinn  ri  'cur  an 
gniomh.  Bha  Dionisius  cheana  an 
sin  'n  a  shuidhe  ann  an  carbad. 
greadhnach,  ard,  air  a  tharraing  le 
sè  eich.  Bha  a  ghnuis  fo  throm 
smuain,  agus  a  shuil  a  gbnath  air  a' 
phriosanach.  Thainig  Pitias  air 
aghaidh  gu  h-aotrom,  iollagach,  agus 
air  dha  seasamh  car  tiota  ag  amharc 
gun  eagal,  gun  fhiamh  air  inneal  a 
bhais,  thionndaidh  e  m'  an  cuairt 
agus  labhair  e  mar  a  leanas  ris  an  t- 
sluagh  :  "  Tha  m'  u:^naighean  air  an 
eisdeachd ;  tha  na  diathan  f  àbharach 
dhomh ;  tha  fhios  agaibh,  mo 
chairdean,  gus  an  de  gu  'n  robh  a' 
ghaoth  an  ceann  aig  Damon  ;  cha  b' 
urrainn  da  tigliinn — bha  sineucomas- 
ach  da.  Bidh  e  an  so  a  maireach, 
ach  bidh  an  f  hull  a  theid  a  dhortadh 
an  diugh  air  a  bheatha  a  chosnadh  do 
m'  charaid.  0,  na  'm  b'  urrainn 
domh  gach  amharus  a  dhubhadh  a 
mach  as  bhur  cridheachan,  agus 
gach  teagamh  suarach  a  dh'  fhaodas 
a  bhi  ag  eirigh  annta  mu  threibh- 
dhireas  an  duine  sin  air  son  a  bheil 
mi  dol  a  dh'  fhulang,  rachainn  a 
dh'ionnsaidh  mo  bhais  cho  togarach  's 
a  rachainn  thun  mo  bliainnse. 
Foghnadh  e  an  drast  gu  'm  faighear 
mo  charaid  dileas  ;  gu  bheil  'f  iiirin- 
teachd  gun  mheang  ;  gu  'n  toir  e 
gun  dàil  dearbhadh  air  sin ;  gu 
bheil  e  aig  a'  cheart  uair  so  a'  dian 
ghreasad  air  a  shlighe,  'g  a  choireach- 
adh  fein  agus  nan  siontan  agus  nan 
diathan — ach  greasam  gu  bhi  an 
toiseach  air  a  luaths:  a  chrochadair, 
dean  do  dhleasnas."  Is  gann 
a  bha  na  facail  mu  dheireadh  as  a 
bheul  an  uair  a  chunnacas  gluasad 
am  measg  iomall  an  t-sluaigh ; 
chualas  guth  fad'  as,  thog  an  sluagh 
na  facail,  agus,  "  Stad,  stad,  a 
chrochadair  !  "  ghlaodh  iad  uile 
mach.  Chunnacas  duine  'tighinn  'n 
a  dhian  chabhaig ;  dh'  f  hosgail  an 
sluagh  bealach  reidh  dha ;  bha  e 
'marcachd  air  steud-each  a'  sruthadh 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


le  fallus  agus  geal  le  cobhar :  ann 
an  priobadh  na  sul  bha  e  bharr  an 
eicli,  leum  e  agus  thilg  e  'dha  laimh 
mu  mhuineal  Phitiais.  "  Tha  do 
bheatha  caomhainte,"  ghlaodh  e, 
"tha  do  bheatha  caomhainte,  mo 
charaid,  mo  charaid  gràdhach ! 
taing  do  na  cumhachdan  gu  h-ard, 
tha  thu  slan  ;  cha  'n  'eil  agamsa  a 
nis  r'  a  dheanamh  ach  am  bàs 
f  hulang,  agus  tha  mi  air  mo  shaoradh 
bho  dhoilgheas  an  agartais  a  bha 
mi  a'  deanamh  orm  iein  a  chionn 
gu  'n  do  chuir  mi  ann  an  cunnart 
beatha  a  bha  cho  mor  na  bu  luach- 
nihoire  na  mo  bheatha  fein."  'N  a 
sheasamh  gu  glas-neulach,  fuar  ann 
an  glacaibh  Dhamoin,  fhreagair 
Pitias  ann  am  briathran  dubhach, 
"0,  cabhag  na  truaighe  !  Dèine  na 
dunach  !  Co  na  cumhachdan  farm- 
adach  a  chuidich  leat  anns  an  euchd 
nihi-fhortanaich  so  !  Ach  cha  teid 
am  aghaidh  gu  buileach  :  mur  faod 
mi  btàsachadh  gu  d'  shaoradh,  clia 
bhi  mi  beo  ad  dheigh."  Chuala 
Dionisius,  as  chunnaic,  a's  thug  e 
fainear  gach  ni  dhe  so  le  iongantas 
ro  mhor.  Dhruigh  e  air  a  chridhe, 
ghuil  e,  agus  a'  fagail  a  chathair- 
rioghail  aird,  chaidh  e  suas  far  an 
robh  Damon  agus  Pitias.  "  Bithibh 
saor  agns  mairibh  beo,  a  charaid  gun 
choimeas  !  "  ars'  esan  ;  "thug  sibh 
dearbliadh  do-aicheadh  gu  bheil 
firinn  agus  dillseachd  ann  ;  agus  tha 
an  fhirinn  sin  a  foillseachadh  gu 
bheil  Dia  ann  nach  leig  gu  'n  caill 
i  a  duais.  Beatha  shona  agus  cliu 
gu  'n  robh  agaibh ;  agus  0,  seolaibh 
mi  le  'r  comliairlean,  mar  tha  sibh 
ga  m'  chuireadh  le  'r  n-eiseimpleir, 
gu  bhi  airidli  air  co-phairt  de  chair- 
deas  cho  treibhdhireach  agus  cho 
fior." 

Eadar.  le  Mac-]\Iharcuis. 


LITIR  MU'N  TAIBHSEAR- 
ACHD.* 

(Bho'n  Bheurla.) 

Uasail, — Bha  mi  daonnan  ag 
cluinntinn  mu  'n  taibhsearachd,  ach 
cha  d'  thug  mi  mòran  creideis  d'  i ; 
a  dh-aindeoin  sin,  a  chionn  gu'n 
robh  daoine  firinneach  ag  aideach 
i  bhi  aca,  chuir  mi  romham,  a' 
bhliadhn'  ud  (1652)  a  bha  mi  'm 
cheathai  nach-coille  's  an  Taobh-tuath 
(leis  na  reubaill  Sliasonnach),  mion- 
rannsachadh  a  dhianamh  mu  'n 
chùis.  Duan  gach  duine  gu  'n  robh 
mòran  de  na  Gàidhil,  gu  h-àraid  na 
h-Eileinich,  aig  an  robh  an  da-sheall- 
adh ;  fir,  a's  mnathan,  a's  clann  gu 
'm  bu  chòimh-dheis  ;  gu'n  robh  clann 
ann  aig  am  bitheadh  i,  ged  nach 
bio  ih  i  aig  am  pàran  tan.  Air  uairibh, 
gu  'm  faicteadh  seann-sluagh  aig  am 
biodh  i,  ged  nach  biodh  i  aca  an  uair 
a  bha  iad  òg ;  agus  nach  b'urrainn 
gin  diubh  innseadh  cia  mar  a  f  huair 
iad  i.  Gu  'n  robh  i  na  trioblaid  do 
gach  aon  a  bha  buailteach  dh'  i; 
agus  gu'n  cuidhticheadh  iad  i  gu 
toilichte  na  'ra  biodh  e  na  n'  comas 
sin  a  dhianamh. 

Cha'n  fhaic  iad  an  taibhse  ach 
f  had  's  a  chumas  iad  air  an  sealladh. 
An  fheadhain  aig  am  beil  cridhe 
làidir,  is  àbhaist  daibh  dur-bheachd 
a  ghabhail,  los  sealladh  fhaotainu 
oirre  na's  f haide  ;  ach  an  fheadhain 
a  tha  gealtach,  cha'n  fhaic  iad  ach 
plathadh  dh'  i :  priobaidh  air  an 
siiil  mu  'n  gann  a  chi  iad  i.  Is  iad 
na  taibhsean  is  trice  leo  fhaicinn — 
taibhsean  sluaigli,  a's  bheathaichean, 
a's  bhàtaichean,  a's  aodaichean,  agus 
eile.     Cha'n  fhaic  iad  taibhse  duine- 


*  A  succint  accompt  of  my  Lord  Tarbolt's 
[Tarbat]  relations,  in  a  letter  to  the  Honour- 
able Robert  Boyle,  Esq.,  of  the  prediction.? 
made  by  seers,  whereof  himself  was  ear 
and  eye-witness. — R.  Kirke's  £ssai/,  4to, 
Edin.  1815. 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


79 


mhairbh  idir ;  ach,  ciod  sa  bith  a  chi 
iad,  cha  'n  'eil  teagamh  aca  nach 
tachair  e  gu  riochdail,  mar  a  chunnaic 
iad  e,  agus  amis  a'  cheart  àite  's  am  fac 
iad  e.  Cha'u  urrainn  daibh  innseadh 
ciod  a'  cheart  iiine  tlieid  seachad 
gus  an  tachair  a  chùis ;  acli  tha 
riaghailtean  àraid  aig  an  fheadhain 
is  sean-eòlaiche  dhiubh,  leis  an  toir 
iad  giar-bharail  air.  Mar  shamhladh 
air  sin  :  Ma  chi  iad  an  lèine-bhàis 
air  duine,  bheir  iad  barail  air  an 
ùine  bliios  e  beò,  a  reir  na  bhios  i 
còralidach  dh'  e.  Is  trie  gu  'm  faic 
iad  an  càirdean  (ged  bhiodh  iad  cho 
fada  bhuapa  ri  America)  na  'n  snidhe, 
no  na  'n  seasamh,no  agcoiseachd  's  an 
àiteathuiteasdhaibhfheinabhi ;  agus 
cha  bhi  teagamh  sa  bith  aca,  ach  iad 
ga  'm  faicinn,  nach  bi  iad  fhathast 
anihuil  's  mar  a  chunnaic  iad  iad,  agus 
anns  a'  cheart  àite  's  am  fac  iad  iad. 
Ma  bhios  tè  ann  aig  am  bi  lean  nan,  is 
àbhaist  daibh  fhaicinn  na  sheasamh 
làmh  rithe ;  agus  breithnichidh  iad 
miad  an  deothais,  air  an  astar  a  bhios 
eatarra  's  an  am.  Duine  tha  'n  galar 
a  bhàis,  chi  iad  a  riochd  's  an  t- 
anart-bàis  ga  chòmhdach  uile. 

Is  taibhsearan  cneasda,  f  irinneach , 
fo  shàr-chbù  aig  an  coimhearsnaich, 
a.thug  dhomh  am  fiosrachadh  so  mu'n 
chilis ;  oir,  rinn  mi  roghainn,  a  dh- 
aon-ghnothach,  air  daoine  còire 
ciallach,  de'n  t-seòrsa.  Agus  a  thaobh 
gu'nrobh,areirinnse-sgeòil,  tuilleadh 
thaibhsearan  an  Leoghas,  an  Uithist, 
agus  anns  na  h-Earradh  na  bha  'n 
dùthaich  sa  bith  eile,  chuir  mi  fios  gu 
Sir  Seumas  (nach  mairionn),  agus  gu 
Sir  Tormoid  MacLeòid,  agus  gu  Mr. 
Moiriosan  (tha  iadsan  le  chèile  a 
làthair,)  iad  a  thoirt  ciinntais  dhomh 
mu'n  dà-shealladh  so.  Thug  iad  sin 
domh  le  lan-dearbhadh  air  gach  sgial 
mar  a  thug  iad  seachad.  Agus  bha 
gach  fear  dhiubh  air  an  aon  seanchus 
ri  m'  urrainnean  fhein.  Ach  ged  is 
daoine  ainmeil  iadsan  an  ceill  's  an 
onair,  mar  is  fiosrach  gach  duine, 


is  annsa  learn,  seach  e  'bhi  ri  ràdh 
nach  'eil  agam  ach  seanchus  feadli- 
nach  eile,  ciinntas  a  thoirt  an  tùs  air 
cùisean  a  bha  mi  fhein  fianuiseach 
orra. 

Bha  mi  turus  air  chuairt  anns  a' 
Ghàidhealtachd  agus  mo  chuid 
ghillean  cònihla  rium,  mar  is  gnàth 
le  uaislean  na  dùthcha  sin.  Dh' 
fhalbhfear  dhiubh  air  thoiseach  orm, 
's  ràinig  e  le  cabhaig  dorus  tighe  's 
an  robh  mi  dol  a  chur  seachad  na  h- 
oidhche  gu  dol  a  stigh,  ach  thug  e 
lèum  air  ais  's  leig  e  glaodh  as,  agus 
tachrar  clach  air  a  chois,  a's  tuitear 
anns  an  stairsnich.  Bha  fior-choltas 
an  eagail  air,  agus  dh'  fharraid  mi 
dh'e  ciod  a  dh'  f  hairich  e.  Ghrios  e 
orm  gu  stòlda,  gun  chairtealan  a 
ghabhail  's  an  tigh  ud,  nach  b' 
f  hada  gus  an  tigeadh  ciste-mhairbh 
amach  as  ;  gu  'n  do  thachair  i  airsan, 
agus  dòmhladas  sluaigh  ga  giiilan, 
an  uair  a  leig  e  'n  glaodh  as.  Cha  d' 
thug  mi  feairt  air  agus 's  e  bh'  ann  gu'n 
d'  fhuirich  mi.  Thuirt  esan  ri 
feadhain  de  na  gillean  gu'n  robh  e 
cur  iomaguin  air,  nach  robh  teagamh 
aige  nach  èireadh  amach  mar  a 
chunnaic  e,  agus  sin  an  ùine  ro- 
ghoirid.  Cha  robh  duine  easlaint- 
each  a  stigh  an  uair  a  ràinig  mi ; 
ach  mu'n  d'  fhalbh  mi,  thai  nig 
paisein  air  fear-an-tighe,  Gaidheal 
fallain,  làidir,  agus  dh'  èug  e  ann. 

Anns  a'  bhhadhna  1653,  bha  mi 
fhein  's  Alastair  Munro  a  bha  'n 
deaghaidh  sin  'n  a  Chòirneal  air 
Reisimeid  Dhunbreatunn,  a'  sraid- 
eamachd  air  dail  bhig  am  bun  beinne 
caise  an  Ullapull,  an  Taobh  Loch- 
Bliraon.  Bha  gille  ag  obair  le 
sluasaid  air  a'  cheum  romhainn  agus 
aghaidh  ris  a'  bhruthach.  Mu'n  d' 
ràinig  sinn  e  leig  e  'n  t-sluasaid  as  a 
làimh  air  an  làr,  agus  sheall  e  suas 
ris  a'  bheinn.  Cliaidh  sinn  seachad 
Làmh  ris  ach  cha  d'  thug  e  'n  aire 
dhuinn.  Thug  mi  fhein  siiil  air, 
ach  leis  mar  a  chunnaic  mi  espliachd- 


80 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


i  an  Earraich,  1876. 


adh,  smaoinicli  mi  gu'n  robh  an 
dà-shealUidli  aige,  agus  ghlaodh  mi 
air.  Thug  e  clisgeadh  as  agus  rinn 
e  snodha-gàire.  Dh'  fharraid  mi 
dh'e  ciod  a  bha  e  'dianamh.  Thuirt 
e  gu'n  robh  e  faicinn  rud  glè  neònach 
— trup  Shasonnach  an  ceann  an  cuid 
each  a'  tèarnadh  na  beinne,  agus 
cuid  de  na  h-eich  ag  icheadh  an 
eòrna  a  bha  fas  air  an  dail  aig  bun 
na  beinne.  Bha  so  air  a'  cheath- 
ramh  la  de  'n  Cheitein,  ceithir  no 
còig  de  lathaichean  mu'n  deachaidh 
silein  de  'n  eorna  'chur.  Dh'  fharr- 
aid Munrò  dh'e  cia  mar  a  bha  f  hios 
aige  gu'm  bu  Shasonnaich  iad. 
Thuirt  e  gu'n  robh  a  chionn  gu'n 
robh  iad  a'  falbh  an  ceann  nan  each, 
's  gu'n  robh  adan  orra— rud  nach 
biodh  air  Gàidhil  an  sid.  Cha  do 
ghabh  sinn  suira  de  'n  t  sealladh ; 
ach  bha  sinn  a'  dùrachdainn  na 
Sasunnaich  a  bhi  ann,  bha  an  t-àite 
cho  doirbh  air  son  each,  agus  sinn  a 
bhi  cogadh  riutha  's  an  am.  Mu 
Liiinastainn  thàinig  air  Middleton 
pàirtidh  a  chur  do  'n  Ghàidhealt- 
achd.  Chuir  e  an  t-arm  romh  lonar- 
Lawell,  agus  an  fheadhain  a  their- 
inn  an  toiseach  dhiubh,  thòisich  iad 
air  iche  an  eorna  air  an  f  hoich  bhig 
aig  bun  na  beinne.  Chuimhnich 
Munro  air  seanchus  an  taibhseir, 
agus  ghrad-sgribh  e  h-ugamsa  gu 
Loch-Sine  far  an  robh  mi  aig  an 
am. 

Bha  mi  uair  aig  còdhail  àraid, 
agus  thuit  gu'n  robh  taibhsear  anns 
a'  chuideachda,  agus  thug  mi  guth  e 
— is  àbhaist  dhomh  dol  daonnan  'n 
an  cnacas.  "Am  faic  thu  'bhain- 
tigliearn  ud  thall,"  osam  fhein  ag 
cur  diachainn  air.  "  Chi,"  os  esan. 
"  An  innis  thu  dhomh  am  beil  leann- 
an  aice'?"  "  Tha,"  os  esan,  "ach 
cha  'n  'eil  mi  'g  a  aithneachadh." 
Fad  an  da  latha  bha  e  'nacuideachda, 
bha  e  faicinn  duine-uasail  'n  a  sheas- 
amh  làmh  rithe  's  a  cheann  air 
a   gualainn.     Bu   chomharradh  sin 


air  gu  'm  pòsadh  e  i,  agus  amhuil 
sin  nach  biodh  e  cho  fada  saoghal 
rithe.  Bha  so  's  a'  bhhadhna  1655. 
Dh'  iarr  mi  air  a  choltas  innse 
dhomh.  Rinn  e  sin  clio  ro  mhion 
's  gu  'n  do  thuig  mi  co  b'  e  an 
leannan  ged  nach  robh  guth  aca  air 
a  cheile — cha  robh  gu  da  bliliadhna 
an  deaghaidh  sin.  B'  Eileineach  an 
taibhsear  so  ;  agus  thuit  dhomh  bhi 
's  a'  bhliadhna  1657  còmhLa  ris  an 
duin'-uasal  a  dh'  innis  e  choltas 
domh,  agus  thug  mi  guth  an  taibhs- 
ear ciadna,  agus  dh'  fharraid  mi  dh'e 
an  robh  e  ag  aithneachadh  an 
duine-uasail  ud.  Thuirt  e  nach 
robh,  ach  gu  'm  b'  e  an  ceart  fhear 
a  chunnaic  e  da  bhliadhna  roimhe 
sin  air  gualainn  na  baintighearna  's 
e  'g  a  h-ainmeachadh ;  agus  gu  'm 
fac  e  an  sin  fhein  iad  glaic  air  glilaic. 
Bha  so  mios  mu  'n  do  phòs  iad. 
Mar  a  b'  f  hior  dh'  eug  esan,  ach  tha 
ise  f  hathast  beo. 

An  t-aon  sgial  so  f  hathast.  Chuir 
6  urad  iongantais  orm  ri  gin  idir  air 
an  robh  mi  fhein  fianaiseach.  Deir- 
eadh  a'  gheamhraidh  1652,  bha  mi 
fhein 's  Còirneal  Munrò,  a  dh'  ainm- 
ich  mi  muthrà,  an  tigh  Uilieim 
Mhic  Leoid,  Fermka,  an  Siorrachd 
Rois.  Bha  fear  an  tighe  agus  sinn 
fhein  'n  ar  suidhe  'n  ar  triùir,  aig 
taobh  an  teine  agus  da  Eileineach, 
càirdean  do  dh-fhear-an-tighe,  a 
thàinig  an  oidhche  sin  fhein  air 
cheileidh  air.  Bha  fear  dhiubh  a' 
bruidhinn  ri  Munro,  ach  thugar  an 
aire  do'n  fhear  eile  a'  sealltainn  car 
neonach  an  rathad  a  bha  mi  fhein. 
Smaoinicli  mi  agam  fhein  gu  'm  b' 
Eileineach  e,  agus  gu'n  robh  an  da- 
shealladh  aige,  agus  farraidear  dh'e 
ciod  air  an  robh  e  coimhead.  B'e 
'n  fhreagairt  a  thug  e  dhomh,  iarr- 
aidli  orm  eirigh  as  a'  chathair,  nach 
robh  e  seannsail  dhomh.  An  sin  dh' 
fharraid  mi  dh'e  carson.  Thuirt  e 
rium  gu'n  robh  a  chionn  gu'n  robh 
e  faicinn  duine-mhairbh  's  a'  chathair 


Dara  Mìos  an  Earraìch,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


81 


a  bha  làmh  rium.     "  Ma  's  anu  's  a'  i 
chathair  a  tha  làmli  rium  a  tba  e,  I 
nach  coma  sin  domlisa  Ì     Ach  co  ris 
a  tha  e  coltach  1 "      "  Is  duine  raor ! 
e,"  OS  esan,  "  còta-mòr  glas  air,  agus  j 
bòtuiunean ;  an  dalla  cas  aige  ter- 1 
suinn  air  bxmb  na  catbrach,  a  cheann  j 
an  crocbadb  marbb  ris  an  taobb  eile 
agus  a  bxmb  'n  a  cliob  ri  chiilaobb 
mar  gu'm  biodb  i  biiste.     Bha  feadb- 1 
ain   de'n    trap    Sbasunnaicb    's-   a' 
cboimhearsnachd  's  an  am,  agus  le  ' 
reobbadb     a     tbàinig     an     deagb- 1 
aidb  aitimb  mbuir  bba  'n  dùtbaicb 
'n   a   sfcòlaicbean  deigbe.     AIu  dbà 
uair   a   tbim   an   deaghaidb   an    t- 
seallaidb  so,  bba  ceatbrar  no  coignear 
de  'n  triip  a'  del  seacb  an  tigb.     Bba 
sinn  'n  ar  suidbe  ag  an  teine  's  cbuala 
sinn  tartar  mor  a  mach.     'D  è  bba 
'so  acb  na  trupairean  agus  na  gillean, 
agus  fear  aca  'g  a  tboirt  a  stigb,  eat- 
arra  's  e  an  deaghaidb  tuiteam  fbaot- 
ainn,  's  a  ghàirdeau   briste,  a.^us  e 
bbo  phaisein  gu  paisein.    Thug  iad  a 
stigb  do  'n  t-seòmar  e  agus  chuir  iad 
e  air  a'  cbeart  chathair  's  am  faca  an 
taibbsear  a  thaibhse,  acb  cba  d'  eug  e. 
Is  ann  bbo  Shir  Tormaid  a  f  huair 
mi  an   sgial  a  leanas.     Bha  duine 
àraid  's  an   diitbaicb   's   cba   robb 
teagamb    aig  na  taibhsearan    nach 
rachadh  saighead  'n  a  sbbasaid  mu 
'm  faigbeadb  e  am   bàs.     Acb   db' 
eug  e  's  cha  deacbaidh.     Bha  iad  ag 
innse   so   cunntas    bbbadbnaicheani 
mu'n   d'   eug  e   do   Shir   Tormaid.  ' 
Tbuit  do  Shir  Tormaid  a  bbi  air  an 
tiodblaicsadb  aige  an  cladb  Robba- 1 
dail.     'S  a'   cheart  am  bba  giiiLaji ' 
eile   ann.     Db'    eiricb    cònsachadb  I 
eadar  na  càirdean  co  dbiubb  giiilan 
a  racliadb  an  toiseacb  fo  'n  w,  agus 
bbo  'n  chònsachadb 's  e  bh'  ann  gii'n 
deach    iad    an  dail  a  cbeile.     Bha 
fear    dbiubb    aig   an   robb   bogha- 
sbaigbead  agus  thilge  saighead  air  am 
feadb  ('s  an  eilein  tba  thas  a'  tiodb- 
laiceadb  gacb  aon  an  ciste-chloiche, 
's  cba'n  'eileas  ag  cur  ciste  leotba 


do'u  cbilL)  An  uair  a  chuir  Sir 
Tormaid  siochaint  orra,  fhuaradb 
an  t-saighead  sàs  an  leis  a'  chuirp. 
Bba  Sir  Tormaid  e  f  bein  fianuiseach 
air  so. 

Tba  Mr.  Moiriston  ag  innse 
dhomb  gu'n  robb  nighean  eg.  's  an 
sgireachd  aige  a  bha  an  impis  dol 
as  a  ciall  le  bbi  faicinn  a  riocbd  's  a 
chùlaobh  rithe,  gacb  uair  a  rachadh 
i  mach.  Thug  e  ceithir  no  coig  de 
bbliadbnaicbean  'g  a  leantuinn  mar 
so,  acb  tha  e 'g  innse  gu'n  do  chuidh- 
ticb  e  i. 


LAOIDHEAX  SHEALMA. 

(SOXGS  OF  SELIIA.) 

Tha  na  laoidhean  a  leanas  a'  taisbeineadh 
cleachdaidh  a  bha  daonnan  anns  an  Eheinn, 
's  e  sin — coinneamh  àraidh  a  chnmail  uair 
's  a'  bh,liadhna,  aig  an  robh  na  baird,  le 
farpuis  dhan  agus  theud,  a'  seinn  cliù  agus 
treubbantas  nan  gaisgeach  a  dh'  aom,  a 
mhosgladii  speirid  agus  misnich  anns  na 
laoich  a  bha  mairionn  gu  bi^thas  agus 
cruadal  an  sinnsrean  a  leanmhuinn  ;  agus 
amhuil  sin,  a  dh-ùrachadh  nam  bliadhnaich- 
ean  a  dh'  fhalbh  ann  an  cuimhne  nan  aosda 
—  nòs  a  chleachd  flaithiu  ita  h-Alba  cian 
an  deaghaidh  nam  Fiauu. 

SUIM. 

Mar,  bhristea Jh-seanchuis,  tha  Oisein  a' 
toiseachadh  le  fkilte  do'n  liil-oidhche  no 
reul  an  f heasgair.  Tha  e  'sin  car  tamuUl  a' 
meamhrachadh,  agus  ionann's  a'  faicinn 
coiunimh  àraidh  dhiubh  so  aig  an  robh  e 
f hein,  aig  taobh  Laoire.  — Fionn  's  an  Fheinn 
n:,U  'n  cuairt  da — na  bkird  a'  tighinn  air  a 
bhialaobh — ^NIìnfhoun  nighean  Thormain 
a'  fosgladh  an  latha  le  Laoidh  Cùlmath 
lerjman  Shealgair.  Thuit  Sealgair  us 
Ciilmath  an  trom  ghaol  air  a'  cheile,  ach  a 
thaobh  seann  fhalachd  a  bhi  eadar  an  da 
fhine,  bha  an  eaii'dean  'n  an  aghaidh. 
Rinn  ia,d  coinneamh  's  a'  bheinn-sheilg  ; 
ach,  mar  a  bha  cham-chòdhail  ann  thachair 
a  brathair-se  air  Sealgair,  agus  reub  iad  a 
cheile.  Pvàinig  Cùlmath  an  t-àite,  ach  cha 
d'  fhua'r  i  a  leannan  'g  a  feitheamh.  An 
deaghaidh  dhi  a  bhi  greis  a'  tuireadh, 
fhuair  i,  am  marbh  na  h-oidhche,  an  dithis 
'n  an  coq)  Ikmh  rithe  I  Dh'  eug  ise  'g  an 
caoidh,  agus  thiodhlaiceadh  fo'n  am  lie  iad 
6 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


'u  an  triùir.— An  uair  a  shuiclh  Minfhonn 
dh'  eirich  Ullainn  agus  chliiith  e  cuairt  de 
"  Laoidh  Ailpein"  air  a'  chlàrsaich.  Ri 
cluinntinn  "Laoidh  Ailpein"  thàinig reachd 
air  Armann  triath  Ghormi,  mu  dhiol  a 
chloinne,  Airneadal  agus  Diiira.  Air 
iarradas  Chiarmhoir  triath  Ghallmhill,  dh' 
e'irich  Armann  's  ghabh  e  laoidh.  Is 
coltach  gu  'n  d'  fhuair  Armair  mac  Aimeart 
Ikmh  Diùra.  Ghlac  Dioghailt  Erath  mac 
Odghuill :  thuit  a  bhrathair  le  làimh 
Armair.  An  lorg  sin,  ghabh  e  fàth  oirre, 
agus  chuir  e  e  fhein  an  riochd  maraiche  mar 
theachdaire  bho  Airneadal,  agus  le  brath- 
foille  mar  sin  mheall  e  leis  i  do  dh-eilein 
a  mach  's  a'  chuan,  agus  dh'  fhàg  e  ann  i. 
Mar  cho-dhtmadh  tha  Oisein  a'  meamh- 
rachadh  air  a  chor  fhein  's  le  dubhachas  ag 
guidhe  gum  fosgladh  an  iiaigh  dha. 

'S  CAOiN,  'luil-oidhche,  thall  's  an  iar, 
Do  ghatha-soillse  'n  ciar  nan  tràth  ; 
A  chiabh  nan  cleachd  bho  sg^ith  nan  nial, 
'S  mòrail  ceum  do  thriall  's  an  àrd. 

Clod  a  chi  thu  air  an  raon  ? 
.An  doinionn  dh'  aom  le  caoin  gu  fèath  ; 
.Thai!  am  mòirneas  ri  gaoir-fhuaim, 
'S  glogluinn-shaimh  a'  chuain  an  cein. 

A'  chuileag  fhaoin  ri  sgiathais  fhann, 
'S  tiamhaidh  'srann  air  chuairt  an  fhuinn  ; 
Ciod  a  chi  thu,  'aiteil  chaoin  ? 
'S  mùirneach  d'  aoigh  's  tu  'triall  a  nunn. 

Tuiun  'toirt  còdhail  dhut  le  faoilt, 
Do  leadan-gaoil  an  asgail  stuadh  ; 
Soiridh  leat,  a  shoillsein  thlàth — 
Mo.'sgladh  cail  mo  chrè  's  an  uair. 

Mhosgail  i  le  f  eart  as  ùr, 
Chi  mi  dliith  mo  chaoimh  nacli  beò  ; 
Còdhail  ac'  aig  Laoire  cl\ais, 
Mar  's  na  laith'  'chaidh  seach  'bu  nòs. 
Chi  mi  Fionn  air  cheann  nan  laoch, 
Coimeas  do'n  t-saoidh  braon-bhaideal  ceo  ; 
'S  chi  mi  'n  co-thional  nan  cKar, 
Ullainn  liath  'bu  mhilse  glòir, 
Eoinne  flathail,  's  Ailpein  binn, 
Agus  Minfhonn  nam  pong-bròin. 
B'  e  'n  caochla  so,  a  chàirdean  rhin, 
Seach  'n  uair  'bhiteadh  'n  dun  nan  cuach, 
Ei  co-fharpuis  thèud  us  dhan, 
]Mar  aiteal  earraich  air  bhaiT  chruach, 
Cuiseag  fo  bhuaidh  mu  seach  's  fo  gheill. 

Dh'  eirich  Minfhonn,  ùidh  an  t-slòigh, 
Gu  màlda,  foil,  's  a  rosg  fo  dheur  ; 
A  ciabh  mu  'guailne  'snàmh  gu  fann, 
'S  an  aiteal  'bha  gann  bho  'n  bheinn. 
Bu  chianail  anma  nan  laoch, 
'N  uair  'thog  1  a  caomh-ghuth  binn  : 
Air  caol-tigh  Shealgair  nam  beum, 
'S  trie  'thathaich  sinn  fhein  's  an  fbridh — 
A'  chiar-chòmhnuidh  's  an  robh  'tàmh, 
Cùlmath  bhrònach  an  uchd  bhàin. 
Chìim  Cùlmath  'bu  bhinn  glòir, 


Ri  Sealgair  còdhail  's  an  àrd. 

Thuit  gu  dorcha,  tiamhaidh,  'n  oìdhch', 

Cùlmath  's  an  aonach  fo  phrànih. 

Sgeula  Culmath  a'  bhroin, 

'JSr  a  h-onrachdan  air  beinn  nan  sian  : 

An  oidhch'  ann — 's  mise  leam  fhein, 
Am  ònrachdan  air  beinn  nan  sian ! 
Cluinnear  callan-gaoith  mu  'n  iird, 
'S  an  t-eas  ag  gairich  gu  dian. 
Bruth  no  teach  cha  'n  'eil  am  choir, 
'S  mi  'm  ònrachdan  air  beinn  nan  sian ! 

Soills',  a  re,  bho  chill  nan  neul, 
Stiuiribh  mi,  'reulta  na  failmh', 
Gu  fasdail  uaignich  mo  ghràidh, 
'S  am  beil  e  'tàmh  an  dèis  na  seilg'. 
'lubhar  gun  ghleus  air  Ikr, 
A  ghaodhair  lamh  ris  fhein  'g  a  dhion  ; — 
Mise  'm  bun  na  creige  lèith' : 
Am  ònrachdan  air  beinn  nan  sian  ! 

'S  fuaimear  toirm  an  uilld  's  na  gaoith'— 
Guth  mo  ghaoil  cha  chluinn  mi  'teachd. 
Fath  do  mhoille,  'Shealgair  ruin, 
A  thriath  nan  stfica  's  nam  feachd  ? 
Seall-tu  'chlach,  's  i  so  a'  chraobh, 
Seall-tu  eas  na  gaoir'  am  choir  ; 
Gheall  thu  'bhi  'n  so  'n  ciar  nan  trkth — 
'Shealgair,  caite  1  c'  è  do  chòs  ? 
M'  athair  dh'  fhKgainn  leat  am  dht^igh, 
'S  mo  bhrathair  nach  geill  's  an  strith  ; 
Bha  ar  sinnsre  cian  'n  an  nkimh — 
Thusa  's  mis'  gu  brkth  cha  bhi. 

Gabh  gu  fois  car  seal,  a  ghaoth, 
Fosadh  beag,  a  chaoin  eas  chiùin  ; 
Cluinnear  m'  acain-sa  mu'n  cuairt, 
Thigeadh  i  gu  cluais  mo  riiin. 
'Shealgair,  's  e  guth  Culmath  'th'  ann, 
So  a'  chraobh,  an  t-alld,  's  a'  chlach. 
'Shealgair  rMn — so  do  ghrkdh, 
Fath  do  mhoille,  'shkir  nam  flath? 

An  re  a'  boillsgeadh  gun  nial, 
An  tuil  a'  soillseadh  shios  an  srath  ; 
Chitear  clachan  glas  nan  learg, 
Cha  'n  fhaic  mo  Shealgair  'n  an  gar. 
Cha  'n  fhaic  mi  'lùth-ehoin  mar  bu  nos, 
A'  tigh'nn  am  chòdhail  le  sgial — 
Mo  Shealgair  'bhi  dltith  'n  an  dèigh  : 
ÌMi  'm  òrirachdan  air  beinn  nan  sian  ! 

Co  so  Ikmh  rium  air  a'  bhlkr  ? 
Mo  Shealgair  !  O,  mo  bhrathair  fial  ! 
Nach  labhair  sibh,  a  chaoimh  mo  chre, 
'S  mi  'm  ònrachdan  air  beinn  nan  sian ! 

Mise  Ciilmath,  's  cha  'n  fhaigh  sgeul, 
Mo  chridh"  'g  a  lèireadh  le  fiamh. 
Marbh  le  chèile  !  seall,  an  cruaidh 
Bho  'barr-dheis  ruadh  le  baoth-ghniomh! 
C  uime  reub  thu,  'bhrathair  chaoimh, 
Sealgair  'fhuair  mo  ghaol  bho  thus  1 
'S  a  Shealgaii-  sin  do  'n  d'  thugas  grkdh, 
C  uime  reub  mo  bhrathair  ruin  ! 

Gaol  mo  chridhe  sibh  le  chèil' — 
Ciamar  thogar  leam  beus  ur  cliù  ? 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


83 


D'  àiUeachd-sa  thair  mhilte  slòigli— 
Esan  còrr  an  glonn  's  am  biùth's. 

Labhraibh  rium,  èisdibh  mo  ghlaoclh, 
Cluiniiibh  mi,  a  chacimh  mo  ghràidh. 
Och,  iad  skmhach,  balbh,  gu  slor, 
'S  fuar  an  criadh  an  glaic  a'  bhàis  ! 

Labhraibh  bho  ailbhinn  na  cruaich', 
Bho  mhullach  nam  fuar-bheann  cian ; 
Labhraibh,  a  thannais  am  marbh, 
Cha  chuir  ur  seanchus  mi  fo  fhiamh. 

C  b,it  am  beil  ur  tuinidh  nis  ? 
C  Ì  'chreag  bhrisi'  am  beil  ur  cos  ? 
Cha  'n  'eil  guth  air  sgt^ith  na  gaoith', 
Xo  fann-ghlaodh  's  an  doirinn  uihòir  ! 

Cumaidh  mis'  an  fhaire  'nochd — 
Mi  dubhach  gun  toirt  ri  grein. 
'Chaoimh  nam  marbh,  dianaibh  'n  uaigh, 
'S  'n  an  asgail  suainibh  mo  chreubh. 

Mo  bheatha  mar  aisling  a'  triall, 
C  uime  dh'  fhanainn  cian  'n  an  dèigh  ? 
Taisgear  mi  's  an  fheairt  le  m'  ghràidh, 
Mu  'n  alld  air  sgàth  na  creige  lèith'. 

'X  uair  'thuiteas  an  oidhch'  air  a'  chàrn, 
'S  a  sheideas  an  ard-ghaoth  dian, 
Mo  thannas  's  an  aiteal  a'  tfirs' 
Mu  m'  chaoimh  a  tha  'n  cùirt  nan  nial. 
Clisgidh  'n  sealgair,  'n  a  bhruth  faoin, 
Tàla'idh  'm  fona  fo  dhaors'  a  sgath. — 
Cha  b'  ioghnadli  ged  chanainn  gu  biim — • 
B'  annsachd-chridh'  dhomh  an  da  shàr  ! 


SGIALACHD  MHIC-CKUIMEIK 

An  deaghaidh  .do  na  Lochlunn- 
aich  na  h-eileinean  niar  a  cheanns- 
achadh,  thàinig  mòran  de  dliaoine- 
uaisle  cumhachdacli  a  nail  a  Baile- 
na-Beirbhe  do  Leoghas,  oir  thug 
Donnamarg  righ  Lochliinn  dhaibli 
cead  taobli  niar  an  eilein  a  bhi  aca 
dhaibh  fein  saor  bho  chain  sa  bith. 

Fhuair  fear  ris  an  abairteadh  an 
"  Cliamhan-Lochlunnach  "  sealbli  air 
Daile.  An  so  tha  tobar  ris  an  abrar 
''  Tobar-Cliliamhain  "  ri  fhaicinn 
fhathast.  Fhnair  "  Cromanabus  " 
coir  air  Suainabost,  "Mac-Cruim- 
ein"  Gamhsan  bho  thuath,  agus  Iain 
Moiriostain  coir  air  Bragair.  B'  e 
Mac-Cruimein,  mar  gu  'm  b'  eadh, 
aig  an  robh  riaghladh  chàich,  agus 
bhiodh  e  'dol  uair  's  na  tri  bliadhna 
do  Bhaile-na-Beirbhe,  a  dh-amharc 
an  righ.  Uair  de  na  h-uairibh 
chaidh  e  null  a  dh-iarraidh  luchd 


soithich  de  dh-f  hiodh.  Tra  a  chaidh 
e  stigh  do  thigh-an-righ  chuir  a' 
Bhànrighinn  fios  air  d'  a  seòmar. 
Tha  seanchaidhnean  ag  ràdh  gur 
boirionnach  neo-chumanta  pròiseil, 
àrdanach,  a  bh'  innte,  ni  a  tha  'n 
sgialachd  a  leanas  a'  dearbhadh  gu 
soilleir.  "  Trobhad,"  os'  ise,  "  gus 
am  faic  thu  an  teine  'th'  agam  an  so, 
agus  air  m'  uil'  onair  nach  f  hac  agu?, 
nach  fhaic  thu  leithid  ri  d'  bheò.'' 
Thàinig  Mac-Cruimein  a  stigh  agu 
shuidh  e  ag  coimhead  an  teine.  "  'fe 
eadh"  thuirt  a'  Bhànrighinn,  "am 
faca  tu  a  leithid  sin  de  theine  bòidh- 
each  riamh  roimhe  V  "  Le  'r  cead, 
a  Bhànrighinn,  osa  Mac-Cruimein, 
is  mise  chunnaic."  "  C  idte,"  os  a' 
Bhcànrighinn,  agus  i  anabarrach 
feargach,  "  tha  mi  ciunteach  gur  h- 
ann  an  eilein  bochd,  clacbach,  bog- 
lach  Leoghais."  "  Ann  an  sin  f  hein, 
le  'r  cead,  a  Ehànrighinn,"  osa  Mac- 
Cruimein.  "  Gabhaidh  mi  air  d' 
fhacal  thu,"  os  a'  Bhànrighinn,  agus 
ma  bheir  thu  nail  h-ugamsa  a 
Leoghas  do  Bhaile-na-Beirbhe  conn- 
adh  a  ni  teine  faisg  air  cho  math  ris 
a'  chonnadh  agamsa,  an  uair  a  thig 
thu  rithist  bheir  mi  dhut  luchd  da 
luinge  de  dh-fhiodh  saor  a  nasgaidh. 
Einn  iadcumhnantadaingeann  taobh 
air  thaobh.  Ghabh  Mac-Cruimein  a 
chead  de  'n  Bhànrighinn  's  dh'  ullaich 
e  an  luchd  's  chuir  e  air  bòrd  na 
luinge  6.  Thog  e  air  le  chuid  daoine 
a  nail  a  Lochlunn  do  Leoghas,  agus 
le  soirbheas  math  a  bhi  aca,  ràinig 
iad  sàbhailte  an  Stoth  Niseach.  Air 
chionn  an  ath-sharahraidh,  thòisich 
Mac-Cruimein  air  buain  mòine 
duibhe,  caoranaich,  ann  an  Gamhsan; 
agus  leis  an  aimsir  a  bhi  anabarrach 
tioram,  dh'  fhàs  an  riasg  dubh  so 
cho  grod,  cruaidh  ris,  a  ghual.  An 
uair  a  bha  a'  mhòine  cho  tioram  's  a 
ghabhadh  i,  thagh  e  Ian  thri  baraill- 
can  de  'n  chuid  a  b'  f  hearr  dhi.  A 
h-uile  latha  grianach  a  thigeadh 
sgaoileadh   Mac-Cruimein   a    h-uile 


84 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


caoran  cle  'n  mhòine  dliuibh  so  ris  a 
ghrèin.  Shuathadh  e  taobh  gach 
t'òid?  le  h-ola,  agus  chàireadh  e  suas  i 
's  na  baraillean  mar  a  bha  i  roimhe. 
Lean  e  air  so  gu  am  dha  dol  a  rithist 
do  Lochlunn.  An  ceann  nan  tri 
bliadhna  chaidh  Mac-Cruimein  do 
Bhaile-na-Beirbhe,  agus  clio  luatli  's 
a  rainig  e,  chaidh  tios  air  thun  na 
Bànrighinn.  Mu  'n  do  ghabh  i  a 
sgial  dh'  f  harraid  i  an  d'  thug  e  leis 
connadh  a  Leoghas — mur  d'  thug, 
nach  robh  aon  chuid  sith,  sonas,  no 
beatha  gu  bhi  aige.  Ach  bha  Mac- 
Cruimein  air  neothar-thaing,  agus 
bha  sin  glè  fheumail  dha  aig  a' 
cheart  am.  Bha  an  connadh  aige; 
agus  mu  'n  d'  fhàg  e  làthair  na 
Bànrighinn,  chaidh  la  a  shònrachadh 
gu  diachainn  a  chur  air  an  da  chonn- 
adh.  Is  ann  air  connadh  na  Bàn- 
righinn  a  chuireadh  diachainn  an 
toiseach,  agus  cha  robh  e  cho  dona ; 
ach,  cha  robh  e  ach  faoin  an  coimeas 
ri  niòine  dhuibh  Mhic-Cruimein, 
agus  thug  an  hichd-breith  an  t-urram 
gu  tur  dhi.  Fhuair  Mac-Cruimein 
an  kichd  fiodha  a  nasgaidh.  Cha  'n 
6  sin  a  mhàin  ach  rinn  a'  Bhànrigh- 
inn  cuirm  mhòr  do  mhaithean  's  do 
uaislean  Lochhmn ;  agus  'n  am  broill- 
each  Mac-Cruimein  a  Leoghas.  An 
uair  a  bha  na  h-aoighean  sgith  oil  us 
iche  thòisich  ceòl  us  dannsa,  agus 
fearas-chuideachd  de  gach  seòrsa.  A 
measg  nam  baintighearnan  a  chaith 
an  t-ùrlar  a'  dannsa  bha  dithis  nigh- 
ean  do  'n  Bhànrighinn  f  hein — bha 
iad  gun  choimeas  am  maise,  am  fin- 
ealtas,  agus  an  ceanal.  An  deagh- 
aidh  na  ciiirme  chuir  a'  Bhànrighinn 
fios  a  rithist  air  Mac-Cruimein,  agus 
thòisich  an  còmhradh  a  leanas  eadar 
6  fein  us  ise  : 

"  'S  eadh,  a  Leoghasaich,"  os  a 
Bhànrighinn,  "nach  ann  againn  a 
bha  an  oidhche  chridheil  's  a'  chais- 
teal  so  an  raoir."  "  Air  mo  bheatha 
gur  h-ann,"  thuirt  esan.  "  Ma  tà,' 
OS  ise,  "  am  fac  thuriamh  dithis  cho 


math  air  an  dannsa  ris  na  h-ighean- 
an  agamsa  Ì"  "  Tha  iad  fior  mhath 
air  gu  dearbh,  ach,  le  'r  cead,  a 
Bhànrighinn,  cha'n  urrainn  domh  a 
ràdh  nach  fhaca,"  osa  Mac-Cruimein. 
"  Tha  mi  cinnteach  gur  h-anu  an 
Leoghas  a  chunnaic  tu  ban-danns- 
airean  cho  math  ri  m'  chuid  nighean- 
sa,"  OS  a'  Bhànrighinn  gu  h-anabarr- 
ach  feargach.  "  Is  ann  an  sin  f  hein, 
le  'r  cead,"  os  esan.  "  Cuimhnich," 
OS  ise,  "  nach  'eil  dannsairean  math 
ri  'm  faighinn  le  talamh  Leoghas  a 
chladhach,mar  a  gheobhar  connadh." 
"  Tha  sibh  ceart  an  sin  le  'r  cead," 
OS  esan,  "  ach  tha  ciall,  us  eòlas,  us 
tuigse  an  Leoghas,  a  tha  cho  comas- 
ach  air  danns  ionnsachadh  do  na 
caileagan  's  a  tha  e  air  connadh 
luachmhor  a  dhianamh  de  'n  riasg 
f  hliuch,  amh.  Ma  bheir  thu  nail  dp 
Bhaile-na-Beirbhe  dithis  nighean  a 
ni  dannsa  no  cluith  cho  math  ri  m"" 
nighean-sa,  bheir  mi  dhut  da  luchd 
do  shoithich  a  dh-fhiodh,"  os  a' 
Bhànrighinn.  Sheòl  soitheach  Mhic- 
Cruimein  a  Lochlunn  an  làirna- 
mhàireach,  le  soirbheas  ciatach,  agus 
rainig  e  fhein  's  an  sgioba  cala  sàbh- 
ailte  's  an  Stoth  Nisich.  Cho  luath 
's  a  fhuair  e  air  dòigh  aig  a  dhach- 
aidh,  thòisich  e  air  ionnsachadh 
cluith  us  dannsa  do  'n  triuir  nighean 
bu  shine  aige.  Bu  chaileagan  air 
leth  finealta,  bòidheach  iad — gach 
te  dhiubh  le  a  fait  fada,  òrbhuidhe, 
cuaicheineach  fhein,  a'  ruighinn  sios 
an  crios.  Cha'n  e  mhàin  gu'n  robh 
am  pearsa  gun  choire,  ach  bha  iad 
amhuil  sin  grinn,  caoimhneil,  'n  an 
nàdur.  Cha  robh  caileag  's  an 
àirde-niar  a  thug  barrachd  orra  an 
eireachdas  's  am  beusan.  An  ceann 
thri.  bliadhna  chaidh  Mac-Cruimein 
's  a  thriuir  nighean  maille  ri  sgioba 
iasgaidh,  tapaidh,  air  thurus-cuain  do 
Lochlunn.  Eàinig  iad  uile  fior 
shàbhailte  Baile-na-Beirbhe.  Mu  "n 
gann  a  rcàinig  iad,  chuir  a'  Bhànrigh- 
inn   fios    air  Mac-Cruimein    do    'n 


Bara  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


85 


chaisteal,  agiis  cliaidh  e  ann.  I 
"  Thàiuig  thu,  'Mhic-Cruimein,  os  a'  i 
Bhànrigliiun."  "  Thàinig  mi,  le  'r  i 
cead."  OS  esan.  "An  d'  thug  thu 
nail  dannsairean  math  a  Leoghas," 
OS  ise.  "  Thug  mi  learn  triuir 
dhannsaireann,  ach  chithear  am  beil 
iad  math  no  nach  'eil  an  uair  a 
chuirear  diachainn  orra."  Chaidh 
la  a  shònrachadh  air  son  na  diach- 
ainn, agus  thug  a'  Bhanrighiun  cuir- 
eadh  do  àrd-uaislean  na  tire  gu 
cuirm   gu   bhi   fianuiseach    air    an 


diachainn-dhannsa.  Is  iad  clann  na 
Banrighinn  a  dhanns  an  toiseach, 
agus  rinn  iad  gu  math  's  gu  ro  mhath ; 
ach  an  uair  a  chaidh  nigheanan 
JNIhic-Cruimein  air  an  iirlar  dh'aidich 
an  luchd-breith  's  a'  Bhànrighinn 
fein  gur  h-ann  aca  bha'n  t-urram. 
Mu'n  do  thill  Mac-Cruimein  dhacli- 
aidh  a  Baile-na-Beirbhe,  thàtar  ag 
ràdh  gu'n  do  phòs  a  chuid  nighean 
triuir  phrionnsaichean. 

DoNULL  Mac-Leoid. 


AN  TALL  A  'M  BU  GHNA  LE  MAC-LEOID. 
Le  Mairi  nighean  Alastair  Ruaidh. 


Gleus  D, 

4 


Hpi^ii^iipii^igli^g 


m 

: D . r  1  in:-.ni:s | s :in :D\1  [ s  :-!  :in ! r:d :-.S.l ! d^:-.r' :va}.T^  l:-.d^:s | m: 


•  •    •     -•- 


;L.s  I  s:-,m:r|d:li:-.D.lilSi:-.d:m!s:m:-.S,lld^:-.r^:dU|s:-.m:r  1  d:-ll 

EiGH !  gur  muladach  tha  mi, 
'S  mi  gun  mhireadh  gun  mhanran, 
Anns  an  talla  'm  bu  ghnà  ie  Mac  Leoid. 
Eigh !  gur,  &c. 

Tigh  mor  macnasach  meaghrach, 
Nam  maca  's  na  maighdean. 
Ear  'm  bu  tartarach  gleadhraich  nan  corn. 
Tigh  mor,  &c. 

Tha  do  thalla  mor  priseil, 

Gun  f  hasgadh  gun  dion  air, 

Ear  am  faca  mi  'm  fion  bhi  'g  a  òl. 

Tha  do,  etc. 
Och  mo  dhiobhail  mar  thachair, 
Thainig  dil'  air  an  aitreabh, 
'S  ann  a's  cianail  learn  tachairt  'n  a  choir. 

Och  mo,  &c. 

Shir  Tormaid  nam  bratach, 
Fear  do  dhealbh-sa  bu  tearc  e. 
Gun  sgeilm  a  chur  asad  no  bòsd. 
Shir  Tormaid.  &c. 


8Q  AN   GAIDHEAL.  Dara  Mìos  an  Earraich,  isrc. 

Fhuair  thu  teist,  a's  deagh  urram, 
Ann  am  freasdal  gach  duine, 
'         Air  dheiseachd  's  air  uirghioll  beoiL 
Fhuair  thu,  &c. 

Leat  bu  mhiannach  coin  lùthmhor, 
Dol  a  shiubhal  nan  stiic-bheann, 
'S  an  gunna  nach  diultadh  re  h-òrd. 
Leat  bu,  &c. 

'S  i  do  lamh  nach  robh  tuisleach, 
Dol  a  chaitheamh  a'  chuspair, 
Le  d'  bhogha  cruaidh,  ruiteach,  deagh-neoil. 
^S  i,  &c. 

Glac  throm  air  do  shliasaid, 
An  deigh  a  snaitheadh  gun  fhiaradh, 
'S  barr  dosrach  de  sgiathaibh  an  eoin. 
Glac  throm,  &c. 

Bhiodh  ceir  ris  na  crannaibh, 
Bu  neo-eisleanach  tarruing, 
'N  uair  a  leimeadh  an  t-saighead  bho  d'  mheoir. 
Bhiodh  ceir,  &c. 

'N  uair  a  leigteadh  bho  d'  laimh  i, 
Cha  bhiodh  oirleach  gun  bhathadh, 
Eadar  corran  a  gàine  's  a  smeoirn. 
'N  uair  a,  &c. 

Ceud  soiridh  le  dùrachd, 
Bhuam  gu  leannan  an  t-sugraidh, 
Gu  'm  b'e  m'  aighir  's  mo  run  bhi  ga  d'  choir. 
Ceud  soiridh,  &c, 

'N  am  dhut  tighinn  gu  d'  bbaile, 
'S  tu  bu  tighearnail  gabhail, 
'N  uair  shuidheadh  gach  caraid  mu  d'  bhòrd. 
'N  am  dhut,  &c. 

Bha  thu  measail  aig  uaislean, 
'S  cha  robh  beagan  mar  chruas  ort, 
Sud  an  cleachdadb  a  fhuair  thu  d'  aois  oig. 
Bha  thu,  &c. 

Gu  'm  biodh  faram  air  thailisg, 
Agus  fuaim  air  a'  chlarsaich, 
Mar  a  bhuineadh  do  shàr  mhac  Mhic-Leoid. 
Gu  'm,  &c. 

Gur  e  b'  eachdraidh  'n  a  dheigh  sin, 
Greis  air  uirsgeul  na  Feinne, 
Us  air  cuideachda  cheir-ghil  nan  croc. 
Gur  e,  &c. 


THE     Gh^EL 


ENGLISH  DEPARTMENT. 


Vol.  V. 


APRIL  1876. 


No.  51: 


XORMAN  MACLEOD.* 

The  name  of  Norman  Macleod 
ought  to  he  dear  to  every  High- 
lander. Few  names  were  more 
widely  known  or  more  highly 
honoured  in  the  history  of  the 
Highlands ;  and  no  name  is  so 
widely  known  or  so  highly  honoured 
in  the  Modern  Highland  Church. 
The  chiefs  of  Macleod  for  centuries 
made  the  name  illustrious  in  the 
councils  of  the  nation,  and  in  the 
affections  of  the  people ;  and  at  the 
time  when  the  old  ties  of  clanship 
were  being  broken  up,  and  when 
the  power  of  the  chiefs  began  to 
wane,  a  young  man  of  the  clan 
emigrated  from  Skye  to  Argyle,  and 
revived  in  the  manse  of  Morven  the 
influence  which  was  declining  in  the 
Castle  of  Dunvegan.  Duriug  the 
last  hundred  years  we  have  had  men 
among  the  Highland  clergy  of  whom 
any  Church  and  any  country  might  be 
proud.  Our  Smiths,  and  M'Donalds 
and  Kennedys  would  maintain  the 
reputation  of  any  Church  in  any 
land.  But  the  Macleods  of  Morven 
are  without  a  parallel  in  the  ec- 
clesiastical history  of  the  Highlands 
— we  migh  t  say  of  Britain.  Norman 
Macleod  of  Morven  was  by  all 
accounts  a  remarkable  man.  Of 
commanding  intellect,  of  majestic 
presence,  of  wide  sj^mpathies,  of 
warm  affections,  of  fervid  eloquence, 
and   of  that   marvellous   charm  of 


*  Memoir  of  Xorman  Macleod,  D.D. 
By  Ms  brother  the  Rev.  Donald  Macleod, 
B.A.     London;    Daldy,  Isbister  and  Co., 

1876. 


manner  which  secured  the  affection 
as  well  as  the  esteem  of  all  who 
came  in  contact  with  him.  He 
educated  two  sons  for  the  ministry 
who  inherited  the  physical  and 
mental  gifts  of  the  father.  Each  of 
these  sons  sent  two  sons  to  the 
Church;  and  the  same  characteris- 
tics have  descended  to  the  third 
generation.  Norman  Macleod  was 
ordained  minister  of  Morven  in 
1774  and  lived  fifty  years  the 
minister  of  that  extensive  parish. 
His  eldest  son,  Norman,  as  minister 
of  Campbeltown,  Campsie,  and  St. 
Columba,  Glasgow,  ivas  one  of  the 
most  influential  of  the  Scotch  clergy 
of  his  day,  and  admitted  by  all  to 
be  the  best  writer  of  Gaelic  prose 
whose  works  remain  to  us.  His 
youngest  son  John,  the  present 
venerable  minister  of  Mo^-ven,  Avas 
ordained  his  father's  assistant  and 
successor  in  1824;  and  during  his 
long  ministry  in  that  remote  parish, 
has  wielded  an  influence  in  the 
pulpit  and  in  the  courts  of  the 
Church,  and  earned  a  name  in  Gaelic 
literature  second  only  to  his  elder 
brother.  Of  the  two  sons  of  Norman 
of  St.  Columba,  the  eldest  is  the 
subject  of  this  memoir,  and  the 
youngest  is  the  minister  of  Park 
Church,  Glasgow,  his  biographer ; 
while  the  two  sons,  of  John,  Norman 
and  John,  have  at  an  early  age  been 
placed  at  the  head  of  two  of  the 
most  influential  congregations  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland — St  Stephen's, 
Edinburgh,  and  Govan,  Glasgow. 
We  doubt  whether  the  ecclesiastical 
history  of  Britain  can  produce  the 
same   com-bination  of  numbers  and 


88 


THE  GAEL. 


talent  in  the  same  family  within  the 
space  of  one  hundred  years. 

Whether  the  third  Norman,  the 
minister  of  the  Barony  Church,  and 
the  subject  of  this  memoir,  was  the 
most  highly  gifted  of  this  talented 
family  or  not,  it  would  perhaps  be 
rash  to  affirm.  He  had  a  wider  field 
for  the  development  and  display  of 
liis  talents;  and,  hitherto,  he  has! 
been  the  best  known.  The  sphere 
of  the  first  Norman's  influence  was 
confined  to  Morven  and  immediate 
neighbourhood.  The  stipend  of 
Morven  was  small,  the  minister's 
family  was  large.  There  was  no 
Gaelic  press  in  those  days  ;  and  the 
facilities  for  travel  enjoyed  by  the 
present  generation  did  not  exist. 
What  he  was  we  know  from  the 
influence  he  exerted  over  his  gifted 
sons.  Again  while  the  minister  of 
St.  Columba  was  one  of  the  most 
eloquent  preachers  and  one  of  the 
most  influential  ministers  in  the 
Church,  the  seat  of  his  power  was  in 
the  Highlands,  and  his  tongue  and 
pen  told  most  eff"ectively  upon  Gaelic 
minds.  But  the  minister  of  the 
Barony  is  known  wherever  the 
English  language  is  spoken.  He 
was  seen  and  heard,  admired  and 
loved,  in  every  country  of  Europe, 
in  America,  and  in  India.  And  yet 
it  appears  to  us  that  his  life  is  unin- 
telligible without  a  continual  reference 
to  Morven ;  and  that  the  sacret  of  his 
influence  and  power  over  his  fellow- 
men  of  aìì  grades  and  races  Avas  well  | 
known  and  practised  by  his  grand- 
father in  Morven  one  hundred  years 
ago.  In  the  biographical  sketch  of 
the  author,  prefixed  to  "  Caraid 
nan  Gaidheal,"  the  minister  of  the 
Barony  writes  thus  : — "  When  my  j 
father  married  and  had  a  family,  [ 
his  ideal  seemed  to  be  to  reproduce 
the  old  manse  of  Morven  in  his  ownj 
with  what  results  it  is  not  for  me  to 
say,  further  than  that  his  children 


look  back  to  their  home  days  with 
the  same  feelings  of  thanksgiving 
that  he  did  to  his.  His  preaching, 
too,  as  a  minister,  was  unconsciously 
modelled  on  that  of  his  father.  The 
same  peculiar  pleading  of  tender 
affection,  touching  pathos,  simple, 
clear  statement,  and  fervid  bursts  of 
eloquen-ce.  The  familiar  and  hearty 
intercourse  which  he  cultivated  with 
his  people  in  Glasgow  was  what  he 
had  been  accustonied  to  in  his  early 
years  in  Morven."  And  at  the  time 
of  his  father's  death,  he  wrote  as 
follows  :  "  Were  I  aske€l  what  there 
was  in  my  father's  teaching  and 
training  which  did  us  all  so  much 
good,  I  would  say  both  in  regard 
to  him  and  my  beloved  mother, — 
that  it  was  love  and  truth.  They 
were  both  so  real  and  human  ;  no 
cranks,  twists,  crotchets,  ims  or 
systems  of  any  kind,  but  loving, 
■sympathising,  giving  a  gentiine 
Moiciftff-np  when  it  was  needed,  but 
passing  by  trifles,  failures,  infirmities, 
without  making  a  fuss.  The  liberty 
they  gave  was  as  wise  as  the  re- 
straints they  imposed.  Their  home 
was  happy — intensely  happy.  Chris- 
tianity was  a  thing  taken  for  granted, 
not  forced  with  scowl  or  frown." 
No  one  can  read  this  memoir  without 
seeing  that  in  de.scribing  his  father 
and  grand-father's  homes,  he  is  also 
describing  his  own. 

Norman  Macleod  died  on  Sunday 
the  l-6th  of  June  1872,  having  com- 
pleted his  sixtieth  year  on  the  3d  of 
that  month.  The  whole  country 
mourned  him,  from  the  Queen  to  the 
poorest  in  the  land.  In  reading 
this  memoir  we  cannot  but  feel  that 
if  his  country  had  known  him  better, 
she  would  have  loA^ed  him  more. 
There  were  few  public  men,  if  any, 
of  his  day  who  were,  in  a  manner, 
more  widely  known,  or  whose  death 
was  so  universally  regretted  ;  but  to 
the  many  he  was  only  known  in 


March,  isrc. 


THE  GAEL. 


89 


part  and,  now  with  liis  life  before 
us,  Ave  may  say  that  the  man  as  he 
really  was,  was  hardly  known  at  all. 
His  biographer  says :  "  Dr.  Mac- 
leod  was  a  man  whom  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  ■  portray.  His  power 
was  in  many  respects  inseparable 
from  his  presence.  The  sympathy, 
the  humour,  the  tenderness,  de- 
pended so  much  for  their  full  ex- 
pression, on  look,  voice,  and  manner, 
that  all  who  knew  him  will  recog- 
nise the  necessary  inadequacy  of 
verbal  description.  '  Quantum  mu- 
tatus  ab  illo  '  must  more  especially 
be  the  verdict  upon  any  attempt  to 
record  instances  of  his  wit  or  pathos." 
Those  of  us  who  knew  only  the 
public  man  were  charmed  and 
thrilled  by  his  eloquence  ;  and  we 
Highlanders  were  proud  that  one  of 
our  blood  and  name  commanded  the 
admiration  and  affection  of  so  large 
a  number  of  his  fellow-men.  But  it 
is  undeniable  that  the  belief  obtained 
among  many  of  his  countrymen, 
that  Norman  Macleod  as  a  clergy- 
man, divine,  and  politician,  was 
dubious  and  unsatisfactory. 

There  were  apparent  grounds  for 
this  belief.  In  many  respects  he  dif- 
fered widely  from  those  clergymen 
whom  Scotchmen  delight  most  to 
honour.  He  was  hiudi  in  favour  with 
the  great  of  the  land]  and  it  has  be- 
come the  fashion  with  some  in  our 
day  to  consider  this  incompatible  witli 
being  the  poor  man's  friend.  His 
wit  and  humour,  his  drolleries,  his 
conversational  and  mimic  powers 
were  well  known.  This  feature  of 
his  character  was  common  to  him 
with  much  smaller  men  in  the 
Church,  w'ho  being  possessed  by  the 
gift  instead  of  possessing  it,  often 
became  a  cause  of  offence  to  many 
earnest  men.  The  abuse  by  many 
of  his  brethren  of  this  rather 
dangerous  talent  injured  in  a 
measure  the  public  reputation  of  Dr. 


Macleod  in  the  eyes  of  many 
Scotchmen  whose  good  opinion  is 
of  value.  In  Church  politics,  and 
latterly  in  Church  doctrine,  Dr. 
Macleod  was  to  many  unintelligible. 
He  became  a  minister  during  the 
fierce  conflict  which  preceded  the 
'43.  His  public  conduct  to  many 
seemed  Avavering.  As  long  as  he 
possibly  could,  Avhen  parish  minister 
of  Loudoun,  he  hung  back  from  tak- 
ing a  decided  stand  for  one  siile  or 
tlie  other.  In  consequence  of  the 
decision  in  the  civil  courts  upon  the 
Stewarton  case,  he,  as  Moderator  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Irvine,  Avas  forced 
to  declare  himlself;  and  he  sided 
Avith  the  "  Moderate "  party  ;  but 
shortly  afterAvards  he  was  found 
among  the  number  knoAvn  to  the 
Avorld  as  "the  forty  thieves," — men 
Avho  to  the  present  day  appear  to 
receive  more  contempt  than  respect 
from  the  survivors  of  the  tAvo  great 
parties  into  Avhich  the  Church 
divided  herself  in  that  trying  time. 
And  even  after  the  Disruption,  Dr. 
Macleod  Avas  looked  upon,  as  an 
ecclesiastical  politician,  with  con- 
siderable suspicion  in  his  oAvn 
Church.  He  himself  Avrites  of  his 
father:  "While  holding  decidtd 
and  consistent  views  in  State  and 
Church  politics,  being  from  his  very 
nature  a  Conservative  in  both,  yet 
he  was  essentially  'moderate'  in 
the  best  sense  of  the  Avord.  He 
never  was  bitter  in  his  opposition— 
never  personal  in  his  animosities — 
never  advocated  extreme  measures, 
but  such  as  might  reconcile  rather 
than  'divide  parties.  He  Avas  too 
sympathetic  to  be  a  violent  parti- 
zan."  This  again  may  be  taken  as 
a  tolerably  acx?.urate  description  of 
the  attitude  of  the  son  in  Church 
politics.  But  he  lived  in  a  time 
Avhen  parties  acquired  an  import- 
ance in  the  Church  Avhich  Avas 
formerly  knoAvn  only  in  the  State, 


90 


THE  GAEL. 


March,  1876. 


and  when  to  belong  to  no  party  was 
to  run  the  risk  of  being  credited 
with  stupidity  or  insincerity.  As 
the  former  could  not  be  affirmed  of 
Macleod,  he  had  to  bear  from  many 
excellent  men  the  imputation  of  the 
latter. 

His  position  as  a  theologian  was 
even  more  inexplicable  than  his 
position  as  a  politician.  With  the 
movement  led  by  tlie  late  Dr. 
Robert  Lee  to  relax  the  rules  which 
regulated  the  mode  of  conducting 
the  services  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land, he  fully  sympathised.  He  ad- 
vocated greater  liberty  in  interpret- 
ing the  standards  which  define  the 
doctrine  of  the  Church.  As  editor 
of  Good  Words  he  gathered  around 
him  men  of  different  shades  of  theo- 
logical opinion  in  England  and  Scot- 
land— chiefly  of  the  Broad  Church 
party.  In  1865  he  startled  and 
shocked  the  greater  portion  of  pious 
Scotchmen  by  the-  part  he  took  in 
the  Avell-known  Sabbath  contro- 
versy ;  and,  at  a  later  period,  while 
pleading  the  cause  of  Indian  Mis- 
sions in  the  Assembly  and  elsewhere 
he  enunciated  views  which  indicated 
a  wide  departure  from  the  tradi- 
tional belief  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land. While  thus  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  advanced  of  the 
Broad  Church  party  in  Scotland,  his 
conception  of  the  pi-actica],  work  of 
a  minister's  duty  and  functions  allied 
him  more  with  the  Evangelical  party 
in  the  Church.  His  pulpit  ministra- 
tions, his  parochial  organisations  for 
bringing  the  poor,  the  degraded  and 
the  outcast  within  the  pale  of  Chris- 
tian ordinances,  and  his  missionary 
schemes  were  conceived  and  carried 
into  efi"ect  with  an  enthusiasm,  zeal, 
and  fervour  which  has  not  hitherto 
characterised  the  action  of  any  pro- 
minent member  of  the  Broad  Church 
party  in  Scotland.  During  the 
whole    course  of    his   ministry,  he 


may  be  said  to  have  held  an  unique 
position  in  the  Church.  The  only 
man  Avhom  he  looked  to  as  a  leader 
was  the  late  Professor  Eobertson  ; 
and  while  he  had  many  sympathis- 
ers and  admirers,  and  commanded 
greater  personal  influence  in  the 
Church,  and  certainly  beyond  it, 
than  any  Scotch  clergyman  since 
Chalmers'  death,  he  could  scarcely 
be  said  to  have  a  follower  in  the 
ordinary  acceptation  of  the  term. 
To  the  old  conservative  party  in  the 
Church  he  was  too  liberal ;  the  new 
conservatives  looked  upon  his  doc- 
trinal views  Avith  suspicion  and 
alarm  ;  while  even  the  Broad  Church 
party  could  hardly  fully  sympathise 
with  a  man  wliose  doctrine  and 
polity  were  determined  more  by  the 
heart  than  by  the  head. 

To  those  who  had  the  privilege  of 
being  intimately  acquainted  with  Dr. 
Macleod,  the  apparent  inconsist- 
ency of  his  career  was  intelligible ; 
but  to  the  more  numerous  public  of 
Scotch  Presbyterians  who  had  to 
estimate  his  character  from  his 
writings,  from  an  occasional  speech 
or  sermon,  and  from  newspaper 
reports,  and  who  had  formed,  to  their 
own  satisfaction,  a  pretty  definite 
conception  of  what  the  character 
of  a  Scotch  Presbyterian  clergy- 
man in  the  nineteenth  century  ought 
to  be,  the  character  of  Dr.  Macleod 
appeared  inconsistent  and  unsatisfac- 
tory. His  great  talents  and  eloquence 
could  not  be  disputed,  his  social  and 
conversational  gifts  were  appreciated; 
but  a  number  of  sincere  and  earnest 
men  looked  upon  him  as  a  man  who 
had  mistaken  his  calling,  who  ap- 
peared to  have  no  fixed  principles 
nor  earnest  convictions,  who  was 
ready  "  to  become  all  things  to  all 
men,"  not  in  order  to  win  sonls  to 
Christ  as  much  as  to  win  applause 
to  Norman.  Now  that  we  have  his 
life  before  us,  we  can  see  that  this 


March,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


91 


belief  regarding  the  character 
of  this  eminent  man  was  false — 
utterly  false.     His  brother  "  claims 


form  the  key  of  his  whole  character. 
"  I  never  knew  a  man  bound  to 
humanity    at    so    many    points ;    I 


forthisbiography  the  merit  of  truth- j  never  knew  a  man  who  found  in 
fulness.  In  whatever  respects  it !  humanity  so  much  to  interest  him," 
may  fail,  it  cannot  be  charged  vnth.  says  one  of  his  most  intimate  friends, 
concealment  or  exaggeration  of  fact  I  In  reading  his  story  as  we  have  it 
or  sentiment."  We  believe  that  the  I  here,  we  can  scarcely  conceive  that 
claim  is  just ;  and  we  believe,  more-  j  his  life  could  be  otherwise  than  it 
over,  that  no  man  can  rise  from  a  |  was.  The  Macleods,  it  is  said,  were 
perusal  "of  the  book  without  being  !  of  Scandinavian  origin.  The  Norse 
satisfied  in  his  own  mind  that  the  |  blood,  mingled  with  the  Celtic,  has 
true  character  of  Dr.  Macleod  was  produced  physical  and  mental  "vagour 
the  very  reverse  of  what  popular  I  of  a  rare  t}^e.  The  M'Neills  of 
belief  assigned   to   him — that   the  Druimdriseig,  aad  the  Campbells  of 


mamsprmg   of  that   character   was 
earnestness,  sincerity,  truthfulness. 

The  biographer  has  done  his 
work  well.  He  gives  two  interest- 
ing chapters  on  the  "Parentage" 
and  "Boyhood"  of  Dr.  Macleod. 
After  Xorman  enters  college,  and 
beo:in3  to  write  letters  and  keep  a 


Glensaddell  connected  him  with 
the  Celtic  blood  of  South  Argyle 
and  of  Ireland.  His  mother  was  a 
Maxwell  of  border  ancestry.  We 
have  many-sidedness  in  the  very 
blood  of  the  man.  The  intensity 
of  the  Celt,  the  fertile  energy  of  the 
Scandinavian,    the    common    sense 


diary,  his  brother  allows  letters,  and  persistency  of  the  Lowland  Scot, 
diary,  and  the  reminiscences  of  in- 1  Place  this  highly-gifted  boy  in  the 
timate  friends  to  tell  the  story  in  |  home   of    highly -gifted    parents   in 


the  main,  the  biographer  interpolatin 
a  chapter  or  part  of  a  chapter  in  order 
to  give  sequence  to  the  narrative. 
And  a  beautiful  story  it  is,  and 
beautifully  told.  Dr.  Macleod's  con- 
ception of  a  clergyman's   character 


Campbeltown  for  the  first  twelve 
years  of  his  life.  He  acquires  a 
passion  for  ships  and  sailors  which 
never  leaves  him.  At  twelve  he  is 
sent  to  Morven — a  home  as  affec- 
tionate, as  pious,  and  as  cultured  as 


most  of  us  were  taught  a  clergyman's 
life  ought  to  be.  But  with  many 
shortcomings  of  which  he  was  pain- 
fully conscious,  which  he  faith- 
fully records,  and  which  his.  bio- 
grapher as  faithfully  quotes,  he 
seems  to  have  acted  up  to  his  fa- 
vourite motto,  "  Trust  in  God,  and 
do   the   right,"   more   rigidly  than 


was  widely  different  from  what  the  j  his  father's  home,  but  with  sublime 

scenery  and  tradition  weird  and  wild. 
He  leaves  his  father's  home — his 
father  "who  might  have  made  him  a 
slave  to  any  ism,  but  who  left  him 
free  to  love  Christ  and  Christians." 
He.  enters  Glasgow  College,  and, 
"  next  to  the  grace  of  God,  his 
affection  for  home  and  its  associa- 
tions kept  him  steady."    He  goes  to 


many  of  his  severest  critics — that  is  i  England   as   tutor,   associates  with 
to  say,  to   his   own    conception  of  j  squires,    visits    Wordsworth,     and 


right.  "  You  have  no  right  to  blame 
your  natural  disposition.  By  so 
doing  you  blame  God,  who  gave  it 
to  you.  No  quality  is  bad  unless 
perverted,"  he  says  to  one  of 
of  his  daughters  :  and  this  seems  to 


communicates  in  the  English  Church. 
Ha  lives  a  year  or  two  in  Vv'eimar — 
the  home  of  Eationalism.  During 
the  latter  years  of  his  Divinity 
course,  he  takes  charge  of  the  stu- 
dents boarding  in  his  father's  house. 


92 


THE  GAEL. 


March,  1876. 


In  1838  he  is  ordained  nainister  of 
Loudoun  and  enters  upon  active 
public  life.  Yew  Scotch  clergymen 
had  his  varied  experience  at  his  early 
age.  None  probably  enjoyed  after- 
wards such  opportunities  of  extend- 
ing his  knowledge  of  men  and  places. 
And,  till  the  day  of  his  death,  you 
have  the  same  man — the  same  facul- 
ties— the  same  affections  growing 
richer  and  deeper,  but  still  the  same. 
Of  no  man  could  it  be  said  that 
"  the  child  was  father  of  the  man," 
more  truly  than  of  Norman  Mac- 
leod. 

"No  quality  is  bad  unless  per- 
verted." Dr.  Macleod  believed  this. 
He  had  more  qualities  than  most 
men  ;  and,  Scotch  clergyman  though 
he  was,  he  had  the  courage  to  use 
them  —  not  to  abuse  them.  The 
power  of  mimicry,  which  gave  stich 
serious  cause  of  alarm  to  his  father 
and  mother  in  his  youth,  was  of  a 
piece  Avith  the  rest  of  the  m.an's 
character.  He  used  it,  but  did  not 
"  pervert "  it.  This  ideal  of  the 
Christian  character  may  or  may  not 
be  the  true  ideal.  It  falls  not  with- 
in our  province  to  discuss  the  ques- 
tion. It  was  Dr.  Macleod's  ideal, 
and  he  manfully  acted  up  to  it. 
His  very  inconsistencies  are  but  the 
outcome  of  his  truthfulness.  It  is 
easy  to  be  consistent  if  you  have  but 
two  talents  to  commence  with,  and 
if  you  bury  one  of  these  in  the  earth. 
But  he  who  undertakes  in  the  busy 
market-place  of  the  world  of  our  day 
to  make  the  best  of  ten,  will  surely  be 
inexplicable  to  the  man  of  one.  If 
there  is  one  thing  more  than  another 
which  his  whole  life,  as  shown  in  this 
memoir,  proves  it  is  this, — that  the 
Christian  character  is  the  develop- 
ment of  all  the  faculties,  dispositions, 
sentiments,  and  affections  which  God 
has  given  you ;  and  to  declare  this 
boldly  and  clearly  and  truly  to  your 
fellow-men  at  all  times  and  in  all  cir- 


cumstances. Perfect  confidence  was 
what  his  mother  demanded  of  him ; 
and  there  is  no  more  pleasing  feature 
of  his  character  than  the  tone  of  his 
letters  to  his  mother.  He  demanded 
the  same  of  his  children.  "  Only  on 
two  points  was  he  uncompromising 
even  to  sternness.  The  slightest 
appearance  of  selfishness  or  of  want 
of  truth  was  severely  dealt  with." 
It  is  this  perfect  frankness  which 
seems  to  have  captivated  all  those 
who  came  in  contact  with  him,  and 
which  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  main- 
tain towards  all  classes  and  con- 
ditions of  men.  "  I  am  never 
tempted,"  he  writes,  "to  conceal  any 
conviction  from  the  Queen,  for  I 
feel  she  sympathises  with  what  is 
true,  and  likes  the  speaker  to  utter 
the  truth  exactly  as  he  believes  it." 
To  a  member  of  the  Royal  family  : 
"  Your  Eoyal  Highness  knows  that 
I  am  here  as  a  pastor,  and  that  it  is 
only  as  a  pastor  I  am  permitted  to 
address  you.  But  as  I  wish  you  to 
thank  me  Avhen  we  meet  before  God, 
so  would  I  address  you  now."  The 
same  frankness  and  truthfulness  won 
the  hearts  of  the  outcasts  of  Glasgow. 
"  We  have  heard  him,"  says  a  writer 
in  the  Dally  Review,  "  under  all  cir- 
cum.starlces,  and  in  many  lands;  .  .  . 
in  the  cool  upper  room  of  the  Scotch 
kirk  at  Alexandria  to  backsliding 
sailors  and  money-getting  merchants; 
in  the  sweltering  air  of  St.  Andrew's 
kirk,  Calcutta,  where  he  towered 
above  the  crowd  from  the  precipitous 
pulpit;  and  in  the  chance  school- 
room or  drawing-room,  or  by  the 
roadside  to  the  subtle  Bengalee,  the 
sceptical  Competition-walla,  or  the 
thoughtless  white  mechanic.  In  all, 
and  to  all,  he  was  the  same  ;  .  .  . 
the  man  who  spoke  what  he  felt." 
It  is  the  same  devotion  to  truth 
which  appears  to  us  to  explain  his 
outspokenness  upon  questions  which 
he  knew  would  give  pain  to  many, 


Marcli,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


93 


and  which  seriously  endangered  his 
own  position  in  the  Church.  As  his 
age  increased  and  his  experience 
extended,  his  views  became  broader 
and  his  convictions  deeper.  Where 
inconsistencies  appeared,  he  cared 
not  to  conceal  them.  In  1839  he  | 
wrote  to  Dr.  Donaldson  why  he  \ 
could  not  attend  a  Burns  festival,  j 
In  1859,  at  the  Burns  Centenary  in 
Glasgow,  he  appeared  on  the  plat- ' 
form,  the  only  clergyman,  and  j 
took  part  in  the  proceedings.  | 
His  last  speech  in  the  General ' 
Assembly  was  perhaps  the  "  broad- 
est "  he  ever  uttered ;  his  last  entry 
in  his  diary  was  the  most  heterodox 
he  ever  wrote. 

The  same  principle  that  no  quality 
is  bad  unless  perverted,  appears  to 
us  to  expliiin  tlie  most  inexplicable 
feature  in  his  character,- — the  rapid 
transition    from   the   grave    to    the 
gay,    or    rather    the    blending    of 
the  two.     All  his  intimate  friends 
notice  this  feature.     They  grew  so 
accustomed  to  it  in  Dr.  IMacleod  that 
they   seemed   to   regard  the   thing 
quite  natural.     It  certainly  is  a  fea- 
ture which  Ave  have  not  been  accus- 
tomed to  approve  in  a  clergyman's 
conduct.       Upon    any  other  theory 
it  is  inexplicable  as  well  as  unten- 1 
able.     "  He  talked  to  me  as  though 
he  were  a  blacksmith,"  says  a  member 
of  that  profession,  "but  never  left  me 
without  speaking  of  Christ."     Prin- 
cipal Shairp  writes  :  "The  anecdote,  i 
reflection,  argument,  bright  flashes  j 
of  imagination,  drollest  humour,  most  | 
thrilling  pathos,  and  solemn  thoughts  j 
wandering     through     eternity,     all 
blended  into  one  whole  of  conversa- ! 
tion,  tlie  like  of  which  you  never' 
before  listened  to.     In  a  moment  he  I 
w^ould  pass  from  some  comical  illus- 1 
tration  of  human  character  to  the ' 
most  serious  reality  of  sacred  truth, 
and   you   would   feel   no    discord.", 
"  I  never,"  writes  another,  "  knew  i 


him,  in  all  my  meetings  with  him, 
force  a  reference  to  religious  thought 
or  feeling.  I  never  was  with  him 
for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  that  his 
confidential  talk,  however  conversa- 
tional, however  humorous  even,  had 
not,  as  it  were  of  itself  and  as  of 
necessitj^  disclosed  the  centre  round 
which  his  whole  life  revolved." 

In  keeping  with  the  rest  of  his 
character  is  his  intense  affection  for 
his  early  home,  and  the  companions 
of  his  early  days.  In  his  sanctum, 
after  his  death,  were  found  some 
presents  of  trifling  value  given  by 
his  school-fellows  in  Campbeltown. 
His  letter  to  his  son,  when  a  very 
young  boy  at  Morven,  shows  the  life- 
long influence  which  his  own  stay  in 
that  parish  when  a  boy  exerted  over 
him  :  "  Be  happy ;  for  when  you 
will  be  old  like  me,  you  will  remem- 
ber Fiunary  as  if  it  were  the  Garden 
of  Eden  without  the  serpent."  Two 
years  before  his  death,  he  writes  in 
his  journal  :  "  I  beheld  Morven  with 
Aunt  Jane.  ...  I  saw  the  trees 
which  mark  Samuel  Cameron's 
house,  where  I  spent  such  happy 
years,  and  received  an  education, 
the  education  of  my  beloved  ones 
in  Fiunary  included,  such  as  has 
moulded  my  whole  life.  I  enjoyed 
one  of  those  seasons  of  intense  and 
rare  blessing,  when  tears  come  we 
cannot  tell  why,  except  from  a  joy 
that  rises  in  silent  prayer  and  praise 
to  the  Creator  and  Redeemer." 

We  close  the  book  with  feelings 
of  the  most  profound  satisfaction.  W^e 
know  Norman  Macleod  better,  and 
we  feel  that  we  ought  to  have  loved 
him  more.  We  hope  the  book  will 
soon  be  issued  in  a  cheaper  form,  for 
Dr.  Macleod's  admirers  Avere  not 
among  the  wealthy*  only.  We  Avould 
like  to  see  portions  of  his  letters  and 
diary  in  Gaelic.  Our  countrymen 
might  be  none  the  worse  for  seeing 
a  pure  and  noble  Christian  life  dis- 


94 


THE  GAEL. 


played  in  a  somewhat  different 
manner  from  what  they  have  been 
taught  to  admire  and  reverence. 


DUGALD 
Taken  all 


BUCHANAN. 


in   all,   probably  no 
name   is    so    familiar    to    Scottish 
Highlanders,  wherever  situated,  as 
the  name  of  Dugald  Buchanan.     In 
popular    estimation,    Duncan    Ban 
JNI'Intyre   ranks  higher  as  a  poet. 
But  though  one  hears  in  Highland 
gatherings  the  name  of  the  game- 
keeper of  Beinn  Dorain   more  fre- 
quently   than    the    name     of    the 
schoolmaster  of  Rannoch,  Buchanan 
has  taken  a  firmer  hold  of  the  minds 
of  his  countrymen  than  M'Intyre. 
This  fact  is  very  gratifying.     Apart 
altogether  from  the  higher  aim  of 
the    evangelist    as    a   teacher,    his 
poetic  genius,  we  consider,  is  supe 
rior    to    that   of  his  brother- poet. 
The  work   before  us  is  called  the 
"  twenty-first  edition,"  which  means, 
we    presume,   that    the   hymns    of 
Dugald  Buchanan  have  been  printed 
in  Gaelic  twenty-one  times.     This 
shows  that  no  Gaehc  poet  has  been 
so    extensively    read.       M'Intyre's 
poems  have    gone    through    seven 
editions  only ;  M'Donald  of  Ardna- 
murchan's  poems  have  been  printed 
seven   times;    and   Grant's   hymns 
twelve  times.    No  other  Gaelic  poet, 
so  far  as  we  remember,  has  had  his 
works  issued  oftener  than  two  or 
three  times.     And,  from  the  com- 
paratively limited  number  of  lines 
that  Buchanan  composed  as  well  as 

*  Keminiscences  of  the  Life  and  Labours 
of  Dugald  Buchanan,  formerly  Teacher  and 
Evangelist  at  Kannoch,  Perthshire,  Avith 
his  Spiritual  Songs,  and  an  English  Version 
of  them.  By  the  Rev.  A.  Sinclair,  A.M., 
Kenmore,  Author  of  "Memoir  and  Re- 
mains of  M'Cheyne,"  in  Gaelic.  Edin- 
bur<,'h:  Religious  Tract  and  Book  Society. 
1875. 


from  the  general  excellence  of  all 
he  has  left  behind  him,  no  Gaelic 
author  has  perhaps  been  so  carefully 
read,  or  so  accurately  committed  to 
memory.  It  would  not  be 
difficult  to  recover,  at  any  period 
since  his  hymns  became  generally 
known,  the  whole  of  his  poetry 
from  the  recitations  of  his  country, 
men ;  and  this  could  not  be 
affirmed  of  any  of  our  foremost 
Gaelic  poets.  To  earnest  and  seri- 
ous Highlanders  the  poetry  of 
Dugald  Buchanan  has  probably  fur- 
nished more  intellectual  nutriment 
than  any  book  ever  printed  in 
Gaehc  except  the  Bible.  The  lite- 
rary judgment  and  taste  of  our 
countrymen  have  often,  as  is  the  case 
with  people  who  receive  more  in- 
tellectual training,  been  mistaken; 
but,  in  their  unshaken  attachment 
to  Dugald  Buchanan,  they  have 
judged  rightly.  Ossian  alone,  of 
Gaehc  poets,  was  intellectually  and 
sesthetically  his  superior. 

Attempts  have  been  made,  from 
time  to  time,  to  translate  the  poems 
of  Buchanan  into  English.  i\Ir. 
Sinclair  enumerates  these.  _  He 
himself  gives  a  prose  translation  of 
the  poems,  and  a  poetical  version  of 
one  of  them,  "  The  Skull."  As  all 
our  readers  know.  Professor  Blackie, 
in  the  last  number  of  this  Magazine, 
gave  an  English  metrical  version  of 
the  same  "hymn  or  "  Serm.on  in 
Verse,"  as  the  Professor  Avould 
prefer  to  call  it.  It  is  no  disparage- 
ment to  Mr.  Sinclair's  translation 
that  we  consider  Professor  Blackie's 
superior.  Mr  Sinclair  can  more 
fully  feel  the  meaning  of  the  Gaelic  ; 
but  the  Professor  can  more  fitly 
express  his  thoughts  in  English. 
Besides  v/e  thoroughly  agree  with 
Professor  Blackie  that  in  translating 
lyric  poetry  the  spirit  rather  than 
the  letter  ought  to  be  reproduced. 
It  is  hard  to  translate  well.     It  is 


March,  1878. 


THE  GAEL. 


95 


rare  to  find  one  to  whom  even 
Gaelic  and  English  are  equally 
familiar.  Whether  the  more  suc- 
cessful translator  is  he  who  knows 
best  the  original,  or  he  who  can 
best  wield  the  language  into  which 
he  is  to  render  his  author,  it  would 
be  hazardous,  as  a  general  principle, 
to  say.  If  one  has  to  give  a  literal 
prose  version,  perhaps  the  first 
qualification  is  a  thorough  know- 
ledge of  the  original ;  but  in  the 
case  of  a  poetical  translation,  it  is 
fully  as  necessary,  if  not  more  so,  to 
know  the  language  into  which  the 
translation  is  to  be  made.  In  the 
former  case  it  is  perhaps  more 
necessary  to  know  what  to  say  ;  in 
the  latter,  how  to  say  what  you 
have  to  say  becomes  of  more  im- 
portance. The  best  translator  is  he 
M'ho  can  possess  both  qualifications 
in  the  highest  degree. 

Those  who  have  undertaken  to 
pass  judgment  on  the  poems  of 
Buchanan  have  uniformly  spoken 
of  them  in  the  highest  terms  of  com- 
mendation. Mackenzie,  in  his  notice 
of  Biiclianan in  the  "Beautiesof  Gaelic 
Poetry,"  is  liivishinhis  praise.  The 
ablest  and  most  searching  criticism 
of  Buchanan's  genius  which  we  have 
read  is  contained  in  a  paper  written 
by  the  Rev.  A.  C.  Sutherland, 
Strathbraan,  and  printedin  the  Trans- 
actions of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  In- 
verness for  1875.  Mr.  Sinclair  does 
not  consider  it  necessary  "to  attempt 
a  critical  analysis  of  his  (Buchanan's) 
performances.  Our  Gaelic  readers 
do  not  require  it  at  our  hands. 
The  English  reader  we  leave  to 
judge  for  himself  from  the 
translations  we  have  given  ; " 
only  cautioning  the  English  reader 
that  the  translation  falls  far  short  of 
the  original.  Had  ]\Ir.  Sutherland's 
paper  appeared  before  this  volume 
was  published,  and  had  its  substance 
been  incorporated  in  the  introduc- 


tion, we  would  have  been  satisfied. 
As  the  case  stands,  we  cannot  but 
consider  Mr.  Sinclair's  decision  not 
to  give  a  critical  analysis  of  the 
poems  unfortunate,  and  his  reason 
inadequate.  We  doubt  whether  a 
book  was  ever  published  containing 
original  poems,  and  translated  ver- 
sions of  them,  when  both  the  lan- 
guages were  living  tongues,  in  which 
the  editor  and  translator  might  not 
employ  the  language  of  Mr.  Sinclair 
with  as  great  justice  as  he  does. 
"  The  Gaelic  readei's  do  not  require 
it,  and  the  English  readers  won't 
get  it " — this,  we  take  it,  is,  in  so 
far  as  it  contains  a  reason,  one  of 
very  universal  apjilication. 

If  Mr.  Sinclair  does  not  consider 
it  necessary  to  give  a  critical  esti- 
mate of  Dugald  Buchanan's  poetry, 
he  gives  examples  of  the  beauties 
of  the  various  poems.  Questions  of 
beauty  are  questions  of  taste,  and 
tastes,  as  we  all  know,  differ;  but 
we  hardly  think  that  most  readers 
will  agree  with  Mr.  Sinclair  in  the 
selection  he  gives  of  Buchanan's 
beauties  on  pp.  67-70.  "  The  Day 
of  Judgment "  is  replete  with  ex- 
amples of  the  sublime  and  the  ter- 
rible;  but  our  judgment  is  greatly 
at  fault  if 

Bithidh  fainim  mor  am  measg  nan  enamh 
Gach  aon  diubh  dol  do  aite  fein, 

and 

'Us  tlmsa  Plailat  tog  do  shuil 
'Us  faic  a  nis  am  muthadh  mor 
An  creid  thu  gii'r  E  sud  an  Ti 
A  rinn  thu  dhiteadh  air  do  mhòd, 

are  happy  selections  to  represent 
either  mood. 

The  volume  before  us  is  care- 
fully put  together.  Mr.  Sinclair  is 
highly  qualified  to  superintend  the 
issue  of  a  Gaelic  work.  The 
hymns  are,  in  the  main,  cor- 
rectly printed  in  bold,  clear  type. 
The    translation    is,    perhaps,    not 


96 


THE  GAEL. 


March,  1876. 


uniformly  excellent ;  but,  keeping 
in  view  the  warning  of  the  trans- 
lator to  his  English  readers,  we  con- 
sider, on  the  whole,  that  it  is  credit- 
ably done.  The  "  Reminiscences," 
which  take  up  more  than  the  third  of 
the  book,  cannot  receive  the  same 
high  commendation.  This  portion  of 
the  work  is  chiefly  made  up  of  ex- 
tracts from  the  Diary  left  by  Buch- 
anan,— a  production  remarkable  in 
many  ways,  and  one  which  Mr.  Sin- 
clair would  gladly  have  published  in 
full.  We  yield  to  none  in  our 
admiration  for  Dugald  B-uchanan ; 
and  we  think  that  no  man  of  our 
race  has  influenced  for  good  so  large 
a  number  of  our  countrymen ;  but 
when  his  life  is  to  be  written,  it  ought 
to  be  done  in  a  more  discriminating 
fashion  than  Mr.  Sinclair  has  chosen 
to  write  it.  The  Diary  of  Dugald 
Buchanan  is,  to  his  biographer,  very 
valuable ;  if  it  were  different  from 
what  it  is,  it  would  be  still  more 
valuable.  Every  Gaelic  reader  ad- 
mires the  literary  gifts  displayed 
in  the  production  ;  but  we  doubt 
whether  it  gives  us  a  true  pic 
ture  of  the  poet,  or  even  of 
the  Christian.  It-  was  the  fashion 
of  sincere  Christians  of  his  day  to 
make  a  merit  of  suppressing  their 
human  sympathies,  if  they  had  any  ; 
and  Buchanan,  unfortunately,  fell  in 
with  the  prevailing  fashion.  We 
say  unfortunately,  because,  by  all 
accounts,  the  man  himself  was  a 
loving,  sympathising  man  who 
won  the  affection  as  well  as 
the  admiration  of  those  who  came 
in  contact  with  him.  The  Diary 
represents  him  as  painfully  ex- 
ercised about  his  own  spiritual 
state,  but  very  selfishly  so.  The 
spiritual  state  of  his  fellow-men 
deeply  concerned  him  afterwards  ; 
but  in  the  Diary  neither  the  spiritual 
nor  temporal  affairs  of  any  person 
except  his  own, appear  to  have  occu- 


pied much  of  his  thoughts.  Such 
spiritual  exclusiveness  is  but  a  phase, 
and  not,  perhaps,  the  truest  phase  of 
Christianity. 

We  dwell  the  more  strongly  upon 
this,  because  we  fail  to  see  the  need 
for  a  new  edition  of  Buchanan, 
except  for  the  purpose  of  making 
us  better  acquainted  with  the  man 
as  he  really  was.  His  hymns  are 
his  most  enduring  monument — more 
enduring,  we  fondly  hope,  than  even 
the  beautiful  granite  monolith  which 
was  erected  but  the  other  day  at 
Kinloch-Eannoch  to  commemorate 
his  fame.  But  these  hymns  are 
published  separately  for  the  sum  of 
threepence.  Again  the  hymn  sand 
the  whole  of  his  Diary  in  the  original 
Gaelic,  as  he  left  it,  can  be  had  for 
two  shillings.  An  English  transla- 
tion of  the  hymns  has  been  sold  for 
sixpence.  We  have  always  thought 
that  a  new  issue  of  Buchanan's 
works  was  desirable ;  and  that  an 
attempt  ought  to  be  made  to  give  a 
true  picture  of  the  man  as  he  lived 
and  raoved.  Probably  the  life  as 
well  as  the  hymns  should  be  Avritten 
in  Gaelic.  But  whether  written  in 
Gaelic  or  in  English,  the  life  should 
tell  all  that  can  now  be  known  of 
him,  and  should  represent  him  as  he 
lived  and  walked  before  the  world ; 
and  not  merely  as  the  unconverted 
youth  of  wild  and  waj^ward  passions 
appeared  to  the  mature  Christian 
of  after  years.  The  records  of  the 
Society  for  Propagating  Christian 
Knowledge  might  be  searched  with 
advantage.  It  is  said  he  made 
a  collection  of  the  traditional 
poetry  of  his  district  in  his  youth. 
In  a  future  issue  Mr.  Sinclair  might 
give  his  "  Reminiscences "  a  wider 
range.  But  Ave  cannot  say  that  this 
volume,  in  its  present  shape,  ought 
to  replace  the  cheaper  editions  of 
Dugald  Buchanan  previously  issued. 


Ai<r 


Gf^IDHE^L. 


3Iaì-  ghaih  solids  do  m'  anamfein 

Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dW  fhalhh." — Oisean. 


V.  Leabh.]         TEEAS  MIOS  AN  EAREAICH,  1876. 


[52  Am. 


AN  D'THAINIG  NA  GAIDHEIL 
AN  lAR  ROIMH  AM  NA 
DILE? 

Feudaidh  a'  clieist  so  a  blii  air  a 
cur  le  neach  'sam  bith ;  ach  mar  tha 
f  ior  a  tliaobh  cheistean  mu  nithibh 
eile  cha'n  'eil  freagradkfhaotainn  di 
idir  clio  furasda.  Tha  am  beagan  a 
leanas  air  a  thoirt  air  aghaidh  mar 
hharail  a  dh'  fheudas  a  bhi  'na  cuid- 
eachadh  gu  cuisean  a  reiteachadh 
air  son  fuasgladh  fhaotainn  do  'n 
cheist. 

Cha  bu  mhaith  leam  gu'n  togadh 
neach  'sam  bith  ceàrr  mi,  le  bhi 
smuaineachadh  gu'm  bheil  mi  a' 
ruith  gu  h-eutrom  is  gun  tlir  an 
aghaidh  teagasg  neo-fhailneach  a' 
BMobuill  ann  a  bhi  eadhon  a'  cur 
na  ceist, — ann  a  bhi  a'  feòraich  gu 
teagmhach  mu'n  chilis.  A  thaobh 
na  bheil  againn  anns  a'  Bhiobull  'si 
mo  chreud  gabhail  gu  creidmheach 
neo-theagmhach  ris  gach  firinn  a  tha 
againn  air  a  leagadh  sios  ann  gu 
soilleir ;  ach  air  an  làimh  eile  tha  mi 
gleidheadh  saorsa  beachd  no  barail 
dhomh  fein  a  thaobh  nithean  nach 
'eil  air  am  foillseachadh  gu  h-iomlan 
no  gu  coimhlionta  anns  an  Fhocal. 
Tha  mi  saoilsinn  gu'm  bheil  am 
beachd  a  tlia  mi  gabhail  air  a'  chilis 
glan  reidh  agus  co-shinte  ri  run 
teagaisg  a'  Bhiobuill  cho  fad  agus  a 
tha  sin  a'  toirt  leis  'n  a  luib  ni  'sam 
bith  a  chuidicheas  fuasgladh  do'n 
cheist.  A  bharr  air  so,  cha  ruig 
sinn  a  leas  a  bhi  fo  amhghar  gu'n 
teid  creideamh  no  crcàbhadh  a  cha- 


ruchadh  as  an  aite  le  barailibh 
luaisgeach  do'n  t-seòrsa  so,  a  tha  ann 
an  diugh  is  as  am  màireach  ;  oir  gu 
trie  cha'n  'eil  iad  ach  'nam  meadhon 
a  tha  treòireachadh  a  dh'  ionnsuidh 
firinn  is  mo  agus  is  cudthromaiche 
fhaotainn  a  mach  no  a  dhaingeach- 
adh. 

Tha  cend  ghluasad  no  imrich 
priomh  theaghlaichean  a'  chinne- 
dhaonna  'na  chuspair  mu'm  bheil 
mòran  air  a  labhairt  agus  air  a 
sgriobhadh.  Ach  far  nach  'eil  each- 
draidh  ag  innseadh  le  guth  dearbhte 
mu  na  ròidibh  a  ghabh  na  fùgaraich 
sgapte  dhoibh  fein  tha  beachdan 
luchd-rannsachaidii  tur  eug-samhuil 
gu  trie,  agus  cha'n  'eil  riarachadh 
ach  gann  ri  fhaotainn,  Cha  bhi 
ioghnadh  ormsa,  uime  sin,  ged  nach 
faigh  a'  h-iiile  fear  riarachadh  anns 
na  leanas  : 

I. — Teisteannas  luchd-Ealain. 

Tha  cuid  a'  cur  na  ciiis  air  an 
dòigli  so.  Tha  Ealain  am  beòil  a 
luciid-riochdachaidh  a'  tagradh  gu'm 
bheil  aois  agus  eachdraidh  aig  cuid 
do  chinnich  a  tha  dol  fada  ni's  f  haide 
air  ais  na  am  na  Dile  o'n  do  shaoradh 
Noah.  Tha  aon  a'  sgriobhadh  mar 
so  :  "  Tha  dòigh  sgrìobhaidh 
Aihidealaich  ann  a  nis  o  cheann  tri 
mile  bliadhna  no  còrr,  agus  tha 
modhan  sgriobhaidh  dealbhaich  ri  'm 
faotainn  a'  dol  air  ais  tri  mile 
bliadhna  eile."  {Humphreys's  Origin 
and  Progress  of  the  Art  of  JFriting.) 
Tha  sinn  mar  so  air  ar  toirt  a  dh'  aon 
7 


98 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876 


leiim  airarn-aisgu  làithibli  Adhaimli. 
Tha  e  en  mail  a  mach  gu'n  robli 
modh  sgriobliaidh  coimhlionta  aig  na 
h-Eiphitich  roimh  am  Abrabaim ; 
gu'm  bbeil  sgriol)baidbean  d'an  cuid 
a  làtbair,  far  am  bheil  iomradb  air 
rigb  sònruicbte,  Soupbi,  a  bbuineas 
do  linn  "  air  a'  cliuid  is  lugba  ceithir 
mile  bliadhna  roimh  tlieachd 
Chriosd."  Tha  e  nochdadh  mar  an 
ceudna  gu'n  robh  eòlas  sgrìobhaidh 
ri  fhaotainn  am  measg  nan  Chinese 
"  tri  mile  bliadhna  "  mu'n  d'thainig 
Criosd.  Ach  cha  'n  'eil  an  so  ach 
aois  bheag  an  coimeas  ris  na  linntibh 
a  chiinnt  Epignes,  air  am  bheil  Pliny 
ag  iomradh ;  tha  esan  ag  radh  gu'n 
d'  fhuair  e  cunntas  mu  reul-eòlas 
am  measg  seann  mhuinntir  Bhàbiloin 
a  bha  a'  sineadh  air  ais  gu  còrr  is 
seachdceud  mile  bliadhna(720,000 !), 
agus  gur  h-ann  air  clachaibh  creadha 
a  fhuair  e  an  sgriobhadh.  Ach  ged 
nach  'eil  e  duilich  an  spleadh  so  a 
chur  a  dealbh  firinn,  gidheadh  cha 
'n  'eil  e  cbo  soirbli  beachdan  a  tha 
air  am  bonntachadh  air  rannsachadh 
Young  agus  Cham2)oUiona.chomneiich.- 
adh,  O'n  mhineachadh  a  tha  iadsan 
a'  deanamh  air  seann  sgriobhadh 
agus  gràbhaladh  a  gheibhear  air 
clachdaibh  agus  air  leacaibh  aosda  na 
h-Eiphit,  thatar  a'  codhunadh  gu'n 
robh  Ealain  a'  Sgriobhaidh  air  a 
cleachadh  am  measg  nan  Eiphiteach 
fagus  do  cJmig  mile  hliadhna  roimh 
am  teachd  Chriosd. 

II. — Teisteannas  a'  Blàobuill  fdin. 

Gheibh  sinn  mar  an  ceudna  anns 
na  Sgriobtuiribh  fèin  suidheachadh 
agus  iomradh  air  nithibh  a  tha  ag 
amharc  air  ais  ri  tùs  o'n  d'  fhàs  iad, 
— tùs  ni  's  aosmhoire  na  am  beachd 
coitcheann  a  thatar  a'  togail  o'n 
Bhiobull. 

Ann  an  làithibh  Abrahaim  tha 
sinn  a'  leughadh  mu  'n  staid  eòlais 
agus  ealain  air  an  d'  rainis  na  h- 


Eiphitich.  Tha  iad  air  an  cur  far 
comhair  mar  chinneach  agus  mar 
rioghachd  ann  an  lànòrduigh.crutha, 
agus  coimhliontachd.  Bha  eòlas  aca 
air  Ealainibh,  mar  chunnaic  sinn  mu 
Ealain  a'  sgriobhaidh,  air  nach  'eil 
cinnich  a'  faotainn  greim  ann  an 
ùine  bhig.  'S  ann  a  mhàin  mar 
thoradh  air  mòran  feuchrin,oidheirp, 
agus  saothair,  a  tha  a  leithid  so  do 
dh'  airde  eòlais  ri  a  faotainn  am 
measg  chinneach, — mar  thoradh  air 
fas  cuairt  mhòr  do  bhliadhnachan. 
Am  measg  nan  nithe  eile  a  dh' 
oibrich  iad  a  mach  dhoibh  fèin, 
gheibh  sinn  rian  a'  sgriobhaidh. 
Ràinig  iad  aig  an  am  so  air  ceum 
àrd  na  h-aibideil — ceum  air  nach  d' 
rainig  mòran  do  chinnich  nah-àirde- 
'n-ear  gus  an  latha  'n  diugh.  Is  ann 
le  saothair  mhòir  o  mhodh  sgriobh- 
aidh le  deilbh  a  ruigear  air  inbhe 
na  h-aibideil.  A  nis  bha  an  Eiphit 
an  Ian  sheilbh  air  so  agus  air  ioma 
rud  eile  ann  an  linn  Abrahaim. 
Agus  'n  uair  bheir  sinn  fainear  nach 
robh  ann  an  Abraham  ach  an  deicli- 
eamh  o  Noah,  tha  e  'na  aobhar  ioghn- 
aidh  gu  'm  b'  urrainn  do  chinneach 
mòr,  a  rainig  air  mòran  eolais,  ealain, 
is  innleachd,  a  bhi  air  fas  suas  anns 
an  Eiphit  ann  an  ùiue  cho  goirid. 
Agus  cha  'n  e  a  mhàin  gu  'n  robh 
an  Eiphit  air  fas  suas  'n  a  cinneach 
treun  anns  an  nine  ghoirid  ud;  ach 
gheibh  sinn  mar  an  ceudna  mòran 
do  righrean  agus  do  shlòigh  eile  mu 
'n  cuairt  anns  a'  cheàirn  ud.  Feudar 
60  a  thuigsinn  o  chogadh  Cliedarl- 
aomeir  agus  a  chompanach.  Os  bàrr 
so,  bha  sluagh  tiugh  sgaoilteach  ann 
an  Canaan  ;  agus  mar  an  ceudna  ann 
am  bailtibh  a'  chòmhnaird,  Sodom, 
Gomorrah,  Admah,  is  Seboim. 

A  nis  is  e  an  ni  duilich  fhosgladh 
air  dòigh  riarachail,  cionnus  a  b' 
urrainn  an  Eiphit,  anns  an  ùine 
ghoirid  a  bha  eadar  Noah  agus 
Abraham,  fas  suas  gu  cruth  agus 
staid  cho  coimhlionta  agus  a  tha  'ga 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


cliuthachadh  ann  an  làithibh  Abrah- 
aim  1  Tha  e  soilleir  gu  'n  gabhadh 
e  cùig  no  sè  lìnntean  o  Noah  mu  'ra 
b'  urrainn  sluagh  gu  leùir  a  bin  ri 
fliaotaiun  's  an  Eiphit  a  dh'  oibrich- 
eadh  a  macli  ealain  is  innleachd. 
Bhiodh  na  ceud  ghinealaich  'nan 
luclid-gleidheidh  bhuar  is  threud. 
A  lis  tha  e  doirbh  a  thuigsinn 
cionnus  a  b'  urrainn  an  Eiphit  is 
cinnich  eile  tighinn  gu  h-inbhe  cho 
àrd  ann  an  ceithir  no  cùig  a  linntean 
'na  dheigh  sud.  Bha  aithrichean  an 
la  gun  teagamh  a'  faotainn  aois 
mhòir,  ach  clia  rèitich  so  a'  chùis  gu 
buileach.  A  reir  mo  bheachd-sa 
gabhaidh  an  gnothuch  a  bhi  air  a 
shoilleireachadh  gu  Sgriobturail 
agus  sin  an  còrdadh  ri  eachdraidli 
mar  an  ceudna,  le  aobliar  agus  run  ua 
Dile  a  chumail  'n  ar  cuimhne. 

III. — Ekii  agus  Farsuinneachd  na 
Dile. 

Tha  a'  chuid  is  mo  do  dhiadhairibh 
maille  ri  luchd-ealain  ag  aideachadh 
a  nis  nach  robh  an  Dile  a'  còmh- 
dachadh  aghaidh  na  talmhain  gu 
h-iomlan.  Tha  iad  ag  ràdh  nach 
robh  e  feu  mail  gu  'm  biodh  sgrios 
tuileil  's  am  bith  air  a  thoirt  air 
cearnaibh  anns  nach  robh  daoine  a 
chòmhnuidh.  Nach  robh  e  feumail 
mar  so  a  thaobh  run  Dhia  gu'm 
biodh  an  tuil  uile-fharsuinn,  A  ris 
ri  taobh  so  tha  e  soilleir  a  reir  a' 
chimntais  a  tha  againn  air  meud  na 
h-àirc  nach  b'  urrainn  dithis  do  gach 
creutair  beò  air  thalamh  a  bhi  air  an 
gabhail  a  steach  innte.  Tha  an 
àireamh  diubh  so  air  am  bheil  eòlas 
mionail teach  a  toirt  ciinntais  dhuiun 
a  nis  cho  mhòr,  agus  gach  latha  a' 
fas,  's  gu  'm  biodh  e  tur  mi-reusonta 
a  smuainteachadh  gu  'n  d'  fhuair 
iad  àite  's  an  aire.  Ach  chi  sinn 
nach  'eil  aobhar  àraidh  's  am  bith  a 
bhi  cumail  a  mach  gu  'm  feumadh 
iad  uile  a  bhi  innte.  'N  uair  a  sheallas 
sinn  ri   run    modhannail  no  crioch 


shònruichte  na  Dile,  gheibh  sinn,  a 
reir  mo  bheachd.sa  mineachadh 
riarachail  air  a'  chilis.  Tha  run 
Dhia  ann  a  bhi  toirt  sgrios  air  an  t- 
saoghal  leis  an  Dile  air  dheanamh 
gle  f  hoillsichte.  Chunnaic  Dia  iom- 
chuidh,  agus  feumail  d'a  righladh 
modhannail  air  daoinibh,  gu  'm  bu 
choir  peanas  a  dheanamh  air  an 
aingid  heaclid  uamhasaich  ud  a  thàinig 
an  lorg  a' chomhcheangail  mhi-naoimh 
agus  mhi-nàdurra  a  rinneadh  eadar 
sluagh  sònruichte  Dhefein  agus  a'mhu- 
inntir  a  bha  an  taobh  a  mach  do  chri- 
och  an  f  hior  chreidimh  agus  aoraidh. 
Ghabh  mic  Dhe  nigheana  dhaoine 
d'  an  ionnsuidh  an  aghaidh  a' 
chleachdaidh  agus  na  h-àithne.  Tha 
an  leithide  sud  do  chuingibh  mi- 
naomha  air  an  diteadh  o  thoiseach 
gu  deireadh  a'  Bhiobuill;  agus  gheibh 
sinn  gu  bheil  Dia  a'  fiosrachadh  air 
dòigh  ro  gheur  an  toraidh  uilc  a  thig 
'na  dheigh  sud.  Sgriosadh  bailtean 
a'  chùmhnaird  air  son  aingid  heachd 
a  bha  car  do  shamhuil  sud ;  agus  a 
ris  air  son  gu  'n  robh  iad  cho  fagus 
do  shluagh  sònruichte  Dhia  fein. 
Chi  sinn  mar  so  gur  h-ann  a  chron- 
achadh  aingidheachd  agus  a  bhacadh 
a  fcàis  a  tha  Dia  a'  tighinn  gu  h- 
uamhasach  aig  àmanna  àraidh  le 
dìoghaltas  air  peacadh ;  agus  mar 
an  ceudna  a  ghlanadh  oighreachd 
fein  agus  a'n  gleidheadh  cuimhneach- 
ail  air  an  crioch  nèamhaidh. 
Ann  a  bhi  a'  sealltuinn  air  run  Dhia 
anns  an  daimh  so  chi  sinn  nach  'eil  e, 
air  a'  chuid  is  lugha,  mi-reusonta  a 
bhi  ag  altrumas  a'  bheachd  nach 
ruigeadh  Dia  a  leas  gach  treubh 
air  thalamh  a  sgrios  a  dhion  no 
dh'  fhirineachadh  a  cheartais  no  a 
dheadhriaghlaidh  am  measgdhaoine. 
B'urrainn  e,  agus  rinn  e  gu  trie,  a 
chliù  agus  a  cheart  uachdranachd 
fhoillseachadh  agus  a  dhearbhadh 
le  làimh  a  bhreitheanais  a  leagadh 
air  cekirn  no  cuid  gun  na  h-uile  bhi 
air  ghabhail  a  steach  ann  an  sguib  a 


100 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


dhioghaltais.  A  thaobh  teaghlach 
a'  chùmhnaint  am  measg  am  feum  e 
ghnàtli  fianais  a  bhi  aige  dha  fèin, 
tha  e  soilleir  cionnus  a  bhiodh  e 
iomchuidh  agus  ceart  labliairt  air 
sgrios  na  dile  mar  bhreitheanas  a 
ghabh  gacli  beò  'na  luib, — aig  an 
robh  oia  h-uile  ach  Noah  a  mhàin 
agns  a  theaghlach  an  glaic.  Agus 
fo  bhuaidh  sgriosail  slat  an  diogh- 
altais  mar  an  ceudna  thigeadh  na 
treubhan  a  b'  fhaisge  do  shluagh  a' 
gheallaidh  ;  do  bhrigh  agus  gu'n 
robh  iad  'n  am  buaireadh  agus  'nan 
ceap-tuisHdh  dhoibh.  Dh'  fheudadh 
Maois  sealltuinn  agus  labhairt  air  te- 
aghlach a'  chumhnaint  mar  a'  teachd 
fo  sgrios  uile-fharsuinn  a'  gabhail  a 
steach  nan  uile.  Feudaidh  na  facail, 
"  an  saoghal  uile  "  a  bhi  air  an  tuig- 
sinn  ann  an  seadh  cumhann  mar  dh' 
fheumar  a  dheanamh  a  thaobh  cuid 
eile  do'n  Bhiobull, 

IV. — Codhunadh. 
Mhhieachadh  am  beachd  so  mu 
fharsuinneachd  na  dile  cionnus  a 
bha  mòran  slòigh  a  ràinig  air  àirde 
ealain  is  innleachd  ri  f  haotainn  anns 
an  Eiphit  cho  tràth  ri  am  Abrahaini. 
Dheanadh  e  mar  an  ceudna  ni  's  so- 
thuigsinn  cionnus  a  gheibhear  luchd- 
àiteachaidh,  cho  fhad  agus  a  tha 
eachdraidh  a'  dol,  ann  an  cearnaibh 
eug-samhuil  na  talmhain ;  mar  an 
ceudna  an  ni  iongantach  gu  'n  robh 
siol  nàistneach  do  dhaoinibh  anns 
gach  dùthaich  a  fhuaradh  a  mach 
riamh  fathast.  Bhiodh  e  ni  b'  usa 
ceud  àiteachadh  na  Eoinn-Eòrpa  a 
thuigsinii  a  reir  a'  bheachd  so  ; 
agus  mar  an  ceudna  an  t-àm 
tràth  aig  an  d'  fhcàg  na  Gàidheil 
an  àirde-'n-ear,  agus  a  thriall 
iad  troimh  chccàrnaibh  deas  na  h- 


Eòrpa,  anns  an  robh  iad  ùine  mhòr 
roimh  èiridh  na  Grèige  agus  na 
Eòimh.  Bhiodh  an  triall  no  an 
cuairt  troimh  'n  Ghreig  agus  troimh 
'n  Eadailt  aig  an  aon  am  anns  an 
robh  an  Eiphit  'n  a  sèis  ;  agus  anns 
an  robh  na  h-Iùdhaich  no  na  h- 
Eabhraich  a'  fas  'n  an  cinneach. 
Dheanadh  am  beachd  so  mar  an 
ceudna  ni  bu  choslaiche  cionnus, 
mar  tha  na  Greugaich  ag  innseadh 
dhuinn,  a  bhiodh  e  comasach  do 
Fheallsanach  Druidhneach  o  na  h- 
EileanaibhTuathach  so, — "the  hyper- 
borean philosopher,'' — dol  a  dh'  f  haic- 
inn  na  sgoil  fheallsannaich  's  a' 
Ghreig  air  an  robh  Pythagoras  'n  a 
cheann.  Bha  meas  mòr  aig  na 
Greugaich  theuma  air  an  eòlas  agus 
air  an  f  heallsanachd  a  nochd  Abaris 
a  bhi  aige.  Is  tha  e  gun  teagamh 
iongantach  cionnus  a  b'  urrainn 
fear  cho  fòghluimte  dol  as  na  h- 
Eileinibh  so  cho  tràth  ri  sè  ceud 
hliadhia  roimh  theachd  Chriosd ; 
agus  aon  seachd  ceud  bliadhna 
roimh  'n  am  anns  robh  Fionn  is 
Oisein  beò.  Ann  an  solus  nan  nithe 
so  mar  an  ceudna  tha  e  ni  's  usa  a 
chreidsinn  agus  a  thuigsinn  gu  de 
mar  a  bha  tiiir  dhion  nan  Gàidheal 
agus  an  clachaireachd  ag  amharc 
aosda  ri  linn  nan  Eòmanach.  Tha 
mi  a  nis  a'  f  àgail  na  cùis  so  agus  mo 
bharailean  fèin  mu  dèibhinn  aig 
feadhainn  eile  aig  am  bheil  theag- 
amh  fradharc  is  faide  agus  is  gèire. 
Ach  their  mi  fathast  gu  feud  e  an 
deigh  so  a  bhi  air  a  dhearbhadh 
air  bonn  firinn  nach  e  sgeulachd 
tur  gun  toinisg  a  bh'  ann  an 
uaill  Mhic-Neill  Bharra,  Nach  robh 
esan  an  eiseimeil  aire  Noah,  gu  'n 
do  sheachain  e  an  tuil  'n  a  dheadh 
Bhirlin  fèin  !  Seann  Eamh. 


Treas  Mios  an  Eai-raich,  1S76.  AN"    GAIDHEAL.  101 

AM  BAED  TINN  AGUS  AN  LEIGH. 

I.  Gearan  a'  bhaird. 

Tha  caisteal  mo  chlèibh  air  geilleadh  gu  bail  each, 

Tha  mo  chridhe  's  mo  sgamhan  'g  an  riasladh ; 

Tha  m'  inneadh  us  m'  àirnean  cho  Ian  dheth  mo  ghalair 

'S  nach  comas  gu  'n  aithris  mi  trian  dheth ; 

Gu  'n  do  lagaich  e  m'  inntinn  na  tha  'ghaoith  air  mo  stamaig, 

'S  cha  ghearan  ma  leanas  mo  chiall  rium  ; 

Tha  mo  chuislean,  's  tha  m'  fhèithean,  gun  speirid  gun  ghramas, 

'S  gach  ball  dhiom  a'  faireachdainn  phiantan. 

De  dhroch  eiridinn,  cruadal,  us  fuachd,  agus  allaban, 

Fhuair  mi  na  leagadh  ua  ciadan  ; 

'S  e  gach  dosgainn  us  ànrath  a  tharr  'n  a  mo  charamh 

A  dh'  f  hàilinnich  m'  f  hallaineachd  riamh  orm  ; 

Ged  a  bhithinn  ri  sgiiobhadh  bho  'n  linn  aig  mo  sheanair, 

Cha  'n  innsinn  mu  m'  anshocair  chianail — 

Bho  'n  is  lighiche  sibhse,  ma  tha  ni  a  ni  math  dhomh, 

Nach  toill  sibh  mo  bheannachd  le  'f  hiachainn  Ì 

I.  M'C. 

II.    FrEAGAIRT  an  LEIGH,  AN  COIS  NAN  CUNGIDH-LEIGHIS. 

Caraid  rùnach  mo  shòlais,  cliar  mòr  a'  cliridh'  f  harsuinn, 
Smior  an  t-seòid  nach  bu  sgabach  'n  a  f  hialachd, 
Bhi  'n  a  eiridneach  iòdaicht'  fodh  dhòruinn  a'  ghalair, 
'S  buileach  brùnach  ri  aithris  an  sgial  e ; 
'S  mor  am  bead  fear  do  nòis,  a  ni  òran  cho  math  riut, 
'Bhi  gun  chòmhnadh  'n  uair  'thachradh  tu  'n  iargainn, 
Ach  biodh  d'  earbsa  ri  fòir  fhad  's  'tha  deò  ann  a  d'  anail — 
Cha  'n  'eil  leòn  air  an  talamh  gun  iocshlaint. 

Ged  nach  taitneach  do  'n  t-siiil,  's  ged  nach  cubhraidh,  no  mills. 

An  gnè  chung  s'  'tha  gu  smior  'chur  'n  a  d'  eirbheirt, 

Ma  thig  slàint'  ort  'n  a  chùrs',  mar  'tha  dhil  ris  gu'n  tig  ort, 

Cha  chliis-dhiombaidh  dhut  miosad  a  sheirbhe ; 

Each-sa  'n  sàs  ann  mar  dhiùlnach,  's  fodh  d'  chùlaig  dean  sgil  air, 

Na  biodh  stùr  dheth  nach  ith  thu,  's  nach  meirbh  thu, 

Ged  'bhiodh  drein  ort  ri  'ghrùid,  's  bias  a  shliigh  a'  toirt  crith  ort, 

'S  ged  a  ruisgeadh  d'  eit-igheach  le  'ghairge. 

D.  E.  M. 


102 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


LAOIDHEAN    NA   GAIDHEAL- 
TACHD. 

Anns  an  da  àireimh  mu  dheir- 
eadh  do  'N  'Ghaidheal  bha  ar 
n-aire  air  a  tarruiiig  a  dh'  ionnsuidh 
na  puinnc  so  le  D.  M'K,  Ann  an 
deireadh  na  cend  roinn  tha  mi  'g 
aontachadh  le  a  bharail, — ^Nacli  'eil 
a  mhòr  chuid  de  laoidliean  na 
Gàidhealtaclid  a'  tighinn  suas  ann 
an  ceòl  binn  ri  mòran  de  na  Ii-òrain 
a  tha  air  an  seinn  anns  na  h-eilean- 
aibh.  Cha  'n  'eil  ach  fior  bheagan 
diubh  freagarrach  air  son  a  bhi  air 
an  seinn  ann  an  comh-clieangal  ri 
searmonachadh  an  t-soisgeil  mar  a 
tha  laoidhean  Shancai.  Na  'm 
biodh  neach  ann  us  ckias  mhath 
chiiiil  aige,  le  Spiorad  bàrdachd, 
agus  fo  cheannsal  Spiorad  na  firinn, 
is  mòr  am  maith  a  dh'  fhendadh  e 
a  dheanamh  d'  a  luchd-diithcha  le 
bhi  'g  ath-ghintinn  nan  òran  ud  gu 
laoidhean  spioradail.  Ged  a  tha 
sinn  dearbhte  gu  'm  bheil  an  linn 
ghlòrmhor  a'  teachd  'n  uair  a  theid 
as  do  na  h-òrain  sin  a  tha  a  mhàin 
a  rèir  na  h-inntinn  f  heòlmhoir,  cha 
'n  fheud  sinn  a  chodhunadh  nach 
'eil  feum  's  am  bith  anns  na  fuinn 
leis  am  bheil  iad  air  an  seinn  ach  a 
dhol  a  mugha  maille  rin.  Is  e  a 
tha  annta  ceòl  nadurra  nan  Gàidh- 
eal ;  a  f huair  càite  'n  an  cridhe  nach 
f  haigh  ceòl  eile ;  agus  a  tha  freag- 
arrach d'  an  canain  fèin ;  air  chor  's 
gu  'm  blieil  encoir  mhòr  air  a  dean- 
amh  orra  ann  a  bhi  ag  oidhearpach- 
adh  air  an  ceòl  fhògradh  as  an 
dùthaich.  Cha  'n  aithne  dhomh 
meadhon  is  freagarraiche  chum  an 
caomhnadh  do  Dhia  na  feum  a 
dheanamh  dhiubh  chum  na  criche 
sin.  Tha  e  dearbhte  gu  'n  robh 
Laoidhean  Lùtheir  air  an  seinn  le 
ceòl  nadurra  nan  Gearmailteach ; 
'nam  meadhon  ni  bu  mho  air 
obair  an  Ath-leasachaidh  a  chur  air 
aghaidh  na  a  chuid  sgriobhaidhean. 


Is  anabarrach  a'  bhuaidh  a  gheibh 
briathran  cudthromach,  air  an  cur 
ann  an  ranntachd  eireachdail,  agus 
air  an  seinn  le  ceòl  binn,  air  an  inn- 
tinn. 

Tha  D.  M'K.  cecàrr  a  thaobh  Mhic 
Griogair.  Cha  'n  e  Baisteach  a  bh' 
ann,  ged  a  bha  e  'na  òige  'nam  measg. 
B'  ann  de  na  Seceders  no  an  Secession 
a  bha  e  ;  a  thàinig  gu  bhi  air  an 
aonadh  ris  an  Belief,  agus  mar  sin 
'nan  United  Presbyterians.  Dh'  fhàg 
D.  M'K.  e  d'a  thaobh  a  chuid 
Laoidhean  air  dheireadh  air  a' 
chòignear  eile.  B'  aithne  dhomhsa 
an  Dùyhlach  gu  math  ;  agus  tha  mi 
dearbhte  n'an  abradh  neach  ris 
gu  'n  robh  a  Laoidhean  air  thoiseach 
air  Laoidhibh  a'  Ghriogaraich  gu  'm 
biodh  e  cinnteach  gu  'm  b'  ann  a' 
fior  mhagadh  air  a  bhiodh  e ;  agus 
tha  mi  dearbhte  gu  'n  robh  am  beachd 
ceudna  aig  Para  Grcànnd.  Is  e  mo 
bheachd  seasmhach  fein,  agus  bheir 
mi  seachad  i  gu  neo-sgathach,  a 
mach  o  Dhùghal  Bochannan  gu  'm 
bheil  e  air  thoiseach  air  an  iomlan ; 
agus  a  thaobh  leasmhorachd  agus 
soilleireachd  atheagasgan  fallain  gu'm 
bheil  e  air  thoiseach  air  Buchannan 
fein,  ged  nach  'eil  e  sin  ann  an  spiorad 
bàrdachd,  no  anns  a'  mliòrachd  leis 
an  do  sgeadaich  e  a  bheachdan.  Is 
gann  gu  bheil  teagasg  a  tha  feumail 
do  'n  chreidmheach  eòlas  fhaotainn 
air,  nach  'eil  'n  a  Laoidhibh.  0  an 
toiseach  gu  an  deireadh  tha  iad  ceang- 
ailte  ri  chèile  mar  tha  leabhar 
aithghearr  nan  Ceist.  Is  iomadh 
leabhar  a  leugh  mi  ach  cha  do  leugh 
mi  a  h-aon  riamh  a  mach  o'n  Bhiob- 
ull,  a  b'  fheumaile  do  m'  anam,  agus 
a  bu  mho  a  thug  cuideachadh  dhomh 
ann  an  searmonachadh  an  t-soisgeil 
na  e ;  agus  na  h-uile  dhaoine  tuig- 
seach  poncail  air  an  d'  f huair  mi 
eòlas,  agus  a  rannsaich  e  la  ciiram, 
bha  iad  a  dh'  aon  bheachd  rium  ; 
agus  tha  mi  dearbhte  nach  'eil  iad 
ach  tearc  a  f  huair  eòlas  cho  farsuinsr 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1S7 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


103 


air  beaclidan  dhaoine  eile  d'  an  taobh 
's  a  fhiiair  mi.  Tlia  mi  feòraich  do 
D.  M'K.,— "  D.  M'K.,  an  do  leugh 
thu  riamli  anu  am  Beurla,  no  an 
Gàilig,  firinnean  is  cuithromaiche 
agus  is  glòrmhoire,  agus  air  an  cur 
SÌOS  ann  an  ranntachd  ni  's  eir- 
eachdaile,  na  tba  ann  an  "  Coimh- 
clieangal  nan  Gràs?" 

Tha  laoidhean  Phàruig  milis  gun 
teagamh,  gu  sònruichte  air  an  seinn;  | 
ach  ann  a  bhi  'gan  leughadb  's  miuic 
a  thubhairt  mi  rium  fhèin,  "db' 
f  hàgainn  so  ni  b'  f  heàrr ; "  ach  cha 
d' thubhairt  mi  sin  ann  a  bhi  leughadh 
a'  Ghriogaraich.  Bha  eadar-dheal- 
achadh  mòr  eadar  an  suidheachadh 
anns  an  robh  an  Griogarach  agus  an 
Grànndach  air  an  cur.  Bha  Pàruig 
aig  a  dhachaidh  ;  agus  'na  thirfhein, 
's  'na  companach  dha  a  cheud  bhean 
a  bha  comharraichte  air  ceòl.  Ach 
bha  Seumas  an  tir  chein,  neo-chom- 
asach  air  eòlas  fhaotainn  air  òran- 
aibh  agus  ceòl  a  dhhthcha,  ach  trid 
am  bàird.  'S  e  sin  an  t-aobhar  air 
son  an  do  lean  e  Donnachadh  Ban 
cho  mòr.  Tha  e  coltach  ma  rinn 
Macgriogair  piobaireachd  nach  d' 
rinn  D.  M'K.  dannsa.  Cha  b'  ann 
mar  sin  a  bha  a  thaobh  Dhonnach- 
aidh  Dhùghlaich.  Bha  e  mach  'n  a 
aonar  aon  la  agus  gun  duine  'g  a 
fhaicinn,  agus  chuir  an  rann  a 
leanas  gu  dannsa  e  cho  sgairteil  's  a 
rinu  e  riamh  : — 

''  Xis  tha  mi  air  tir  le  cinnt  's  le  cothrom 
Ge  diblidh  dona  mi  f  hèin  ; 
Tha  m'  Urras  gun  dibreadh,  chi  mi  chobh- 
air, 
Gun  dith  mu  choinneamh  gach  feum." 

Tha  e  coltach  gu  'n  robh  e  air  a 
riaghladh  leis  an  aon  Spiorad  ri 
Daibhidh  'nuair  a  dhanns  e  fa  chomh- 
air  na  h-àirc;  agus  gu  bheil  gu 
leòir  ann,  n'am  faiceadh  iad  e,  a 
bhiodh  a  dh'  aon  inntiun  ri  Michel, 
nighean  Shanil.  Agus  0  is  mi  a 
ghàireadh  gu  cridheil, — cha  b'  ann 
gu  magail,  ach  gu  trèibhdhireach, — 


n'am  faicinn  D.  M'K.  le  aon  de 
òranaibh  a'  Ghriogaraich  air  a  chur 
gu  dannsa,  le  uile  chridhe,  leis  an 
àrd  aoibhneas  a  lion  anam  an 
Dùghlaich.  Tha  e  coltach  gu'm 
bheil  e  a'  meas  nach  coir  laoidh  'sam 
bith  a  chur  air  foun  dannsa.  Tha 
mi  dearbhte  gu'n  cuala  mi  mòran 
tuilleadh  de  laoidhibh  air  an,  seinn 
airsan,  agus  tha  mi  'toirt  fianuis 
nach  cuala  mi  riamh  laoidhean  a  bu 
drixighteiche  air  an  seinn  na  cuid 
diubh  sin.  Ma  's  e  agus  gu  bheil 
na  fuinn  sin  iomchuidh  chum  casan 
an  duine  entruim  amaidich  a  chur 
gu  leumnaich  's  gu  dannsa,  nach  'eil 
iad  a  chearta  cho  iomchuidh  chum 
anam  a  chreidmhich  a  chur  ann  au 
gleus  agus  ann  am  fonn?  De  an 
ceòl  a  chuireadh  anam  Gobhainn  na 
Hearadh  gu  dannsa  ? — 

"  'vS  m'  anam  a'  sior  dhannsa 
Neo-fhann  gun  airsneul." 

Cha  ghluaiseadh  Coleshill  no  Martyr- 
dom bhcàrr  na  catlirach  e. 

Tha  D.  M'K.  a'  faotainn  coire  do 
MhacGriogair  air  son  cuid  de  na  h- 
òrain  ghaoil  aig  Donnacha  Ban  a 
chur  'nan  laoidh.  Nach  do  rinn 
Solamh  feum  'na  dhàn  air  a'  ghaol 
a  tha  aig  fear  agus  òigh  d'a  cheile, 
mar  shamhlachas  air  a'  ghaol  a  tha 
eadar  Criosd  agus  a  cheile  an 
eaglais  1 

Nach  neònach  an  ni  a  bhi  'a 
samhlachadh  a'  Ghriogaraich  ri  ban- 
trach  a'  phiobaire  !  Co  ris  a  shamh- 
laicheas  mi  e  fein  ?  Tha  ris  a' 
chonnspaich  phuinnseanta.  Tha 
daoine  eile  a'  toirt  mil  as  na  laoidhibh 
mar  an  seilein ;  ach  tha  esan  a'  toirt 
puinnsein  asda.  C'àit  am  bheil  am 
puinnsean  ?  C'àit  ach  'n  a  inntinn 
lein. 

On  tha  D.  M'K.  'g  a  chur  fein 
suas  mar  bhreitheamh  air  Bàird 
agus  air  Laoidhibh  na  Gàidhealtachd 
bu  choir  da  fein  eiseimpleir  mhath 
a  chur  rompa ;  agus  toiseachadh  air 


104 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


na  fuiun  lurach  sin  a  thogail  a  tha 
am  measg  nan  Eileanach,  agus 
laoidhean  spioradail  a  chur  ri  chèile 
freagarrach  air  an  son.  Deanadh  e 
sin  agus  faiceamaid  obair  a  làimhe 
fèin ;  agus  ma  bhitheas  iad  eadhon 
cho  mliath  ri  laoidhean  a'  Ghriogar- 
aich  is  mise  a'  clieud  duine  a  bhiodh 
toileach  a  cliuidsan  fhaotainn.  Cha 
'n  aithne  dhomli  cò  e  ;  co-dhiti  a  tha 
e  sean  no  òg.  Ach  tha  mi  ann  an 
trom  amharus  gur  h-òganach  a  th' 
ann.  Ma  seadh  cha  bhi  e  cho 
deacair  a  lùbadh.  Feudaidh  e  bhi 
eòlach  air  a'  Ghàilig ;  ach  's  e  aon 
ni  a  tha  mi  dearbhte  as  gu  'm  biodh 
e  'na  bhuannachd  dha  cuid  d'  a 
bheachdaibh  a  chuiteachadh. 

Bha  an  Grànndach  airidh  airgach 
moladh  a  thug  D.  M'K.  dha.  Tha 
mi  creidsinn  nach  robh  eaglais  anns 
a'  Ghaidhealtachd  aig  an  robh  barr- 
adh  ann  an  spioradalachd,  ann  am 
blàths,  ann  an  aonachd,  agus  ann  an 
smior  na  diadhachd,  air  eaglais  Baile- 
nan-Grànndach,  'n  uair  a  bha  e  fèin 
air  a  ceann  agus  a  chuid  laoidhean 
air  an  seinn  'nam  measg.  Ach  phòs 
e  bean  Ghallda  'n  a  shean  aois.  Co 
nach  biodh  duilich  air  son  a  shuidh- 
eachaidh.  Oirglè  ghoirid  an  deigh  dha 
fèin  agus  d'a  dhuanagan  mills  a  bhi 
air  au  toirt  fo  chis  thàinig  a'  Ghcàilig 
fo  chis  mar  an  ceudna.  A  mhac  a 
bha  comasach  air  a  cumail  suas-  dh' 
f  hag  e  iad  's  chaidh  e  Dhùnèideann. 
Le  cion  tùir  nam  pcàrantan,  toileach 
air  a'  chlann  a  thogail  gu  fasanta, 
thog  an  òigridh  an  cinn  a'  deanamh 
tàir'  air  a'  Ghàilig.  Is  mise  tha 
dearbhte  gu  bheil  na  briathran  a 
leanas  freagarrach  do'n  eaglais  sin 
do  thaobh  an  ni  a  bha  i: — 
"  Ach  dh'  fhalbh  sud  uile  mar  bhruadar 
No  bristeadh  builgein  air  uachdar  nan 

tonn ;" 
Agus   gu   bheil    na    briathran    a 
leanas  freagarrach  air  an  ni  a  ta  i : — 

"  Cionnus  a  thàinig  smal  air  an  or  1 
A  chaochail  an  t-òr  ro  fhinealta  ? 

GiLLEASB.  Mac  Tain. 


OUAN     DO     IAIN     EUADH     MAC 
CAILEIN  AN  TRIATH  AOEACH. 

Le  NiALL  Mac  Ealaie,  Tuathanach  ann 
an  Diùra  anns  a'  bhliadhna  1694. 

Gur  h-e  sgeul  an  larl'  Aora  so 
B'  ait  leam  fhein  fhaotainn  ; 
'S  do  mhuinntir  gn  teagadh, 
'S  gun  am  mulad  'gan  taobhsinn  : 
O  !  ach  bhi  'g  èiridh  gu  greadhnach 
Mu  d'  shròin  ! 

B'  e  sud  larla  na  carraige, 
'Nuair  a  chaidh  e  thar  fairge, 
A  bha  gu  h-urranta  gailbheach, 
A  dhol  an  comhdhail  an  Fhrancaich, 
O  dh'  fhàg  e  mòran  d'a  champa 
Fo  leòn  ! 

Mile  failte  do  'n  ghaisgeach  ! 
An  uair  a  dh'  fhailnich  an  t-each  air 
Ghlac  an  t-àrmunn  a   chasan, — 
Spiorad  Gàidheil  gun  ghealtachd, 
E-inn  e  mòran  diubh  ghlacadh, 
0  's  thug  e  pùic  do  luchd  ad 
Agus  chleòc ! 

C'uim  nach  deanamaid  ùmhlachd  ? 
'S  gun  an  claidheamh  a  rùsgadh, 
Mòran  onoir  is  ciiram 
A  bhi  romhad  's  gach  dùthaich, 
A  nihic  an  rath  is  ard  cliù  air 
Ceann  slòigh  ! 

C  uim  nach  deanamaid  mire 
Air  son  gu  'n  d'  f  huair  sinn  ceann-cinnidh 
De  'n  fhuil  is  uailse  's  is  mire, 
A  sheasas  cruadail  gun  tioma — 
O  's  cha  'n  'eil  fòtas  fo  fhilleadh 
Do  chleòc  ! 

Mile  furan,  ceud  failte, 
Bu  choir  dhuinne  thoirt  dhàsan, 
'S  a  bhi  'g  Ò1  a  dheoch  slàinte, 
Aiseag  copain  foirm  ceàrnaich, 
Fuaim  fhinnibh  'n  uair  thairnnt'  iad, 
As  na  togsaidean  làna 
'S  bhi  cur  seachad  fion  Spàinnteach 
M'ar  bòrd  ! 

B'e  sud  a'  chuideachd  bha  riogbail 
Eadar  Dubhaird  an  fhiona 
Agus  Tairbeart  Chinn-Tire, 
A  bha  gun  chadal  na  h-oidhche, — 
O  m'an  d'  thugadh  iad  sgriob  d'ar 
Cuid  beò  ! 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  187C 


AX  GATDHEAL. 


105 


COMHEADH 

EADAR  MUEACHADH  BAN  AGUS 
COINXEACH  CIOBAIR. 

MuR. — "  An  e  so  Fear  a'  Glioir- 
tein  Fhraoich  Ì  Bu  bheag  mo  dhùil 
an  uair  a  dh'fhàg  mi  am  baile,  gu'm 
faicinn  thusa,  a  Choinnich,  air  an 
f  lieill  so.  Am  bheil  muilt  agad  r'a 
reiceadh  an  diugh,  no  crodli  r'a  che- 
annachadh,  no  dròbbairean  r'a  chòmh- 
lachadb,  no  Ccàirdean  r'a  cboinneach- 
adb,  no  ciod  a  tb'agad  r'a  radb  air 
do  sbon  fein,  a  Cbaraid  ? " 

Coin.- — •'  Feudaidh  mise  a  ràdh 
mar  a  tbubbairt  an  Sean-f bocal,  'Am 
fear  aig  nacb  'eil  gnotbucb  do'n 
bbaile  mbòr,  bbeir  e  gnotbucb  as.' 
Db'  f  bag  mise  an  Goirtean-Fraoicb 
aD  diugb  's  a  mbaduinn  gun  gbno- 
tbucb  àraidb,  agus  a  reir  cosbais 
fàgaidb  mi  an  fbeill  gun  gbnotbucb 
àraidb  a  tboirt  gu  cricb.  Bba 
greidbear,  no  riagblair  fearainn  a- 
dbitb  air  Sir  Seumas,  agus  cbuir  e 
rombamsa  teacbd  db'  iounsuidb  na 
feille,  gun  fbios  nacb  f baicinn  neacb 
eigin  freagarracb  air  a  slion ;  acb 
cba'n  fhaca,  uime  sin  tba  mo  tburas 
diombain." 

M. — "  Is  e  sin  a'  cbeart  gbnotbucb 
a  tbug  mise  an  so,  mar  an  ceudna, 
acb  tbacbair  mi  air  fear  a  mbuinntir 
Siorracbd  Eois,  a  ni,tba  mi'n  dòcbas, 
mo  gbnotbuicb." 

C. — "  Ciod  a  db'eiricb  do  Uilleam 
j\Iac  Aongbais  Mbic  Sbèumais  a  bba 
agad  CO  fada  1 " 

M. —  "  Gbabb  e  'n  a  cbeann  dol  do 
dli-AustraHa,  far  am  bbeil  piutbar 
aige  pòsda,  agus  riamb  o'n  smuainicb 
e  air  sin,  cba  robb  suim  aige  do'n 
obair,  oir  is  minic  a  cbual  tbu,  '  Fear 
's  a  bbaile,  ns  aire  as,  is  fearr  as  no 
ann  e.'  Mar  sin  db'  eiricb  do  Uill- 
eam ]\Iac  Aongbais,  acb  tba  eagal 
orm  gu'n  gabb  e  aitbreacbas,  oir 
bitbidb  (line  gu  leoir  aige  cbum  sin 
a  dbeanamb  mu'n  ruis  e  taobb  eile 


an  t-saogbail.  Cba'n  'eil  Australia 
mar  a  bba  e,  oir  cba'n  fbaigbear  a 
nis  an  t-or  air  na  clacbaibb,  ni's  mo 
na  gbeibbear  's  a'  Gbaidbealtacbd  ; 
acb,  mar  a  cbual  tbu,  tba  '  adbairc- 
ean  mòr  air  a'  cbrodb  a  ta  fad  as., 
I  Acb  tbig-sa  maille  riumsa  an  nocbd, 
I  a  Cboinnicb,  agus  cuiridb  sinn  gno- 
tbuicbean  an  t-saogbail  an  òrdugb." 
C. — "  Tba  eagal  orm,  a  Mburacb- 
aidb,  gu'n  saoil  Seonaid  gu'n  do 
tbuit  mi  ann  an  sloe,  no  gu'n  do 
ruitb  mi  air  falbli  le  caillicb  eile, 
mur  ruig  mi  an  Goirtean-Fraoicb 
an  nocbd,  do  bbrigb  nacb  do  cbuir 
mi  teagamb  'n  am  dbol  dbacbaidb." 
M. — "  Cba'n  eagal  do  Sbeònaid, 
oir  cba'n  'eil  cunnart  sam  bitb  gu'n 
tuit  tbu  ann  an  sloe,  ni  mo  tlia  diiil 
idir  agam  gu'n  ruitb  tbu  air  falbb  le 
caillicb  eile,  oir  'is  fearr  an  t-olc 
eolacb,  na'n  t-olc  aineolacb.'  Acb 
so  agad  mar  a  nitbear,  cbum  gacli 
sligbe  a  dbeanamb  rèidb,  agus  gacli 
neacb  fbàgail  aig  fois.  Cbunnaic 
mi  do  cboimbearsnacb  Callum  Mac 
Alasdair  Mbic  Fbearcbair  air  an 
fbeill.  Xi  mi  greim  air,  agus  cuiridb 
mi  bratli  leis  db'ionnsuidh  Seonaid, 
gu'm  faic  deireadb  na  b-atb  sbeacbd 
ain  tbu  aig  a'  bbaile.  Eiream  aid- 
ma  ta,  agus  tbugamaid  dbacbaidb 
oirnn." 

C. — "  Cba'n  'eil  maitb  a  bbi  'cur 
'n  ad  agbaidb,  a  Mburacbaidb,  oir 
socraicbidb  tu  gacb  ni  air  do  dbòigb 
I  fein.  Feucb,  ma  ta,  am  faic  tbu 
[  Callum  Mac  Alasdair.  Cba'n  'eil  e 
fad  as,  oir  gbeibbear  e  am  measg  na 
!  drutbaig  ann  am  biitb  air  cboreigin. 
Cba  mbisg  le  Callum  bocbd  an  da 
sbiiil  a  f  bliucbadb  mu'm  fag  e  làracb 
;  na  feille,  acb  an  deigb  sin  is  creutair 
laogbacb  e,  agus  gun  locbd  do  neacb 
eile.  Acb  tba  eagal  orm  nacb  bi 
Seonaid  socaireacb  ma  db'  fbanas 
mi." 

M. — "  Socraicb  tbusa  tbu  fein,  a 
Cboinnicb,  agus  gabb  cuisean  an 
t-saogbail  ni's  eutruime  na  bba  tbu 


106 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


a'  deanamh,  oir  cha'n  'eil  gliocas, 
no  buannachd,  no  beannachd,  ann  a 
bhi  'g  ad  chlaoidh  fein  a  la  agus  a 
dh'  oidhiche  le  nithibh  saoghalta; 
oir  cha'n  f had  gus  am  fag  sinn  'n  ar 
dèigh  e,  maille  ris  gach  diomhanas  a 
bhuineas  da.  Uime  sin,  is  amaid- 
each  an  duine  sin  a  ta  'toirt  a 
chridhe  dha,  agus  a  ta  'suidheachadh 
'inntinn  feiu  air  mhodhanacuimseach 
air.  Cha'n  'eil  teagamh  nach  fèum 
neach  a  bhi  dian,  dichiollach,  dean- 
adach,  ann  a  bhi'  deanamh  solair  air 
son  a  theaghlaich  fein,  oir  is  mios'  e 
na  ana-creideach  nach  dean  sin.  Ach 
air  an  làimh  eile,  a  Choinnich,  tha 
riaghailt,  cuimse,  agus  measarrachd, 
anus  gach  dleasnas  fo'n  ghrèin.  Tha 
iad  sin  air  an  sonrachadh  leis-san, 
a  tha  gu  neochriochnuichte  glic,  agus 
leis-san  biomaid  air  ar  stiiiireadh  'n 
ar  dleasnasaibh  aimsireil  agus  spior- 
adail,  agus  bithidh  ar  crioch  dheir- 
eannach  ann  an  sith." 

C. — "  Tha  mi  ag  aontachadh  leis 
gach  lide  a  labhair  thu,  a  Mhurach- 
aidh,  agus  bu  mhaith  dhuinn  uile  na 
nithe  sin  a  ghabhail  a  steach  air 
rahodh  ni's  curaraaich  na  tha  moran 
a'  deanamh.  An  uair  a  bha'n  teagh- 
lach  agam  og  agus  diblidh,  cha'n  'eil 
teagamh  nach  robh  mi  'g  am  chlaoidh 
fein  tuilleadh's  searbh,  o  mhoch  gu 
dubh,  air  son  an  leas ;  ach  a  nis,  air 
doibh  a  bhi  air  fas  suas,  feumaidh 
iad  amharc  air  an  son  fein,  agus 
ceadachadh  d'an  athair  fein  beagan 
fois  agus  suaibhneis  a  shealbhach- 
adh." 

M. — "  Gle  cheart,  a  Choinnich, 
tha  mise  mar  an  ceudna,  a'  cur  romh- 
ani  a'  cheart  ni  sin  a  dheanamh  ; 
oir,  mar  a  thubhairt  duine  àraidh 
roimh  so ; 

"  Cuim'  am  bithinn  mar  Chroman-lin, 
A'  tional  loin  o  bharr  gach  dris  ? 
Carson  nach  caithinn-sa  an  saoghal, 
O'n  chaitheas  an  saoghal  mis'  ?  " 

"  Sin   agad,   ma    ta,   rliintean    mo 


chridhe,  a  charaid  mo  ghràidh,  agus 
is  ann  chum  na  criche  sin  a  shòn- 
raich  mi  greim  f  haotuinn  air  riagh- 
lair  thairis  air  a'  bhaile,  aig  am  bheil 
ceann  ni's  fearr  na  bha  aig  Uilleam 
Mac  Aonghais  mhic  Shèumais.  Cha 
b'urrainn  mi  moran  earbsadh  ri 
Uilleam  bochd,  oir  cha  robh  ann  mu 
dheireadh  ach  creutair  seochlanach 
gun  mhoran  maith  no  cron.  Cha 
robh  suilean  aige  chum  cùisean  f  haic- 
inn  mar  a  bha  iad  ;  cha  robh  tuigse 
aige  chum  am  mearachd  a  ghlacadh 
's  an  dels ;  agus  cha  robh  amhuras 
'n  a  chridhe  gu'n  robh  e  'n  a  ni  comus- 
ach  an  t-olc'a  dheanamh." 

C. — "  Tha  mi  an  dòehas  gu'n 
riai'aich  am  fear  ùr  so  gu  maith  thu, 
a  Mhurachaidh,  oir  tha  sonas  an 
teaghlaich  gu  mòr  an  ciochadh  ri 
dillseachd  nan  seirbhiseach," 

M. — "  Tha  deagh  chliu  dheth  co 
dhiubh,  agus  tha  aon  bhuaidh  air 
gu'n  ciini  e  iadsan  mu'n  cuairt  da 
suilbhear,  critheil,  oir  is  deagh 
phiobair  e,  agus  tha  e  taghta  air  na 
h-oranaibh,  agus  'n  an  aite  fein  cha'n 
'eil  lochd  sam  bith  anns  na  buaidhibh 
sin." 

C. — "Cha  bu  mhiste  leam  fhaicinn, 
oir  tha  eolas  agam  air  moran  de  na 
tuathanaich  air  taobh  an  iarr  Rois, 
mar  a  ta  Loch-Aillse,  Loch-Dubhaich, 
Loch-Carrain,  Ceann-Taile,  agus  na 
ciiochan  mu'n  cuairt." 

M. — "Chith  thu  e  gun  dcàil,  is 
Mathonach  e,  agus  tha  a  chridhe 
anns  na  criochaibh  sin  a  bhuineadh 
o  shean  do  na  Mathonaich,  agus  a 
bhuineas,  ann  an  cuid  dhoibh  fathast. 
Tha  e  ann  so  a'  tighinn,  agus  tha  e 
gle  ealanta  's  a'  Ghaelig.  Is  duine 
ciallach,  tuigseach  e,  agus  ro  dheas- 
bhriathrach  a  thaobh  eachdi^aidh 
nam  Mathonach.  Chuir  e  an  ceill 
gu'n  robh  Mac  Mhathoin  ann  roimh 
so,  a  bha  'n  a  Phrionnsa  Orieil,  agus 
air  ceann  aon  mhile  deug  fear,  chuir 
e  an  ruaig  air  lonraic  De  Courcei,  a 
bha  'n  a  cheannard  air  armailt  nan 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


107 


Anglo-Normaas.  Thachair  so,  ma's 
fior  an  sgeul,  air  còmhnardaibh 
Fearnaig  's  a'  bhliadhna  1171.  Cha 
d'  rinn  aon  de  Chinn-fheadhna  nam 
Mathonacli  sith  mar  iochdarain  ri 
righribh  Shasuinn  gu  linn  Banrigh- 
inn  Ealasaid,  a  chair  luchd-brcàth- 
aidh  d'an  dùthaich,  agus  a  thug 
sgrios  air  na  h-oighreachdan  aca  le 
teine  is  claidheamh.  An  dèigh 
mòran  mineachaidh  a  thpirt  air  gach 
geur-leanmhiiinn  a  rinneadh  air  an 
fhineadh  aige,  sheinn  e  òran,  agus 
glaodhaidh  mi  air  gus  an  seiun  e 
dhuit  feiii  e,  a  Choinnich.  Thig-sa  am 
fagus,  a  Mliatlionaich,  agus  cluinn- 
eamaid  fuaim  do  ribheid." 

1. 

Mo  shoiridh  air  chuan  uam, 
Gu  ruig  na  mna  uasail, 
Chuir  thugam  mo  shiiaich'ueas 
Air  fhuaidlieal  le  snath. 


LUINNEAG. 

Gu'm  Li  mi  'siuljlial  a  null  thar  sail, 
Gu'm  bi  mi  siublial,  's  cha'n  fhaicear  mi 

dubhach, 
Ach  ruigidh  mi  subhach,  Loch-Dubhaich 

Chinn-Tàil, 
Gu'm  bi  mi  'siubhal  a  mill  thar  sail. 


Air  fhuaidheal  gu  riomhach, 
Le  h-olainn  's  le  sioda, 
Tha  h-obair  ag  innseadh, 
Gur  finealt'  a  làmh. 


Bean  cheanalta,  shuairce, 
Do  chinneadh  nan  uaislean, 
Clann  Ghriogair  o  Euadh  tfhruth, 
Thug  buaidh  auns  na  blàir. 


Gfed  rinn  iad  Gleann  Liobhainn, 
A  chall  le  luchd  mi-rù.in, 
Tha  'n  cinneach  a'  direadh 
'S  an  rioghachd  an  tràths'. 


N  a'm  bithinn  am  phòitear, 
Gu'n  rachainn  gu  deònach, 
A  shtiidh  's  an  tigh-òsda, 
A  dh'  òl  an  deoch-slàint'. 


6. 
Cha  leth-bhodach  spiocach, 
A  b'  kill  learn  'bhi  'g  iarraidh, 
Ach  buideal  l;in  fiona 
'tì  a  dhioladh  air  clkr. 

7. 
Ged  chaill  sinn  an  tire, 
Thug  Ailpean  an  righ  dhuinn, 
Tha  slios  Inner-Ionaid, 
Fo  chis  aig  mo  dhàimh. 


Tha'n  Aird  agus  Aoineig 
Aig  fear  de  mo  dhaoine, 
'S  Loch-Dubhaich  nan  aonach, 
Gach  taobh  dheth  'na  làimh. 


Tha'n  tir  a  thug  DomhiiuU 
Mac-Mliathoin  le  gòraich. 
Do  dh  Fhearachair  Mac  Bheòlain, 
Le  CÒÙ-  aig  an  tràths'. 

10. 
Ged  chaill  sinn  le  millteir, 
An  th-  bh'  aig  mo  shinnsear, 
Tha  solas  air  m'  inntinn, 
Gur  leinn  TuUach-Ard. 

11. 
'N  uair  a  thi>g  sinn  do  Chailein, 
Ceann-Taile  le  Malaidh, 
Bhris  Padruig  a  ghealladh, 
'G  ar  meaUadh  gach  trath. 

12. 
Gur  beag  a  bha  'bhuaidh  ann, 
Do'n  dream  a  thug  uainn  e  ; 
'S  ged  nochd  iad  dhuinn  fuath 
Gu'm  bi  'n  tuarasdal  paight'. 

13. 

Ged  mheall  iad  le  foill 
O  Mhac-Mhathoin  an  oighreachd, 
Gu'n  d'  fhuair  sinn  'nis  greim  oirr' 
'S  neoh'-thainge  do'n  ghràisg. 

14. 
Tha  Leòbhas  na  fairge, 
A  comhnard  's  a  garbhlach, 
Aig  Mathonach  calma, 
'S  gash  cearb  dhi  'n  a  làimh. 

15. 
'S  na  fhuair  sinn  o  Ailpean 
Gu'm  faigh  sinn  air  ais  e, 
Is  pillidh  mi  dhachaidh 
Le  h-àiteas  do'n  Aird. 


108 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1S76 


16. 
'S  gu'n  innis  mi  sgeul  duibh, 
An  Gaelig  no  'm  Beuiia, 
Mu  thimchioll  nan  treun-fhear 
Chuir  Eirinn  fo  chain. 

17. 
CLuir  lonraic  De  Courcei 
A  losgadh  na  dùthcha, 
Ach  dh'  eirich  na  diulnaich 
Is  sgrios  iad  a'  ghràisg  ! 

18. 
'N  uair  a  dh'  èirich  Mac-Mhathoin 
Air  deas  làimh  a'  chearna, 
Chaidh  dubh-Grhoill  a  chrathadh, 
Le  flath  Imiis-Eail ! 

19. 
Cha  deanadh  iad  striochdadh, 
Fad  cheithir  ch<^ud  bliadhna, 
Do  dh-Ionraic  na  dh-Iabhair, 
Bha  riamh  air  an  ait. 

20. 
'N  uair  chaidh  iad  an  òrdugh, 
Am  Fearnaig  le'n  comhlann  ; 
Bha  Sasunnaicli  brònach 
'S  chaidh  mòran  diubh  bàe  ! 

21. 
Ach  bithidh  mi  'cò-dj^ùnadh, 
Nan  rann  so  le  dùrachd, 
Mo  Bhancharaid  chliuteaeh 
Bhi  sùgach  gu  brath  ! 

Ldinneag, 
Gu'm  bi  mi  'siubhal  a  niiU  thar  sail, 
Gu'm  bi  mi  'siubhal,  's  cha'n  fhaicear  mi 

dubhach, 
Ach  ruigidh  mi  subhach  Loch  Ihibhaich 

Chinn-Tiiil, 
Gu'm  bi  mi  'siubhal  a  null  thar  sail. 

C. — "  Is  gleùsda  a  rinn  thu,  a 
Mhathonaicli,  is  maith  do  chàil,  agus 
is  glan  do  gliuth.  Tha  solas  ort 
gu'm  bheil  Leòbhas,  Loch-Aillse, 
agus  ionadan  eile  's  na  cearnaidh  sin 
a  ris  fo  chumliaclid  nam  Mathonach. 
Bi  dileas  do  d'  mliaighstir,  agus  gu 
robli  buaidh  leat." 

M. — "  Tiugainn  a  nis,  a  Choin- 
nicli,  dh'  fhèuchainn  am  faigli  siiin 
greim  suipeir  mu'n  d'tlièid  sinn  m'a 
thàmh.     Tha  bean-an-tighe  ag  èigh- 


each  oirnn,  ach  bithidh  tuilleadli 
còmhraidh  againn  m'a  chaomhnar 
sinn  gu  la  eile." 

Alasdair  Kuadh. 


FEIN-OILEAK 

OILEAN  NA  H-INNTINN. 

Anns  na  linntean  so  againne  tha  a'  chuid 
is  mo  d'  ar  n-eòlas  a'  sruthadh  bho  Leabh- 
EAICHEAN.  Gun  teagamh  sa  bith  tha  leabh- 
raichean  ro  fh^umail  chum  ar  cuideachadh 
gu  ruigsinn  air  eòlas,  agus  ann  an  tomhas 
mòr  gus  gach  ealain  agus  fòghlum  tarbhach 
a  chiir  an  cleachdamh,  ach  cha  'n  iad  air 
alt  sa  bith  priomh  thobraicheau  no  tobr- 
aichean  nàdurra  ar  n-oilein,  agus,  a  reir 
mo  beachdsa,  tha  an  èifeachd  ealamh  gu 
bhi  air  a  meas  mo  's  a'  choir,  eadhon  anns 
na  mèuraibh  eòlais  sin  anns  an  saoilteadh 
nach  biodh  e  comasach  dèanamh  as  an 
èugmhais.  Cha  bhuin  daibh  cumhachdan 
cruthachaidh  ann  an  seadh  sa  bitli  ;  cha  'n 
'eil  annta  ach  cuideachaidhean,  innealan, 
buill-acfhuinn  ;  agus  eadhon  mar  bhuill- 
acfhuinn  cha  'n  'eil  annta  ach  buill 
dhèanta,  air  an  cur  riuthasan  a  bhuilich 
roimh-òrduchadh  glic  a'  Chruithfhir  oirnn  ; 
tha  iad  mar  na  gloineachan-fad-sheallach 
agus  na  gloineachan  mèudachaidh  a  tha 
chum  mòr  chuideachaidh  ann  an  cùrsa  ar 
rannsachaidh  le  bhi  a'  foillseachadh  iong- 
antasan  do-bhreathnaichte,  ach  nach  bu 
choir  air  chor  sa  bith  ar  mealladh  gu  bhi 
a'  cur  ar  sùilean  fein  ann  an  neo-shuim  no 
a'  dearmad  a  bhi  'g  an  cleachdainn.  Cha 
'n  iad  leabhraichean  priomh  thobraichean 
no  tobraichean  araidh  ar  n-eòlais,  ach 
beatha,  cleachdamh,  beachdachadh,  fair- 
eachdainn,  agus  gniomh.  An  uair  a 
ghabhas  duine  a  mach  leotha  sin  faodaidh 
leabhraichean  iomadh  bealach  a  lionadh 
suas,  mòran  a  tha  gann  a  chur  am  farsaing- 
eachd  ;  ach  as  eugmhais  cleachdaimh  beò 
mar  bhlar-oibre  cha  'n  'eil  leabhraichean 
ach  mar  dhearrsadh  greine  agus  mar  fhrasan 
uisge  a'  tuiteam  air  talamb  cruaidh,  glas, 
anns  nach  deachaidh  crann.* 


*  Chaidh  na  briathran  so  'eadar-theang- 
achadh  a  Leabhran  beag  Beurla  a  chaidh  a 
chur  a  mach  o  chionn  ghoirid  leis  an  uasal 
shar-fhoghluimte,  Professor  Blackie,  agus 
ghabhamaid  an  cothrom  so  air  an  leabhar  a 
mholadh  do  gach  aon  is  urrainn  ruigsinn 
air.  Is  e  ainm  an  leabhair  anns  a'  Bheurla 
"  Self -culture." 


Treas  ilios  an  Earraich,  1876 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


109 


AX  GAEXEALAIR  GALLDA  DO'X 
MHAIGHDIXN  GHAIDHEALAICH. 

Kinneadh  an  t-òran  so  mu  fhear  Gallda  a 
thuit  an  gaol  air  Ban-Ghaidheal  :  cha  robh 
Beurla  aicese,  's  cha  robh  Gàilig  aigesan. 

!Mo  ghaol  a'  mhaighdeann 
'Dh'  f  has  cridheil  aoibheil, 
Air  an  do  bhruadair  mi 

'X  raoir  am'  shuain  ; 
'Xuair  rinn  mi  dùsgadh, 
B'e  fath  mo  thilrsa 
Thu  bhi  'n  Ceann-Tùra 

Cho  fada  bhuam. 

Is  anns  an  Eilean 
A'  buain  nan  dearcan 
A  ghabh  mi  ceist  dhiot 

Is  mòran  gràidh ; 
Do  chòmhradh  falaich 
A  rinn  mo  mhealladh 
'S  tha  mise  cheana 

Leis  air  mo  chradh. 

D'  aghaidh  shiobhalta 
Bhòidheach,  mhàlda, 
Mar  ròs  an  gàradh 

Do  dhà  ghruaidh  ; 
Do  chùl  donn  sniomhain 
Mar  sheudan  f  iodh'lach 
'"S  e  ann  an  stim  air 

A  chumail  suas. 

Tha  do  phògan 
]Mar  na  h-fibhlan ; 
D'  anail  chiibhraidh 

]Mar  shugh-craobh ; 
Do  chneas  mar  eala, 
Do  chrios  mar  chanach, — 
Da  shùil  ghorm  mhealach 
Eo  mhala  chaoil. 

An  uair  a  ruigeas  mi 
Tigh-a'-bhealaich, 
'S  a  chi  mi  Anna 

'S  i  nuas  o'n  aich  ; 
Their  mo  chridhe  rium 
Tha  i  tighinn, 
'S  i  sud  an  nighean 

Da'n  d'  thug  mi  grkdh. 

'S  truagh  nach  robh  mi 

Is  mo  leannan 

An  gleannan  falaich, 

'S  sinn  fad  o  chach  ; 
Xo'n  Gleann-a"-Leòra, 
Is  badan  ceo  ann 
'S  gu'n  deanainn  comhradh  riut 

Anns  an  fhraoch. 


Ma  tha  fear  eile, 
Am  bun  do  sgèithe 
A  tha  ga  d'  theumadh 

'S  ga  d'  mheaUadh  bhuam  ; 
'S  ma  thug  thu  gaol  da 
Gu  mise  thaobhsinn 
Gur  h-e  am  faochadh 

A  gheibh  mi'n  uaigh. 

DoxxACHADH  Mac  Uilceix. 


BEACHD  NAN  HINDUACH  AIR 
DIA,  AIR  A'  CHRUTHACH- 
ADH  AGUS  AIR  A'  CHRUIXN- 
E-CHE. 

Anns  a'  chunntas  blieag  a  lean  as 
tha  iomradh.  a  reir  aon  bhuidheann 
am  measg  nan  Hindùacb,  air  na 
f  irinnibb  freumbail  air  am  bbeil  an 
creideamh  aca  air  a  bbonntachadb. 
Cba'n  'eil  fbios  nacb  robh  beachdan 
am  measg  nan  seann  Ghaidbeal  nacb 
robh  mòran  ni  b'  f  heàrr. 

Tharruing  Bràm  a  mach  as  fein 
triùir  dhèe  eile — Bràmà — Bhishna 
— agus  Shibha.  'S  iad  so  Trianaid 
aidmbeil  nan  Innsean  :  'N  a  dheigh 
sud  thug  Bràrn  a  mach  ugh  mòr  ! 
Do  bhroinn  an  uighe  ud  chuir  e  siol 
gach  ni  cruthaichte — bha  na  saogh- 
ail  's  an  ugh  ann  am  pòr — agus 
maille  riutha  chaidh  Bràmà — ceud 
phearsa  na  Trianaid. 

Dh'  fhan  Bràmà  'san  ugh  fad 
ceithir  mile  agus  tri  cheud  muillion 
de  bhliadhnachaibh. 

B'  obair  dha  re  na  h-iiine  ud,  a 
bhi  'cur  beatlia  agus  cinneis  anns 
gach  gnè  phòir  a  \A\'  anns  an  ugh, 
gus  an  d'  thainig  gach  ni  gu  fhiur 
chumadh. 

Fad  nam  muillionan  bliadhn'  ud 
bha  an  t-ugh  a'  snàmh  mar  bhuilgean 
air  aghaidh  nan  uisgeachan  siorruidh 
— a'  sior  f has  ann  am  meud — agus 
a'  dearg-lasadh  le  lainnireachd  mile 
cuairt  ni's  dealraiche  na  ghrian  ann 
a  làu  neart ! !  ! 

Fadheòidh  sgealb  an  t-ugh,  agus 
thainig  Bràmàamachà'phrìosan  air 


110 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


uiglieamacbadh  le  mile  ceann,  mile 
sùil,  agus  luile  làmh  ! 

Cha  b'  iongantas  idir  e  bhi  laidir, 
geur-sbeallach  agus  glic. 

As  an  ugh  tbàinig  a  mach  mar  an 
ceudnaniiongantacb — dealbbnuadh, 
nacb  facas  riamb,  roimbe.  Ciod 
so  ]  An  cruinne-cè-glòrmbor  agus 
iongantacb — an  cruinne-cè  ullamb 
agus  uidbimicbte  mar  a  nis,  le  a 
shaogbail,  a  gbrèin,  a  gbealaicb, 
agus  a  reultan. 

Tbeir  luchd  mineacbaidb  na 
beacbd  so  gur  e  Bram  fèin  an 
cruinne-cè  :  Bràm,  cba'n  e  Bràmà. 

'S  iad  na  luibbean,  agus  craobba 
na  fritbe,  maille  ri  neòil  nan  speur, 
folt  a  cbinn  ;  's  iad  na  dealanaicb 
fuilteine  f  beusaig ;  's  e  an  t-àile  an- 
ailsan — agus  'sea  gbutb  na  tairn- 
eanaicb. 

'S  iad  a'  gbrian  agus  a'  gbealacb  a 
sbùilean — na  b-àimbnicbean  a  chuis- 
lean — na  creagan  ionganna — agus 
cnàmban  a  cbuirp  na  beannta 
mora  Ì 

Tbàinig  ceitbir  saogbail  dbeug  a 
macb  as  an  ugb  ;  bba  seacbd  dbiubb 
maitb  agus  sè  uile  olc  ;  acb  anns  an 
aon  eile  bba  olc  agus  maitb  measg- 
aicbte — 's  e  so  am  fear  's  am  beil 
againne  ar  còmbnuidb.  Tba  sea 
dbiubb  OS  ar  ceann,  agus  seacbd 
fodbaian.  Anns  an  t-seacbd  iocb- 
dracb  tba  cbòmbnuidb  aig  gach 
creutair  olc  agus  graineil :  agus  anns 
an  t-sè  a  's  àirde  na  sinne  tba  ionada- 
còmbuuidb  nan  dee. 

EOSACH, 


CARN-NA-CUIMHNE. 

CARN-NA-CUIMHNE  AND  LONACH — DEE-SIDE 
AND  DON-SIDE  HIGHLANDERS,  VIZ.,  THE 
FaRQUHAESONS  and  THE  FoRBESES. 

"  Thb  following  old  song,  with  translation,* 
was  lately  discovered  by  an  enthusiast  in 


*  The  translation   will  be  found  in  our 
English  de^sartment. 


such  matters  among  a  collection  of  old 
Gaelic  manuscripts,  in  the  possession  of  a 
gentleman  of  the  clan  Gregor,  resident  at 
Aberfeldy,  in  the  Highlands  of  Perthshire. 
The  manuscripts  are  mostly  all  in  the 
hand-writing  of  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Mac- 
gregor,  sometime  minister  at  Glengairn,  in 
the  district  of  Mar,  and  afterwards  at 
Kilmuir,  Isle  of  Skye.  In  its  original  state 
the  song  must  be  considered  much  older  in 
date  than  the  time  of  Macgregor,  but  we 
are  not  sure  that  the  composition  may  not 
have  gained  considerably  in  merit  at  the 
hands  of  the  clever  and  enthusiastic  parson 
whose  writings  betray  great  poetical  taste 
and  talent.  Then  the  translation  is  marked 
as  having  been  done  by  the  accomplished 
Ewan  INIaclauchlan,  rector  of  the  Grammar 
School,  Old  Aberdeen,  in  honour  of  whose 
talents  a  monument  was  in  after  years 
erected  in  his  native  Lochaber.  There  are 
critical  notes  appended  to  the  translation 
by  both  the  author  and  Mr.  IVfacgregor. 
Let  it  not  be  supposed  that  we  awaken  this 
ancient  lyre  for  the  purpose  of  casting  a 
slur  upon  the  character  of  the  hardy  High- 
landers of  the  Don,  past  or  present.  Far 
from  it  ;  and  we  are  certain  that  they  them- 
selves will  be  only  highly  amused  at  con- 
trasting the  sentiments  expressed  in  the 
song  with  the  friendly  and  fraternal  inter- 
course which  now  so  regularly  subsist  be- 
tween them  and  the  Highlanders  of  Brae- 
mar.  It  may  be  mentioned  that  '  Lonag  ' 
or  '  Lonach,'  is  the  slogan  or  war-cry  of  the 
Highlanders  of  Strathdon,  and  '  Carn-na- 
Cuimhne,'  that  of  the  men  of  Strathdee  or 
Braemar. " — Inverness  Courier. 

'S  iad  fir  Bhraigh-Mhar  fir  mo  chridhe 
Choisneadh  b'laidh  air  faich'  's  air  slighe 
Cumaidh  Carn-na-Cuimhn'  a  dhlighe 

Olc  air  mhath  le  Lonag 
Soraidh  nam  o  chlar  mo  chridhe 
Chum  nan  seoid  a  dheanadh  sithionn 
Cha  bhuin  daibh  fir  na  fuaraig'  uidhir 

'G  a  hitheadh  'n  ait  na  feola 

0  's  iad  mo  rhn  na  treun  ghaisgich, 

Le  'n  cuUbheiribh  nach  diultadh  lasadh  ; 

'N  am  dusgadh  dhoibh  nan  lanan  glasa 

Bhiodh  full  air  bratuich  Lonaig 
A'  bhuidheann  ghasta,  chuachach,  thlachd- 

mhor, 
'N  am  tarruiuT  suas  doibh  air  an  fhaiche, 
Bhiodh  an  ruaig  air  luchd  nan  casag 

Sios  an  taic  ri  Lonaig. 

'S  marig  a  shamlaicheadh  ri  ch^ile, 
Muinntir  Dheun  a's  uisge  Dhè  so  ; 
Chuireadh  Crann-taire  corr  's  cuig  ceud 
dhiubh, 
'N  ceann  a  chèile  'n  orduyh 


Treas  Mios  an  Ea       ch,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ill 


'S  mor  thug  CTiabhers  riamh  ds  speis  doibh, 
An  catliaii  Thearlaich  agiis  Sheumais  ; 
Tha  fir  mo  chriclhe  reir  a  cheile, 
'S  cha  treig  morf  hear  òg  iad. 

Tha  daoin'  uaisle  anns  an  tir  so 
Xach  leig  coir  dhiubh  cam  no  direach, 
Cuiridhean  ro  gharga,  dhileas, 

'S  cha  dibir  cliu  ri  'm  beò  iad  ; 
Ged  tha  Fuirbeisich  gun  athadh 
'S  beag  an  caimean  iad  'san  rathad, 
Sguraidh  fir  Mhar  iad  mar  an  eabhadh, 

Sios  thair  fraidhibh  Lonaig. 

'Nan  arm  's  'nan  eididh  'n  tùs  an  latha, 
Bliiodh  sunnd  a's  siii'd  orr'  chum  a'  chatha 
Ei^ubadh  a's  mhilleadh  iad  am  plathadh 

Uile  mhaithean  Lonaig  ! 
Fuirbeisich,  ged  tha  iad  bruidhneach, 
Bhiodh  fir  Mhar  air  tuùs  ua  buidhne, 
'S  cha  bhi  clach  an  Carn-na-Cuinihne 

'N  la,  a  bhuidhneas  Lonag. 

Tha  Carn-na-Cuimhne  daingean,  Ikidir, 
Alar  cloich-mhullaich  druim  na  srkide, 
'Sa  chaoidh  cha  ghhiaisear  e  as  'aite, 

Dh  'aiudeoin  ardain  Lonaig. 
'N  uair  ghabhadh  seachad  fir  a'  chruadail, 
Chuireadh  clach  's  a'  charn  'san  uair  sin, 
Leis  gach  aon  gun  smal  gun  ghruaman, 

'Nuair  chuireadh  suas  'n  a  thorr  e. 

Ged  nach  gluais  e  bho  oir  Dhe  uainn, 
Ruigidh  'f  heartan  far  nach  tt^id  e 
Dhion  e  riamh  gach  neach  dh'  eigh  e 

Anns  gach  feill  a's  cg  'ail  ; 
Ach  nan  tngadh  'n  Triath  Righ  Seumas 
'S  larla  llhar  nan  aite  fein  dhuinn 
Le  urram  ur  bhiodh  an  earn  ag  eirigh 

'S  cha  bhiodh  speis  do  Lonaig. 

'S  an  oidhch'  fir  Lonaig  thain'  gu  leir  oimn, 
Bha  sneachd  ga  chur,  a's  gaoth  a'  seideadh, 
Cheangail  an  reodha  iad  ri  cheile 

'S  chuir  aiteamh  treim  an  toir  orr', 
Fior  shoraidh  nam  gu  allt  na  Lairic, 
Dli-ionnsuidh  an  lascair  uasail,  Ikidir, 
A  dh'eireadb  mar  bu  dual  le  chairdibh 

'S  nach  cuireadh  blar  le  Lonaig 

Cha'n  eisd  am  Mar  o  cheann  gu  ceann  dheth 
Ceann-Fine  idir  ach  Mac  Fhionlaidh 
'Se  fein  'sa  chlann  aig'  riamh  nach  d'  ionn- 
suich 

Cul  a  thionndadh  'n  coraig 
'S  mar  chraobh  mhuUach  dhuilleach,  bhlath- 

ail 
Dh'  f  has  gu  h-urar,  dosrach,  Ikidir 
Dh  "f  has  gu  geugach,  meurach,  crkchdaeh 

Cha  b'  ann  an  garadh  Lonaig. 

Dh'fhas  e'n  lios  nan  craobhan  riomhach, 
!Mar  dharaig  ard  nan  gallan  direach, 


'S  tha  chlann  mar  chioll  gu'n  mheang  gu'n 
chrionach 
Xach  lub  le  siontaibh  Lonaig 
Cha  choimeas  riuth'  na  fir  gun  Ghailig 
'S  nach  d'ith  riamh  mir  dh'  fhir  na  craice 
Bithidh    druis  air  gnuis  an  fhir  a's  fearr 
dhiubh 
'Dii-eadh  airde  Lonaig. 

'S  fad  chaidh  an  dream  ud  uile  tuaitheal 
Le  'm  boilich  mhusach  a's  Ic'n  uabhar 
'iS  ioghnadh  cia  mar  dh'  fhas  iad  uasal 

'S  nach  robh  buaidh  air  beò  dhiubh 
Ciamar  dh'  iarradh  iad  bhi  streapadh 
Ri  luchd  nan  claidhean  a's  nan  breacan 
'S  gur  gann  chaidh  duin'  dhiubh  idir  f  haicinn 

Ann  am  feachd  nam  mor  chath. 

Ah  's  lionmhor  flath  gu  sgaii-teil  sgiamhach, 
Chaidh  mach  o'n  Charn  gu'n   ghaoid  gun 

ghiomh  ann, 
'X  aghaidh  ghaisgeach  's  eacha  srianach, 

'S  chuir  cruaidh  gu  dian  'nam  feoil  doibh, 
Sonas  air  na  h-armuinn  euchdach  ; 
Buaidh  leo  anns  gach  ait'  d'an  d'  theid  iad; 
Cliu  dhoibh  measg  nam  fineach  treuna, 

'S  mo  dheagh  thoil  fein  ri  'm  beo  dh&ibh! 


SEANACHAS     NAN     SEACHD 
CADALAICHEAN. 

Thachair  anns  a'  bhliadhna  249, 
ann  an  làithean  Philip,  an  t-Iompaire 
liòmanach,  gu  'n  d'  eiricli  eeannairc 
'n  a  aghaidh  am  measg  luchd-àiteach- 
aidh  MMsia ;  agus  a  chum  an  sluagh 
a  thoirt  gn  rèite,  thug  e  fanear  gu 
'n  cuireadh  e  d'  an  ionnsuidh  ceann- 
ard  cahna,  gleusda,  d'  am  b'  ainm 
Decius,  le  feachd  shaighdearan.  Dh' 
f  halbh  an  ceann-feadhna  air  a  thuras, 
ach  an  aite  dichioll  a  dheanamh  air 
àithn  a  mhaighistir  a  chur  an  gniomh, 
's  ann  a  chuir  e  impidh  air  na  saigh- 
dearan  dol  maille  ris  fhein  air  taobli 
nan  naimhdean  a  chogadh  an  agh- 
aidh an  lompaire  ;  agus  shoirbhich 
leis  cho  fada  'n  a  run  's  gu'n  d'  f  huair, 
e  an  ceann  liine  gheàrr,  Pìiilip  a 
mharbhadh  anns  a'  chath,  agus  e 
fhein  'èubhach  agus  a  sgeadaehadh 
'n  a  lompaire. 

Cha  luaithe  a  fhuair  Decim  ard- 
riaghladh   na   h-iompaireachd   'n  a 


112 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876 


laimli,  na  'thòisich  e  air  suidbeach- 
adh  laghannan  ns  òrduigliean  ùra  a 
dh'  oibreicheadh  a  chum  cumail 
suas  a  mliòralachd  ghreadhnach 
fhein;  agus  maille  ris  gach  seòrs' 
achd  us  reachd  a  chuir  e  a  mach, 
ghabh  e  'n  a  cheann  iomhaigh 
shnaidhte  a  chur  suas  ann  am  baile- 
mòr  Ephesìis, — am  baile  sin  anns  an 
robh  Teampull  Dhiana,  a  bha  air  a 
chunntadh  'n  a  aon  de  sheachd 
iongantasan  an  domhain — agus  dh' 
àithn  e  gu  'n  sleuchdadh  luchd- 
àiteachaidh  a'  bhaile  sios,  agus  gu  'n 
deanadh  iad  aoradh  do  'n  iomhaigh. 

Ach  am  measg  nan  iochdaran  aig 
Decius  bha  seachdnar  òganach  nach 
tugadh  geill  do  'n  àithn  so,  's  a 
dhililt,  a  muigh  's  a  mach,  aoradh  a 
dheanamh  do  'n  iomhaigh.  Thainig 
air  an  t-seachdnar  teiche  le  'm 
beatha  as  a'  bhaile,  agus  rinn  iad  iad 
f  hein  f  halach  ann  an  aon  de  na  h- 
uamhannan  a  bha  'm  Beinn  Chelian. 

Air  chiinntinn  do  'n  lompaire 
mar  a  thug  na  Criosduidhean  òga 
dìibhhTn  d'  a  reachd,  agus  mar  a 
theich  iad  as  a  bhaile,  dh'  àithn  e  gu 
'n  rachadh  gach  aon  uamha  's  toll  a 
bha  anns  a'  bheinn  a  lionadh,  's  a 
dhiinadh  suas,  air  chor  's  nach  biodh 
aig  na  h-òganaich  rian  no  rathad  air 
dol  as  bho  'n  bhàs.  Chaidh  an  t- 
òrdugh  an-iochdmhor  so  a  chur  an 
gniomh;  agus  tuilleadh  iomraidh 
cha  chualas  air  an  t-seachdnar  ògan- 
ach  re  dhà  chiad  agus  deich  bliadhna 
fichead. 

An  ceann  na  li-uine  sin,  mu  'n 
cuairt  air  bliadhna  roimh  n  am  an 
d'  thainig  a'  chrith-thalmhainn,  a 
mhair  da-fhichead  lath  a,  air  Con- 
staniinopol,  thachair  gu  'n  robh 
clachair  ag  cladhach  làraich  tighe  a 
bha  e  'dol  a  thogail,  agus  ann  a  bhi 
ag  cladhach,  ciod  a  rinn  e — ma  's  fior 
an  seanachas — ach  briseadh  a  steach 
troima  mhullach  uamhaidh,  anns  an 
d'  fhuair  e  seachdnar  òganach,  a' 
dùsgadh  as  an  suain  leis  an  ùprait  I 


a  rinn  e !  Bha  fior  ghreann  a' 
chadail  air  na  hòganaich,  's  cha  bu 
ni  soirbh  dhaibh  iad  f  hein  a  chumail 
'n  an  diiisg.  Air  dhaibh,  m'  a 
dheireadh,  tromsanaich  a  chadail  a 
chrathadh  dhitibh,  thòisich  iad  air 
gearan  an  acrais;  agus  ghabh  fear 
dhiubh  as  laimh  dol  do  bhaile 
Ephesiis  gu  biadh  a  cheannach  air 
an  son. 

Dh'  fhalbh  e  do  'n  bliaile,  thug 
e  butha  an  f  huineadair  air,  's  chaidh 
an  t-aran  a  cheangal  suas  dlia,  ach 
bha  an  ciiineadh  airgeid  a  bha  aige 
cho  auabarrach  aosda,  's  nach  gabh- 
adh  am  fuineadair  uaithe'  e  ann  am 
pàidheadh  an  arain  ;  ach,  aig  an  am 
cheudna,  bha  an  ciiineadh  cho  fior 
annasach,  agus  aghaidh  an  òganaich 
ag  amharc  cho  neo-chiontach,  's  gu 
'ndo  thoilich  fear-na-butha  a  leigcadh 
air  falbh  leis  an  aran  gun  tuilleadh 
iarraidh  air.  Ach  air  dha  feùrach 
dheth  cionnus  a  thachair  e  f  hein  's 
an  seann  chuineadh  r'  a  chèile,  dh' 
innis  an  t-òganach  dha,  facal  air  an 
f  hacal,  mar  a  dh'  eirich  dha  f  hein 
's  d'  a  chompanaich. 

Bha  an  sgèul  so  mu  n  t-seachdnar 
òganach  cho  anabarrach  iongantach 
's  nach  b'  urrainn  neach  creideas  a 
thoirt  dhi ;  ach  an  deigh  mòran  fios- 
rachaidh  agus  rannsachaidh  a 
dheanamh  mu  thiomchioll  na  cùise, 
fhuaradh  a  mach,  air  rèir  aithris  na 
sgialachd,  caochladh  de  nithe  a  bha 
a  dearbhadh  nach  robh  facal 
mearachd  ann  an  sgeul  nan  òganach. 

Chaidh  a  chumail  a  mach  mar  sin, 
cha  'n  e  a  mhàin  gu  'n  do  chaidil  na 
òganaich  anns  an  uamhaidh  re  dha 
chiad  us  deich  bhadhna  fichead,  ach 
gur  6  'bha  anns  a'  chilis  fior  mhior- 
bhuil,  a  rinneadh  le  laimh  an 
Fhreasdail. 

Bha  daoine  nrramach  anns  na 
linntean  a  chaidh  seachad  a  dean- 
amh  dheth  gur  e  a  fhuaradh  anns 
an  uamhaidh  cnàmhan  nan  daoine 
òsra,  asus  sru  'n  deach  an  ciiiilan  ann 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


113 


an  ciste-chloiche  gu  eaglais  Bhidor 
a'm  baile-mòr  Mharseilles  anns  an 
Fhraing,  far  an  do  thòisich  mòran 
air  dol  air  turas-crabhaidh ;  ach  tha 
cuid  eile  ami  a  tha  rianili  fhathast 
ag  cumail  a  macli  gur  e  'n  fhirinn  a 
tha  anns  an  sgeul ;  agus  mar 
dhearbliadh  air  an  creideamh  innte, 
agus  mar  chuimhneachan  air  a 
mhiorbhuil,  tha  iad  ag  cumail  fèille 
uair  's  a'  bhliadhna  air  co-ainm  an 
latha  air  an  d'thainig  na  h-òganaich 
as  an  uamhaidh. 

'S  e  so  an  seanachas  a  bu  bhun- 
sgeòil  do  'nf  hacala'sminigachkiinnt- 
ear,  'n  uair  a  bhios  neach  a'  toirt 
iomraidh  air  fuaim  uamhasach  sam 
bith.  's  a  their  e  "fuaim  a  dhùisgeadh 
na  Seachd  Cadalaichean." 

Hearach. 


OR  AN  D'  AN"  CHATH-BHUIDHINN 
EIOGHAIL  GHAIDHEALATCH. 

EiNNEADH  an  t-òran  so  leis  an  Urramach 
Seumas  Maclagain,  an  dèigh.  Cath  na  h- 
Eiphite  's  a  bhliadhna  1801.  Bha 
t-ùghdar  fein,  'n  a  mhinistir-feachd  do  'n 
Fhreiceadan  Dhubh,  agus  air  a  chùnutadh 
'n  a  dheadh  sgoilear  Gàidhlig.  Tha  an 
t-òran  air  a  chur  sios  an  so  mar  a  sgriobh 
e  ihèin  e,  agus  gheibh  sinn  ann  samhladh 
air  a'  mhodh  air  an  robh  e  am  beacbd  gu 
'm  bu  choir  ar  seann  chànain  a  litreach- 
adh. 

'San  Ocht-ceud-deug  is  blia'na, 
'S  am  beuc  na  siontan  b,rd, 
Tha  gaoth-an-Ear,  air  sciathuibh, 
Toirt  sceoil  an  lar  gun  chaird  ; 
Earaon  tha  cliuiteach  's  cianail, 
"  Gun  thuit  mor  thriath  'san  ar. 
"  D'  ar  sloigh  gun  thuit  na  ciadan 
"  Fa  leith,  laoich  fhial  na'n  Gaidh'l." 

Ma  thuit,  cha  b'ann  gun  dia'-chluith 
A  dh'eug  an  laochraidh  gharg  ; 


Gu'n  d'aithnich  rogh  nan  Saor-fhear* 
Gur  garbh  an  gleus  'nam  fearg  : 
Dhio-la'raich  iad  gu  leir-scrios, 
Doi-cheannsuich+  threun  'san  t-sealg, 
Is  chuir  am  Bratach  bheudach, 
Mar  chuimhn'  an  eacht  d'an  Alb. 

Is  cha  b'e  cothrom  Fnnne 
A  fhuair  na  trèin  's  a  Bhlàr. 
'O'n  cùl  's  fui  dhuibhribh  oi'che, 
Doi-cheannsuich  thain  na'n  dàil ; 
'S  cath-bhui'ne  eil'  r'an  ^udain 
Bu  leor  r'an  claoidh  's  an  kr  ; 
Ach  thiontaidh  's  chuir  fui  mhaidhm 

sud, 
'S  am  fuil  aig  taom'  gu  lar. 

Mar  shaoil  Menou  gun  d'aom  iad, 
Chuir  marc-shluagh  treun  nan  coir, 
Eich  Arabach  luath  lèimneach 
A  dliianadh  eacht  air  thoir  ; 
Dh'aith-bheodhaich  Gaidhil  ghlèusta. 
Is  chuir  'nan  st^ud  sud  fòs  ; 
Bha  Breat'naich  uile  trèubhach, 
Ach  sibhse  treun  thair  glòir. 

O'r  feodain  ghlas  aig  smùidrich, 
Bha  frosa  druiteach  geur  ; 
Bhur  Gun-bhiodaga  rùisgte, 
Mach  air  an  druim  'nan  steud  ; 
Bbur  Claidbean  scaiteach  lilth'or 
Ag  snoigheadh  smilis  is  fhèidh 
Sin  dbearbb  nacb  sibh  na  bib-fhir 
Bha  'faoineis  riti  mu'n  Ren. 

Ni  'm  bheil  e  'n  comas  dhaoine 
An  trèine  dol  ni's  àird' 
Na  chaidh  na  Gaidhil  Bh^umnach 
'An  tir  na  li-Eipbit'  an  trlis  •, 
An  cluith  a  bha  co  daor  dhuibh 
Mo  dhoigh  a  chaoidh  nach  càiU  ; 
Braidh   neart   is   cluith   n' am   fraoch 

bheann, 
Sior  chuir  r'ur  daoin'  's  r'ur  call. 

Learn  's  duilich  na  fir  chròdha 
A  bhi  fui  'n  fhòd  gun  deò, 
Rho  fhad  o'n  dilsibh  brònach, 
Nachi  cluinn  an  glòir  ni  's  mo. 


Frangaich. 


f  Invincibles. 
8 


lU 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


Ach  's  aoibhinn  do  na  beòdhaibh 
Gu'n  robh  iad  mòr  'nan  lò 
Nach  dean  iad  tuille  gòruich 
'S  nach  èng  an  glòir  no  'n  sògh. 

Ge  duilicb  linn  na  dh'eug  dhibh 
Tha  'n  luaidheaclid  c^utach  cinnt' ; 
O  thuit  iad  an  deagh  abhar 
'S  gu'n  d'fhàg  luchd  èa-coir  sinnt. 
An  gealtach  bks  cha  chaomhuinn, 
Gu  dian  ged'  shraon  o  rainn, 
'S  braidh  druinn  an  eagail  reubtadh 
Ge  fad  a  Mim  'na  h-aoillt. 

Cha  'n  iongnadh  linn  'ur  dio-bhail, 
O  ionnsuidh  dhian  'ur  nàmh, 
A  shaoil,  tre  sgrios  no  Fiannachd, 
Gu'm  fàgta  fiamhach  each  ; 
Ach  mheall  sibh  tur  am  mio-run, 
Am  moisgain  thug  gu'n  call, 
Is  scath  sibh  Catha  lionmhor, 
'Nan  doigh  bha  àint'  d'  ur  bàs. 

O  thug  na  Francaich  buaidh  air 
An  fhuigheal  thruagh  bha  'n  Gal, 
An  dèis  do  Ckeasar  uaibhreach 
Am  marbhadh  'n  ruag'  's  an  crhdh', 
Shaoil  iad  gu'm  b'ionnan  cruas  d« 
Shaor-Ghaidhil  uasal  Alb, 
Bha    ionnsuicht',    aonuicht',    cruadh- 

aicht', 
'S  d'an  dù  scor-bhuaidh  'nan  Colg. 

'S  sibh  iarmad  lapheit  's  Ghbmdr 
A  ghlnais  o'n  Tor  d'an  Eorp';  . 
Sliocht  Choillteach,  Gkaidheal  Mòir- 

thir, 
Is  Ghaidheal-donach*  cròdh 
Nach  geilleadh  da  shluagh  Eoimhe: — 
'S  Teutonaich  thain'  n'ur  coir, 
A-chuid-a-chuid  le  seòltachd, 
'S  cha  b'ann  le  treòir  co  mòr. 

Na  Lochlannuich  thug  ionnsuidh 

Ar  cionnsachadh  gu  tur  ; 

Le    Fogh-mharachd  's   droch  thionn- 

scnadh, 
Faraon  air  traigh  's  air  mùir  ; 


Gael  of  the  hills. 


Ach  uaigh  thug  Gaidhil  dhoibh  8ud 
Leo  gus  am  b'annsadh  sgùr  ; 
'S  bheir  sibhse  dearbh'  gach  h,m  air 
Gur  ainne  'n  clann  chruaidh  mhear. 

Ar  gaisg  do  dhùisg  dhuinn  mio-run 
Na'n  Gotach  fiata  searbh  ; 
Seadh  iarmad  Ghaidh'l  tha  lionmhor, 
A  shath  'nar  bian  an  calg. 
Nis  ni  bheil  Goth  a  scriobhas, 
Nach  bheil  le  mioscam  garg  ; 
Do  nach  sop-reic  ar  riabadh, 
Thoirt  fiach  d'a  fharruisg  borb. 

Ach  choisin  gitilan  laoch-mhor 
Dhuibh  meas  ceud  dhaoin'  thug  fuath 
D'ur  tir,  gun  fhios  cia  'n  t-abtrar, 
Mur  h-e  bhi  daonan  cruaidh  : 
Is  aithne  d'ur  deagh  righ  sibh 
'S  d'a  Theaghlaich  rimheach  shuairc'  ; 
Dhuibh  chaoidh  cha  'n  easbhuidh 

iubhe 
'S  sibh  'n  tòir  co  dian  air  buaidh. 

Cha  ghann  dhuibh  luchd  aith- 
lianuidb, 
'S  ur  cluith  CO  cian  's  co  binn ; 
Bidh  òig-f  hir  ghleusta  dhiane 
'G'ur  n  iarruidh  as  gach  beinn ; 
Tairngidh  fuaim  'ur  pioba 
Na  miltin  as  na  gleinn ; 
Bidh  Breacain  's  cloidhean  liomha, 
Ag  dùsgadh  mìonn  gach  linn. 

O  Aberceomai  chliùitich 
Gur  mòr  ar  titirs'  ad'  dhiaidh  ! 
Gur  mòr  a  chaill  do  dhùthoich, 
'Nad  chleachd  'nad  ùil  's  'nad  threin ! 
Do  Bhanntrach  is  t-og-fhiùrain, 
Tha  frosadh  dlùth  'nan  dèùr  ; 
Ach  's  mur  am  meas  is  dù  dhoibh 
Air  scath  an  fhiuidh  dh'eug ! 

Ach  Alastair  aigh  Steùart, 
Is  eibhina  leamsa  t-eacht, 
A  stiùir  na  Gaidhil  shunntach 
An  còmhrug  cliùiteach  Eiphit : 
Ged  thug  aois  's  droch  dhùthaich 
Dhiom  elainte,  lùs,  is  gl^us. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


115 


Chaoidh  leanaidh  mo  dheadh-riin  sibh' 
'S  is  beath'  bhur  cliùth  do'm  cbrè. 

Nois  saoghal  fad  is  soirbheas 
Do  ghaisgich  gharg  nan  Gaidh'l. 
A  dhionadh  coir  na  h-Albainn. 
'S  a  chosgadh  buirb'  na'n  namh  ; 
A  bhuanach'  sith  is  sealbh  dhuinn, 
Air  chuantuibh  garbh  's  air  traigh  : 
Gu  mair  ar  Reachd  's  Coi-dbealbhadh  * 
Fui  Eigh  maitb  soirbh  's  gacb  al. 

Bu  dian  ag  ruith  air  aimhleas  e 
A  tbionntaidbeadh  an  Tir 
Bhur  cinnea  dileas  lamb-laidir, 
Tre  gbeanacb  saibbris  cbrin. 
Is  CO  a  cboimbdeadb  dboibb-sin  sud 
Gun  chairdean  daimb,  an  sciatb  ? 
Tha  Bonaparte  aoibbneacb  dbe 
Mar  lèimios  iad  Miiir.sbiar. 

An  diaidb  saoitber  is  ddrainn 
Is  aoibbneacb  sògb  is  saimb  ; 
Deagb  cblititb  o  dbaoine  coire 
Is  failte  mbòr  o  dbaimh  ; 
Acb  cait  am  faigbar  glòir  dbomb 
A  db'aitbris  sògb  'nan  òigb 
Tbug  meas  is  gaol  o  'n  òig  dbuibb 
'S  nis  tba  gun  deò  le  b-agb  I — 

Ged  tba  sibb  an  tir  cbeun  uam 
Mo  sboruidb  sior  n'an  coir 
Biodb  tearmunn  an  Aird-Tbriatb  libb 
G'  ur  dian'  o  locbd  's  o  leòn  : 
Is  aoibbinn  leom  deadb-scial  oirbh, 
Ged  tba  mi  crionuidb  breoit'. — 
Acb  mis',  ma  's  Oisein  liatb  mi 
Mo  dboigb  "  Biodb  m'  Fbiann  sior- 

bbeò. 


SEAX-FHOCAIL. 

'S  trdm  gacb  torracb. 

'S  eutrom'gacb  saogbalacb  sona. 

'S  glas  feur  na  faiebe,  's  cinnidb  e. 

Aisling  caillicb  mar  a  dilracbd. 

Feitbeambfadarieòrnanagainneambaicb. 

*  Constitution. 


Cho  fada  'a  a'  cbeann  agus  a  bba  Fionn 
's  na  casan  . 

Dian  fbàs  fuilt,  's  crion  fbàs  cuirp. 

'S  ann  air  a  mbatb  fèin  a  ni  an  cat 
creolain. 

Greis  mu  seacb  an  t-eacb  air  muin  a' 
mbarcaicbe. 

'S  mocb  's  is  anmocb  gu  baile-Tbarbbaicb 
an  go  bba. 

Eadar  an  long  nodba  's  an  seann  rudba. 
'S   mo    e   na   cnoc    locbd    duine    mu'm 
motbaicb  e  f^in  e. 

Ruigidb  eacb  mall  muilean,  acb  cba  ruig 
fear  a  bbristeas  a  cbnhmban. 

Mar  a  db'  èiricb  do'n  gbadaicbe  dhubb, 
Is  ann  oidbche  sbambna  a  cbnagadb  tu 

cnuth. 

Failte  a'  cbruidb. 

An  uair  is  mo  an  eiginn  dearbbar  an 
caraide  dileas. 

Biodb  e  reambar  no  caol,  is  mairg  nacb 
beatbaicbeadb  laogb  dba  fb<?in. 

Am  fear  a  bbios  a  mhanadb  amacb, 
suidhidb  e  air  fail  cborruicb. 

Am  fear  a  bbios  fearg  air  a  gbna  is 
coltacb  a  gbnè  ris  an  dris. 


SOP  AS  GACH  SEID. 

Cha  mbo  a  db'  fbògbluimear  fior  cbreid- 
eamb  a  leabbraicbibb,  na  db'  fbogbluimear 
seoladaireaebd,  no  saigbdearacbd,  no 
innleacbdaireacbd,  no  dealbbadaireacbd,  no 
ceaird,  no  ealaidb  sam  bitb  eile  as  da. 

Tbubhairt  teallsanacb  araidb  roimb  so 
"  gu'm  bi  ùine  oigbreacbd-san. "  Is  oigbr- 
eacbd  i  gun  teagamb  a  ta  luacbmbor,  acb 
cba  toir  i  toradb  sam  bi  a  macb  gun  atb- 
leasacbadb.  Is  oigbreacbd  i  gun  teagamb 
a  db'  atb-dbiolas  gu  pailt  saotbair  an 
dicbioUaieb,  mur  fàgar  earrann  di  fas  trid 
mi-oburaim,  agus  mar  cuirear  a  macb  i  nis 
mo  air  son  seallaidb,  na  air  son  feuma. 

Feucb  nacb  toir  tbu  do  bbaraU  mu  ni 
sam  bitb  air  am  bheil  tbu  aineolacb,  gu 
sonraicbte  'nan  latbair-san  aig  am  bheil 
deagb  eòlas  air.  Slur  bi  e  an  combnuidb 
'n  a  d'  cbomas  labbairt  gu  ceart  mu'n  cbùis, 
tba  e  gu  cinnteacb  'n  ad  cliomas  fantuinn 
'n  ad  tbosd.  Ged  tba  cuimhne  aig  na 
miltibb  air  an  lonais  agus  air  an  sgeilmear- 
acbd  fein,  is  tearc  iad  aig  an  robb  aobbar 
aitbreacbais  air  son  fantuinn  nah  tosd. 

S. 


116 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


Cha  mhaith  an  sùaimhneas  sin  a  dhruid- 
eas  an  fhirinn  a  mach  air  an  dorus.  Mur 
teid  sviaimhneas  agns  firinn  laimh  air  laimh, 
is  coir  an  fhirinn  a  roghnachatlh,  agus  greim 
a  dheanamh  oirre  mar  bhan-chompanaich 
an  kite  suaimlineis. 

Tha'n  duine  sin  a  Ikbhras  do  ghnkth  an 
fhirinn  ghlan,  'n  a  dhiulnach  a  ta  mòran  ni's 
tapaidh  na  ghabhar  e. 

Cha'n  fhaighear  eòlas  luachmhor  ach  le 
mòr-dhìchoiU  agus  strith.  Feumaidh  gach 
neach  na  raointean  agus  na  machraichean 
a  shiubhal  leis  fein,  ag-us  dol  air  aghaidh  le 
misnich  air  feadh  nam  beann  agus  nan 
garbhlach.  Cha'n  fhaigh  òganach  eolas  a 
nas^aidh  ;  feumaidh  e  a  chosnadh  le  strith 
agus  t'oighidinn.  Dh'  aindeoin  co  aineolach 
's  gu'm  feud  e  a  bhi,  ma  tha  deigh  aige  air 
eolas,  ma  tha  e  an  toir  air  mar  air  air- 
gid,  m'a  tha  e  'ga  rannsachadh  a  mach  mar 
lonmhas  foUuichte,  cha  bhi  a  shaothair  gu 
diomhain.  Is  e  eolas  duals  an  dichill,  agus 
cha  chain  an  dichiollach  air  chor  sam  bith 
a  dhuais  fein.  S. 

Suidhich  d'inntinn  fein  gu  stoldta  air  na 
chaidh  seachad,  ma's  miannach  leat  na 
nithe  a  ta  chum  teacbd  a  thoirt  gu  ceart 
fainear. 

Tha  'n  duine  sin  saibhear  aig  am  bheil 
deagh  nàdar,  a  tha  do  ghnkth  cairdeil, 
foifhidinneach,  aoibhneach,  dòchasach.  agus 
a  ta  'g  a  ghiùlan  fein  gu  suilbhear  a  thaobh 
nan  uile. 

Anns  gach  truaighe  far  am  bheil  athleas- 
achadh  comusach,  biodh  mi-fhoighidinn  air 
a  seachnadh,  do  bhrigh  gu'm  bheil  i  a'  call 
agus  a'  caitheadh  na  h-ùine  sin  ann  an 
gearainibh  a  bheireadh  le  buileachadh  ceart 
an  t-athleasachadh  sin  mu'n  cuairt. 


le  bròn.  Och  !  tha  teangadh  a'  chiùil  'n  a 
tosd,  agus  tha  Ikmh  an  eireachdais  a  nis  aig 
fois.  Cha  ghuidh  am  bocVd  ni's  mo  a 
bheannachd  ort,  agus  cha  chomhdaichear  an 
Idmnochd  ni's  mo  le  rùsgadh  do  threuda. 
Cha  tiormaich  thu  tuiUeadh  na  deòir  o 
shuilibh  nan  daoine  doruinneach  agus 
truagha.  Sibhse  a  ta  diblidh  agus  fann,  c'àit 
a  nis  am  bheil  bhur  cuideachadh  gnàth- 
aichte  ?  O  !  thusa  a  b'  ionmhuinn  am 
measg  bhan,  cha  chòmhlaich  sinn  thu  tuiU- 
eadh ni's  mo  ann  an  talla  na  fcile,  agus  cha 
shuidh  sinn  sios  gu  brkth  aig  bòrd  dochuirme 
aoibhnich  !  Air  falbh  am  feasd  tha  fuaim 
an  t-sùgraidh  agus  a'  ghairdeachais  !  Ochan ! 
cha  mhaireann  ni's  mo  an  t-suairce,  an 
caomhail,  agus  am  macanta  !  Co  d'an  urr- 
ainn  ar  n-kmhghar  a  chur  an  ceill  ?  Silibh, 
BÌUbh,  silibh,  gu  bras,  a  dhèuran  a'  bhroin  ! 
S. 


Cha'n  iad  na  nithe  a  ta  sinn 
achadh,  no  na  nithe  nach  'eil  sinn  a'  sealbh- 
achadh  a  mhdudaicheas,  no  a  kighdaicheas 
ar  sonas  fein.  Is  e  a  bhi  'g  iarraidh  barr- 
achd  na  tha  againn,  agus  a  bhi  gabhail 
farmaid  riusan  aig  am  bheil  barrachd,  a  ta 
milleadh  sith  ar  n-inntinn,  agus  a'  tarruing 
truaigh'  oirnn  mu  dheireadh.  S. 

Tha'n  sgriobhadh  maiseach  a  leanas  air 
lice-lighe  kraidh  ann  an  Gaidhealtachd  na 
h-Alba,  ach  cha'n  'eilfios  agam  aig  a'  cheart 
km  ciod  an  t-kit-adhlaic  anns  am  bheil  an 
leac  sin  air  a  togail.  "  Fhir-siubhail,  feuch ! 
anns  an  leabaidh  uaine  so,  tha  ise  'n  a  sin- 
eadh  's  an  duslaich,  agias  ann  an  trom-chodal 
a"  bhkis,  a  bha  maiseach  agus  subhailceach 
'n  a  beatha.     Tha  a  cùimhne  'g  am  lionadh 


LUINNEAG  ANNA  NIC  EALAIR. 

Is  ann  am  bothan  bochd  a'  bhroin 
A  chuir  mi  eolas  ort  an  toiseach  ; 
Is  thug  mi  thu  gu  tigh  mo  mhkth'r 
'S  an  d'  rinn  mi  t'  krach  car  tamuill. 

'Se  do  ghaolsa,  a  ghaoil, — 

'Se  do  ghaolsa  rinn  mo  tharruing; 

'Se  do  ghrkdhsa,  a  ruin, 

Einn-mo  dhusgadh  's  a'  mhadainn. 

Tha  thu  mar  dhiibhar  carraig  mhòir 
Am  f earann  sgith  is  mi  Ikn  airsneil ; 
'N  uair  a  thionndaidh  riut  mo  shtiil 
'S  ann  bha  thu  an  rim  mo  ghlacadh. 

'S  ann  a  thug  thu  dhomh  do  ghaol 
Fo  dhubhar  craobh  an  aiteil ; 
Is  co-chomunn  do  ruin 
Ann  an  gkradh  nan  abhall. 

Is  millse  learn  do  ghaol  na'm  fion, — 
Seadh  am  fion  as  a'  channa; 
'S  'n  uair  a  thug  thu  dhomh  do  ghrkdh 
'S  ann  a  dh'  fhkilnich  mo  phearsa. 

'S  ann  a  thug  thu  dhomh  do  d'  ghrkdh 
Gus  an  d'fhkilnich  mo  phearsa  ; 
'S  gus  am  b'  èigin  domh  a  rkdh 
"  Cum  air  do  Ikimh  a  charaid." 

'S  ann  a  dh'  èirich  thu  le  buaidh 
As  an  iiaigh  suas  le  cabhaig 
Amhluidh  dhùisgeas  do  shluagh 
Suas  le  buaidh  anns  a'  mhadainn. 

'S  chaidh  thu  suas  air  ionad  krd 
Dh'  uUach'  kite  do  m'  anam  ; 
'S  tha  thu  'g  rkdh  gu  'n  tig  thu  ris 
A  choimh-lionadh  do  gheallaidh. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1S7G. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


117 


AN       C  A  T  H. 
Le  Iain  Moirison,  a  bha  axns  na  Hearadh. 


Gleus  B  las. 



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1  .,  1  :  m 


I      d  .  li  :si..D      I     m  .  f  :  li  .,r      | 


d:-  11 


Is  iomaclh  còmhrag,  strèup,  us  strìth 

Do  'n  chreidmheach  fhior  'tha  'n  dual, 

Tha  naimhdeas  ifrionnail  le  spid 

'G  a  ruith  gach  mil-  dheth  'chuairt; 

Us  buairidhean  bho  'n  t-slochd  a  'ti  isl' 

A'  lot  a  cliridh'  gu  cruaidh : 

Acli  bheir  e  buaidh  's  an  ruaig  gu  crich, 

Fodh  bhratach  chaoimh  an  Uain. 

Is  lionmbor  cath,  us  gleachd,  us  duaidh, 

Us  buille  bhualadh  dhòrn, 

Us  àmhghar,  trioblaid,  teinn  us  truaigli', 

'Tha  dhaibh  an  dual  's  an  fheòil; 

Ach  armachd  Dhè  bheir  dhaibh  a'  bhuaidh, 

'S  thig  iad  an  uachdar  beò ; 

'S  trid  neart  an  Tl  'rinn  sith  dhaibh  suas, 

Bidh  gaisge  chruaidh  'n  an  treòir. 

Tha  buairidhean  a'  teachd  bho  'n  namh 

Air  iomadh  fàth  mu  'n  cuairt, 

Mar  dhiachainn  theinnteich  'bhios   'g  an 

crkdh, 
'S  a'  toirt  dhaibh  tàire  cruaidh'; 
Cha  nochd  e  caoimhneas  dhaibh  no  bàigh. 
'S  gun  iochd  'n  a  ghnàths,  no  truas; 
Ach  '  chum  an  dearbhadh  anns  gach  cas, 
Bheir  iad  tre  ghrks  Ian  bhuaidh. 
'N  uair  'thig  an  leomhann  bèucach,  garg, 
Le  'shaighdean,  's  fhearg  'n  a  leum. 
Bidh   'n  comhrag  trom,  bidh  'n  ionnsaidh 

garbh, 
Bidh  gleachd  ro  shearbh  's  gach  ceum; 
Ach  saighdearan  'bhios  ullaicht',  calm', 
Us  deas  fodh  armachd  Dh^, 
Bheir   dùbhlan   dhaibh    fodh    'n    èideadh 

dearbht' 
Gu  teich'  air  falbh  le  b(^um. 
'N  uair  'thig  feachd  Mhidian  do  'n  tir, 
'S  a  bhios  an  cridh'  'g  a  chrkdh, 
Theid  Gideon  fodh  airm  nach  cli, 


Us  bheir  e  'n  cinn  gu  Ikr. 

Air  cuh'p  nam  marbh  cha  tuislich  aon, 

Ge  d'  thuiteadh  daoin'  's  a'  bhlar; 

'S  theid  buaidh  a'  gleachd  le  feachd  nan 

naomh, 
'S  16m-sgriosar  sgaoth  an  nàmh. 
'N  uair  '  dh'èireas  Belsebub  gu  garg, 
Fodh  lasan  dearg,  's  le  ràs, 
Bidh  fearas-chlaidheamh  ann  gu  dearbh, 
Le  iomairt  arm  gun  tkmh ; 
Thig  Griosd  's  an  eadraigean  gu  calm, 
'S  ann  dha  nach  cearbach  Ikmh; 
'S  e  'ghras  'ni  ieiim  's  an  èiginn  shearbh^ 
Gu  toirt  nan  dealg  à  sàs. 
Bidh  '  làmh  a  ghnàth  am  measg  nan  s^ud 
A  thagh  e  f  ein  bho  'n  tòs ; 
'S  iad  '  àilleagain  dh'  an  tug  e  sp^is, 
'S  a  dh'  uUaich  è  chum  gloir, 
'S  '  bheir  e  a  amhainn  kmhghair  ghilir 
A  mach  gam  bhèud  mar  or; 
Gu  'n  naomhachadh  bho  ch^um  gu  ceum' 
An  iomhaigh  Dhe  gach  lò. 
'N  uair  '  bhios  an  comhrag  teann  le  spkirn, 
'S  a  bhios  an  nkmh  fodh  'n  chaoch, 
Bheir  Criosd  an  sin  a  ghnùis  le  fkillt', 
'S  min-bhrisear  Ikmh  na  daors' ; 
'S  ni  'n  oighreachd  aoibhneas  ann  a  shlkint', 
Tre  'n  Spriorad  ghrksmhor,  naomh, 
'S  tre  chreideamh  beò,  le  dòchas  Ikn, 
'S  le  grkdh  gu  brkth  nach  traogh. 
Is  lionmhor  cruth,  us  caochladh  dealbh 
'S  an  tig  an  cealgair'  m6r, 
Le  'n  cuir  e  cuid  'n  an  diisal  balbh. 
Gun  lann  no  arm  'n  an  dòrn  ; 
Us  labhraidh  e  le  briathran  dalm' — • 
"Nis  tha  sibh  marbh  fodh  m  spòig; 
Cha  dkn  dhuibh  teich',  oir  thugadh  sealbh 
']Sr  'ur  cuirp  's  'n  'ur  n-auamaibh  dhòmhs'.' 


118 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Earraich,  1876. 


Ach  thig  an  Comhfhurtair  'n  an  coir, 
'Tlioirt  dhitibh  nan  còrdan  bàis, 
Us  labhraidh  e  le  briathran  foil, 
Gu  'm  bheil  ni  's  leòr  'n  a  ghras; 
Us  sèididh  orr'  an  anail  bheò, 
'S  tbig  mic  na  h-òige  'n  aird, 
Us  bidh  an  neart  's  an  taic  fadheòidb 
Fodh  bhrataich  's  treòir  a  ghrkidh. 

Ach  thig  an  namh  mar  aingeal  soills'. 

Us  gath  na  foill  fodh  '  chleòc', 

Us  clann  na  saors'  fodh  neòil  na  h-oidhch', 

'S  tha  'n  cunnart  roinn  ni 's  mh 

(xu  'm  buail  e  'n  cogaisean  le  sgoim, 

Gu  diteadh  dhaibh  na  còir'; 

'S  bidh  fèum  air  solus  glan  na  coinnl', 

Gu  'n  toirt  gu  foills'  an  ròid. 

Is  iomadh  coslas,  cruth,  us  snuadh, 

'S  an  tig  e  '  bhuaireadh  dhaoin', 

Ga  'n  cur  an  dùil  '  bhi  'n  gràdh  do  'n  Uan, 

'S  an  saoghal  fuaight'  'n  an  gaol, 

'S  gu  bhi  ri  gairdeachas  air  uair, 

Mu  'n  aobhar  uaill  a  's  caoil', 

Le  aoibhneas  feòlmhor  a  's  beag  luach, 

'S  nach  mair  ach  cuairt  ro  fhaoin. 

'Thaobh  gur  iad  oiglireachan  na  slàint', 

Dh'an  tug  e  grkdh  bho  chein, 

Bidhaingle  Dhèmu'n  cuairt  dhiubh  'ghnkth, 

'S  gach  am  cruaidh-cliais  no  streup  ; 

'S  bidh  Ikmh-an-uachdar  ac'  gu  bràth, 

Tre  fheartan  gràidh  an  Ldigh  ; 

A  dh'  fhuadaicheas  air  falbh  gach  plkigh, 

Le  neart  nach  failnich  bèum. 

'S  e  'n  tàbhachd  e  an  Km  na  ft^um', 

Nach  fannaich  cdum  'n  a  threòir  ; 

'N  uair  'thàrlas  dhaibh  'bhi  anns  an  t-str^up, 

'S  e  'bheir  bho  'n  èug  iad  beò  ; 

Tha  làthaireachd  a  ghnùis  cho  seimh, 

'S  a  ghairdean  trèun  gn  fòir  ; 

Us  airm  neo-f  hailinneach  'bheir  bèum 

Do  'n  bhèist  'n  an  deigh  '  tha  'n  tòir. 

Ge  lionmhor  aire,  us  teinn,  us  daors', 

D'  a  phobuU  caomh  'tha  'n  dan, 

Us  caoile,  's  acras,  's  tart  faraon. 

An  Criosd  cha  traogh  an  skth  ; 

'S  'n  uair  'thogar  suas  an  altair  naomh, 

'S  a  thig  an  saors'  'o  'n  aird, 

'N  sin  iobraidh  iad  an  cridh'  's  am  maoin, 

'S  theid  casg  air  caoch  na  plaigh. 

'Nuair  'bhios  tiugh  dhorchadas,  'sdubhnèul 

Ei  folach  èudain  uath', 

Bidh  'n  aghaidh  ris  an  iiir  gu  I^ir. 

'S  an  inneal  th^ud  gun  f  huaim, 

Thig  Grian  na  fireantaehd  bho  nèamh, 

Le  slàint'  fodh  'sgeith  g-u  luath, 

'S  ni  'n  Spiorad  Naomh  an  aonadh  reidli, 

Ei  nàdur  Dh^  nan  sluagh. 

Cha  'n  aithreach  dhaibh-s'  an  sin  iad  fèin 
'Bhi  'n  aire  's  an  ^is  gu  truagh  ; 
Bidh  'n  aiteas  krd  air  son  gu  'n  d'  èisd 
E  'n  glaodh  'n  an  èiginn  chiuaidh; 


'S  an  cridhe  Hont'  le  aoibhneas  rèidh 

'S  a'  Ghaisgeach  threun  'thug  buaidh  ; 

'S  le  gradh  trid  fireantaehd  Ikn  end  ; 

'S  do  'm  peacadh  fein  Ian  fuath. 

Tha  aoibhneas  ac'  nach  l^ir  do  dhaoin' 

'Tha  'n  cuid  's  an  t-saoghal  chr^, 

Tha  'n  solas  mdr  air  sheòl  nach  saoil 

'S  nach  tuig  am  baoth  gun  chèill. 

'S  cha  fhàilnich  lòn,  tha  'n  stòr  làn  maoin 

Am  feasd  nach  fhaod  dol  ^ug  ; 

Tha  'n  tobar  Ian  gu  bràth  nach  traogh, 

'S  na  feadain  saor  ri  'm  bèul. 

Ged  bliiodh  na  lòcustan  'n  an  sgaoth 

Air  feadh  gach  raoin,  us  pàirc, 

Le  'n  crùin  mar  or,  le  eòlas  staoin, 

'S  le  còmhradh  caoin  gun  ghras, 

Cha  deanar  dochann  leo  air  aon 

De  thr^ud  an  Aodhair  aird, 

Oir  bheir  e  fein  dhaibh  leirsinn  saor 

A  chi  'n  droch  ghaoid  fodh  'n  eàrr. 

Tha  iad  'n  an  riochd  mar  eachaibh  arm, 

'S  gnùis  dhaoin'  a'  falbh  fodh  chleòc, 

'N  an  coslas  naomh,  le  sgleò  'ni  'chealg, 

'S  le  blasdachd  labhraidh  beòil, 

Le  fait  nam  ban,  's  le  dt^udach  garbh, 

'S  fiamh  ciiiin,  ach  marbhteach  fòp', 

'S  an  earbuill  nimheil,  g^ur,  le  calg 

Nan  gath  'tha  searbh  gu  leòn. 

Ni  iad  le  'n  sgiathan  turbhraich  gharbh. 

Mar  chaismeachd  charbad  reis  ; 

Tha  'n  eòlas  cinn,  's  an  gliocas  foirm 

A  cumail  seirm  'n  am  b^ul ; 

Le  bosd  6.  cainnt  bho  inntinn  mhairbh, 

Mar  ghaoith  A  balg  gun  fheum, 

Cho  seòlt'  ri  Nimrod  gu  bhi  'sealg, 

'S  a'  gold  air  falbh  'n  droch  èìsg. 

'N  uchd-eididhean  mar  iarunn  tr^un, 

Le  facal  Dhi^  'n  an  ceann  ; 

An  cainnt  an  Sgi'iobtuir  iad  cho  glèusd', 

'S  mu  bhrìgh  an  Sgèil  ro  dhall ; 

A'  deanamh  dideann  dheth  'n  deagh-bhèus, 

'S  e  togt'  air  steidheadh  meallt'  ; 

'S  ciiis-thruais  na  doill  a  bheir  dhaibh  geill 

Nach  tuig  ro  mhèud  am  fabht. 

Tha  'n  aidmheil  maiseach  le  deagh  sgèimh, 

'S  an  cridh'  gu  leir  l;m  Ihb  ; 

Gun  ghras,  gun  anail  annt'  bho  nèamh, 

Ach  lobhte,  's  brèun,  'n  an  gninnd  ; 

Tha  'n  nimh  'n  an  earbuill,  's  iomadh  b^ud 

Nach  faic  an  Itìrsinn  sùl  ; 

Tha  'm  puinsean  falaicht'  orra  ft^in, 

'S  nach  faic  iad  è  bho  'u  ctd. 

Ach   'dh'   aindeoin  seòltachd,  innleachd,  's 

cealg, 
Nan  Ikmh  a  dhealbh  a'  bh^ist, 
Le  miodal  min,  no  ionnsaidh  ghairbh, 
Cha  dean  an  armachd  beud 
Do  phobuU  saoirt'  an  Uain  'bha  marbh, 
'S  tha  beò  gu  calma,  tr6nn  ; 
Tha  '  chtimhnant  siorruith  dhaibh  cho  dearbh 
'S  gu  'n  d'  fhuair  iad  sealbh  'n  a  sh<?ur. 


THE     (^^EL 


ENGLISH  DEPARTMENT. 


Vol.  V. 


APRIL  1876. 


No.  52. 


THE  PRESENT  CONDITION 
OF  THE  HIGHLANDS. 

We  propose  to  discuss  this  sub- 
ject in  the  following  pages  calmly, 
and  independently, — laying  before 
our  readers  facts,  whose  truth  can- 
not be  controverted,  believing  that 
to  be  tlie  most  certain  way  of  win- 
ning the  sympathy  of  all  who  wish 
well  to  the  Highland  people.  We 
are  not  of  those  who  go  to  annual 
dinners,  suppers,  conversaziones, 
and  balls,  in  order  to  patronise  our 
fellow  countrymen,  while  magnify- 
ing ourselves  as  the  champions  of 
men,  women,  and  children  who 
have  attained  to  perfection  in  all 
the  virtues ;  neither  are  we  of  those 
who  speak  in  great  swelling  terms 
of  Our  Higiilanders,  but  we  love 
them  none  the  less,  because  we  do 
not  go  about  declaring  them  to  be 
immaculate,  while  those  on  whose 
estates  they  reside  are  tyrants  and 
oppressors  of  the  deepest  dye.  We 
are  nevertheless  prepared  to  assert 
the  cause  of  the  poor  and  to  speak 
candidly,  without  fear  or  favour,  of 
the  conduct  of  those  on  whom  they 
depend.  It  may  be  that  we  shall 
have  to  show  up  more  or  less  of 
some  people  who  seek  to  advance 
their  own  ends  in  a  lurking,  shirky 
way  at  the  expense  of  landed  pro- 
prietors, who  do  their  duty  in  a 
friendlj'-  manner  to  their  tenants. 
It  has  often  happened  that  the 
really  guilty  have  not  only  escaped 
punishment,  but  that  they  have 
been  in  receipt  of  ill  merited  praise. 
To  lay  bare  to  some  extent,  who 
is  who  and  what  is  what,  in   con- 


nection with  the  present  condition 
of  the  Highlands,  is  the  task  we 
have  undertaken,  and  we  enter  upon 
it  without  prejudice. 

1.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that 
there  is  very  great  poverty,  and 
abundant  suffering  arising  therefrom 
in  various  districts  of  the  Highlands. 
Much  of  this  poverty  and  suffering 
is  due  to  absenteeism  among  the 
landlords  and  the  consequent  delega- 
tion of  the  duties  of  property  on 
their  part  to  subordinates  who 
study  its  rights  more  than  its 
duties. 

2.  A  clamant  evil  is  the  undue 
extension  of  large  sheep  farms,  deer 
forests,  &c.,  and  the  consequent 
crowding  together  into  petty  pov- 
erty-stricken villages  of  the  popula- 
tion turned  adrift  to  make  room  for 
such. 

3.  Much  suffering  may  be  traced 
to  a  species  of  the  truck  system,  by 
which  those  who  engage  in  fishing 
are  kept  in  a  chronic  state  of  in- 
debtedness to  a  certain  class  of  men, 
such  as  fish-curers,  merchants,  con- 
tractors, &c. 

4.  The  sub -division  of  crofts 
through  the  marriage  of  sons  and 
daughters  of  crofters — the  increase 
of  consumers  while  the  product 
stands  still — leads  to  overcrowding 
where  there  is  a  kind  laird  and 
lenient  factor. 

5.  The  fact  that  young  High- 
landers seldom  learn  a  trade,  but 
are  dependent  on  the  uncertain 
earnings  at  the  herring  or  deep  sea 
fishing,  and  occasional  voyages,  in 
which  they  act  as  seamen. 


120 


THE  GAEL. 


April,  1S76 


6.  A  good  deal  of  the  poverty 
which  we  deplore  no  doubt  arises 
from  the  want  of  a  good  education 
on  the  part  of  our  countrymen. 

In  proceeding  to  suggest  remedies 
we  shall  take  the  points  seriatim  as 
indicated  above : — 

1.  In  the  first  place  we  attribute 
to  absenteeism  among  the  lords  of 
the  soil,  and  the  delegation  of  their 
duties  to  third  parties,  a  very  great 
deal  of  the  misery  experienced  by 
the  Highland  people.  Prior  to 
1843  the  Church  of  Scotland  was 
the  Church  of  the  Highlands,  and 
to  it  rich  and  poor  went  in  common, 
The  Disruption,  however,  caused  a 
split — the  people  going  in  for  the 
Free  Church,  while  many  of  the 
lairds  becoming  disgusted  with 
empty  buildings  on  the  one  hand, 
and  what  they  called  dissent  on  the 
other,  went  over  to  Episcopacy,  and 
thus  snapped  one  of  the  earliest 
bonds  of  sympathy  which  could 
exist  between  landlords  and  their 
people.  The  reverence  and  affection 
of  the  latter  for  the  former  could 
not  stand  the  shock  of  the  combined 
difference  of  creed  and  the  handing 
of  them  over  to  underlings,  who 
considered  nothing  so  much  as  in- 
creasing the  rental  of  the  estates 
they  (mis)managed.  The  laird 
oftentimes  took  no  personal  interest 
in  his  people, — he  left  all  that  to 
his  man  of  business,  whose  fiat 
sealed  the  fate  of  the  tenant-at-will. 
Complaints  might  be  made  by  the 
crofters  when  they  happened  to  get 
the  chance  (which  was  seldom),  but 
as  we  have  said  the  mere  word  of 
the  factor  Avas  sufficient  to  satisfy 
his  master,  present  or  absent,  that 
what  was  iDeing  done  was  the  very 
best  thing  for  the  people,—  certainly 
the  best  for  the  laird  it  would  be 
proved.     Now  many  of  the  factors 


are  men  who  have  risen  from 
nothing — all  honour  to  them  for  it 
when  they  have  honourably  achiev- 
ed distinction,  but  it  is  notorious 
that  the  poorer  the  man  has  been 
himself  often  the  more  he  grinds 
those  over  whom  he  is  placed.  He 
may  prosper  apace  while  the  small 
tenants  keep  going  from  bad  to 
worse,  and  are  reduced  to  such  utter 
poverty,  that  as  a!matter  of  fact  they 
often  begin  to  seek  the  favour  of  the 
prosperous  man  by  running  to  him 
with  tales  not  very  creditable  to 
their  neighbours.  This  "  clashing  " 
is  often  the  cause  of  incalculable  in- 
jury to  the  poor  people  themselves. 
He  who  is  factor,  banker,  farmer, 
J.P.,  and  so  forth,  has  very  little 
sympathy  to  spare  for  those  Avhom 
he  considers  in  his  way — cumberers 
of  the  ground.  They  may  be  then 
evicted,  and  their  holdings  turned 
into  one  considerable  farm,  which 
not  improbably  is  leased  to  the 
gentleman  himself.  How  often  are 
we  met  with  assertions  so  boldly 
advanced  that  we  are  so  staggered 
that  we  who  knew  the  people  can 
hardly  compose  ourselves  sufficiently 
to  contradict  them.  Drunkenness  for 
instance  is  one  of  the  most  common 
charges  laid  at  the  door  of  poor 
men  who  seldom  have  sufficient 
money  to  buy  meal,  much  less 
whisky.  "VVe  are  convinced  that  no 
greater  injustice  can  be  done  to  the 
Highlanders  than  to  speak  of  them 
as  drunkards.  We  have  known 
them — lived  among  them  under 
different  skies,  and  under  the  varied 
circumstances  of  prosperity  and  ad- 
versity— and  we  can  assoilzie  them 
from  such  charge.  While  we  know 
here  and  there  a  black  sheep,  we 
proudly  submit  that  the  Highlanders 
are  really  the  most  sober  as  well  as 
the  most  peaceable  men  we  have 
met  with  wherever  our  journeyings 
took  us.     Some  people  have  a  habit 


April,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


121 


of  writing  in  a  strain  whicli  would 
induce  us  to  believe  that  no  lawyer 
could  be  honest.  We  do  not  say- 
that  all  lawyers  are  so,  but  we  do 
say  that  most  of  the  best  factors  we 
have  met  with  in  the  North  are 
lawyers.  They  have  no  doubt  re- 
ceived the  education  of  gentlemen, 
and  their  factorship  brings  in  but  a 
small  portion  of  their  income,  so 
they  are  not  so  often  compelled  to 
screw  down  the  people  to  gain  the 
fixvour  of  their  clients  to  promote 
their  own  personal  interests.  On 
the  other  hand,  we  know  those  of 
the  other  sort  who  appear  to  grudge 
the  smallest  liberty  to  their  tenants. 
One  of  them  seeing  a  poor  woman  in 
the  ebb,  goes  to  her  and  shows  his 
authority  by  plucking  the  pitcher 
she  has  in  her  hand  from  her,  and 
emptying  its  contents  (whelks)  into 
the  sea  !  Another  seems  to  feel  in 
his  element  when  pulling  down  the 
houses  of  the  poor  people,  and  so  on. 
Factors  may  be,  and  no  doubt  are, 
a  good  deal  belied,  but  there  can 
be  no  doubt  they  have  much  to 
answer  for  without  any  exaggera- 
tion of  their  conduct. 

2.  We  come,  in  the  second  place, 
to  consider  the  great  evil  of  the  un- 
due extension  of  deer  forests.  We 
admit,  of  course,  within  certain 
limits,  a  proprietor's  right  to  do 
what  he  chooses  with  his  own  pro- 
pertj^,  but  we  have  a  belief,  not- 
withstanding, that  justice  demands 
that  in  doing  his  pleasure  with  that 
which  belongs  to  him,  he  shall  not 
intrude  upon  the  unwritten  rights  of 
his  subjects.  The  tenant-at-will  {at 
the  ivill  of  the  proprietor),  from  his 
very  helplessness,  engages  our  sym- 
pathy, and  we  therefore  do  not 
grieve  when  we  think  of  the  ancient 
relations  between  the  laird  and  the 
crofters  at  finding  that,  in  reality, 
these  people  have  an  inalienable 
right  to  a  share  of  the  soil  which 


their  forefathers  won  for  their  des- 
cendants. AVe  maintain  also  that  the 
sale  of  the  property  should  not  en- 
tirely do  away  with  this  right.  But 
what  do  we  find  1  We  travel  whole 
districts  of  the  country,  which  used 
to  be  teeming  with  a  happy,  prospe- 
rous population,  but  which  now  are 
utterly  tenantless,  unless  we  call  the 
gamekeepers,  whom  we  may  meet 
with  gun  on  shoulder  at  intervals  of 
ten  to  fifteen  miles,  by  the  name  of 
pojoulation.  We  may  see  deer  in 
herds  feeding  on  the  green  spots 
which  mark  the  holdings  and  sheil- 
ings  of  men  Avho  are  now  not  there. 
Deer  versus  men,  and  deer  for  choice ! 
But  where  are  the  men,  women,  and 
children  disinherited  by  the  deer, 
tame  animals  we  see  occupying  their 
place?  The  answer  is  not  far  to  seek. 
The  happiest,  best,  and  most  inde- 
pendent of  them  and  their  descend- 
ants have  their  homes  now  where  men 
and  women  are  more  highly  valued 
than  beasts  of  the  chase — in  the 
Dominion  of  Canada,  Australia,  and 
New  Zealand.  These  magnificent 
colonies,  which  form  such  an  invit- 
ing contrast  to  the  coldness  of  the 
old  country,  as  they  oj^en  their  arms 
in  cordial  welcome  to  the  turned- 
out-of-house-and-home  Highlanders 
of  Scotland.  But,  unhappily,  there 
is  a  remnant  of  the  inhabitants  of 
those  picturesque  and  romantic 
straths  and  glens  Avho  have  not  had 
the  means  or  courage  to  leave  home, 
and  they  are  found  now  huddlecl 
together  in  the  miserable  poverty- 
stricken  villages  of  Lewis,  Uist, 
Harris,  Skye,  and  the  mainland, 
whose  squalor  and  wretchedness  are 
well  known.  Rapidly  are  these 
landless  people  running  on  to 
pauperism,  Avhich  means  a  dole  of 
from  sixpence  to  one  shilling  a  week, 
and  mayhap  a  suit  of  clothes  at  long 
intervals.  Surely  it  is  paying  too 
much  for  it  to  have  sport  at  this  price. 


122 


THE  GAEL. 


April,  1876. 


3.  In  the  third  place,  we  come  to 
a   class   of  men   whose  connection 
with  and  share  in  the  misery  of  the 
Highland  people   are   not   so   well 
known.     Most  of  our  readers  know 
something  regarding  the  truck  sys- 
tem, and  its  adaptability  to  keeping 
men  down  who  once  get  involved 
in  its  baleful  meshes.    In  Newfound- 
land the  system  has  worked  so  ruin- 
ously, that  a  large  proportion  of  the 
fishermen  there  are  in  a  state  of  ab- 
solute helpless  pauperism,  which  is 
proved  by  the  fact,  that  in    1865 
two-thirds  (if  we  remember  right) 
of  the  whole  revenue  of  the  island 
went  to  feed  the  paupers!    How  the 
merchants  stand  against  such  a  state 
of  things  may  be  left  to  the  fertile 
imagination  of  our  readers  to  account 
for.     Be  it  remembered  that  in  that 
fine  island  alone,  of  all  British  North 
America,  did  we  ever  meet  with  a 
beggar.     Yet  it  is  known  to  possess 
vast  deposits  of  coal,  copper,  marble, 
slate,  &c.,  and  its  timber  is  various 
and  inexhaustible,  as  well  as  of  good 
quality.      It  has  land  of  the  very 
finest  quality,  game  in  abundance  ; 
but,  notwithstanding  the  almost  en- 
tire devotion  of  the  inhabitants  to 
fishing,  and  the  system  of  advances 
made  to  the  fishermen,  have  resulted 
in  the  colony  being  full  of  paupers, 
while    it    might   have    been    very 
wealthy  and  prosperous,  if  its  riches 
were  properly  developed,  instead  of 
being   neglected   in   favour  of   the 
fisheries.     The  people  of  Lewis  are 
a  fine,  brave,  hardy  body  of  men, 
like  the  Newfoundlanders,  and,  like 
them,  are  chiefly  engaged  in  using 
nets  and  hooks.   Than  the  proprietor 
of  The  Lewis,  there  is  not  a  more 
benevolent,    generous,   landed    pro- 
prietor in  Scotland   or   elsewhere ; 
yet  it  is  a  fact,  that  he  Avho  has  spent 
his  hundreds  of  thousands  of  pounds 
sterling  in  attempting  to  ameliorate 
the  condition  of  his  extensive  ten 


antry,  and  improving  his  great  pro- 
perty, has  been  set  upon  and  stig- 
matised as  cruelly  tyrannical  at  the 
instigation  of  those  who  really 
have  been  the  means  of  keeping  the 
people  in  a  state  of  debt  and  im- 
pecuniosity.  It  would  be  very  in- 
teresting to  ascertain  who  receive 
the  bulk  of  the  earnings  of  the 
Lewis  men,  and  it  would  also  be  a 
matter  worth  knowing  who  shows 
the  most  tenderness  towards  them, 
the  landlord  or  the  merchants  of 
Stornoway,  of  one  of  whom  it  is  said 
to  have  been  remarked  by  the  Sheriff 
that  he  should  have  a  court  of  his 
own,  owing  to  the  frequency  and 
multiplicity  of  his  prosecutions.  We 
believe  that  a  fairly  honest,  truthful 
answer  to  these  queries  would  turn 
the  tables  on  some  men  who  make 
a  fuss  in  the  background  of  their 
love  for  the  poor  fishermen.  It 
would  not  surprise  us  much  to  find 
that  a  good  deal  of  the  poverty  of 
Lewis  is  to  be  traced  to  the  mercan- 
tile community  of  Stornoway,  and 
their  mode  of  carrying  on  their  busi- 
ness. We  shall  return  to  the  credit 
side  of  this  article,  when  we  have 
fully  discussed  the  causes  of  the  beg- 
gary at  which  Highlanders  have  ar- 
rived in  so  many  districts  of  the 
Highlands  and  Islands. 

4.  We  will  now  consider  the  cause 
of  very  great  evil, — The  Subdivision 
of  Crofts.  On  many  estates,  espe- 
cially where  the  lairds  are  kind  and 
benevolent,  as,  for  example,  Gair- 
loch  and  Lewis,  we  find  a  great  deal 
of  discomfort  created  by  the  division 
and  subdivision  of  crofts,  on  the 
marriage  of  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  the  crofters.  We  have  recently 
heard  of  a  case  which,  although  we 
admit  it  to  be  an  extreme  one,  we 
give,  as  it  will  illustrate  the  case  we 
wish  to  prove;  and  be  it  remembered 
that  instances  on  a  smaller  scale  of 
this  subdivision  are  of  constant  oc- 


April,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


123 


ciirrence.  A  crofter  in  a  certain 
place  had  six  sons.  The  first,  when 
he  grew  up,  married,  and  went  to 
live  with  his  father-in-law,  but  the 
other  five  entered  into  the  holy 
estate  of  matrimony  in  their  turn, 
and  one  after  the  other  took  his 
bride  home  to  his  father's  house, 
knocking  up  an  addition  to  the 
parental  dwelling,  into  which  the 
parents  had  to  turn.  These  five 
additions  were  made  or  tacked  on 
to  the  original  abode  (we  believe  the 
fifth  Avas  stopped  by  the  ground 
officer  before  it  was  finished).  Of  this 
case  one  gentleman  remarked  that 
if  there  had  been  many  more  sons  to 
marry,  the  parents  would  soon  find 
themselves  tumbling  over  the  cliffs 
of  the  rocks,  as  they  were  constantly 
the  parties  removed  on  each  new 
occasion  to  the  strength  of  the  ere- 
while  not  very  promising  establish- 
ment. The  farm  or  croft  referred 
to  only  consisted  of  about  five  or  six 
acres,  with  the  usual  pasture  or 
grazing  privileges,  and  did  very  well 
for  the  original  one  family,  but  here 
were  six  separate  families  settled  on 
and  dividing  it  betAveen  them,  de- 
pending on  the  produce  of  this  one 
croft  and  the  fishing  for  their  living. 
Surely  no  one  will  be  surprised, 
under  such  circumstances,  to  hear 
that  even  the  excellent  proprietors 
of  Lewis  and  Gairloch  have  deter- 
mined, by  the  best  means  in  their 
l)ower,  to  put  a  stop  to  such  proceed- 
ings, which  beget  so  much  misery 
and  hardship. 

{To  be  continued.) 


CARX-XA-CUIMHNE. 

(translation).* 
BRAEifAR's  illustrious  clan,  as  life  beloved, 
In  all  the  toils  of  glorious  valour  proved, 


*  For  the  original,  see  the  Gaelic  Depart- 
ment. 


Should  Lonach  gnash  with  rage  or  blush 

with  shame, 
Carn-na-Cuimhne    shall   stand — a   pile    of 

deathless  fame; 
With  friendship's  wish  for  you  my  bosom 

thrills, 
For  you  that  love  the  sport  by  woods  and 

hilLs, 
Remote  from  you  in  friendship,  sense,  and 

soul. 
Are  the  mean  gorgers  of  the  pastry  bowl. 

Loved  is  the  tribe  whose  deeds  my  song 
inspire. 

Whose  long  blue  culvers  bear  destinictive 
fire; 

When  your  drawn  swords  emblaze  the  ex- 
tended heath, 

The  flag  of  Lonach  sinks  in  blood  and  death. 

\'^ictorious  troops,  in  martial  beauty  gay, 

Soon  as  yoxir  ranks  their  fearful  front  dis- 
play, 

Lonach's  surly  churls  are  driven  along, 

And  rout  on  rout  confounds  the  dastard 
throng. 

With  Deva's  men  the  men  of  Don  compare, 
The  men  of  Don  are  weak  as  passive  air; 
When  glory  calls,  our  tribe  from  near  and 

far 
Roll  thick  in  hundreds  round  the  cross  of 

war. 
In  Claver's  eyes  their  worth  distinguished 


When  Stuarts  fought  to  gain  their  ancient 

throne : 
Like    him,    our  youthful  Lord  the   brave 

admires, 
For  manly  bosoms  feel  congenial  fires. 

Firmly  tenaceeus  of  their  native  sway, 

No  tyrant's  frown  our  prime  in  rank  dismay; 

Like  lions,  in  the  embattled  host  they  rage. 

Their  fame  shall  live  through  many  a  dis- 
tant age; 

Though  Lonach  threats  with  self-impor- 
tance blind, 

His  pride  is  mad,  his  threats  are  empty 
wind; 

Braemar  would  force  his  scattered  hordes 
to  fly 

Like  snows  that  drift  along  the  northern 
sky. 

Garbed  in  their  plaids,  and  'cased  in  daz- 
zling arms. 

At  early  morn  they  smile  with  dreadful 
charms; 

Their  wrath  would  blast  the  flower  of  Lon- 
ach race. 

Quick  as  the  flash  pervades  the  ethereal 
space. 


124 


THE  GAEL. 


April,  1876. 


With  words  of  pompous  sound  let  Lonach 

boast, 
The  men  of  Mar  shall  lead  the    warlike 

host, 
Nor   till    Carn-na-Cuimhne  in  wreaths  of 

smoke  decay, 
Shall  Lonach  once  from  Mar  men  wrest  the 

sway. 

The  Cairn  majestic  stands  on  Deva's  side, 
Abroad  defending  Mar  men's  valour  tried  ; 
In  it,  vociferated  on  foreign  ground, 
Unsheltered  worth  a  sure  protection  found. 
A  rock  of  strength  Carn-na-Cuimhne  ex- 
alted stands. 
Like    the    proud  peak    that    streets    and 

towers  commands; 
The  lasting  emblem  of  heroic  fame, 
No  force   of  Lonach  e'er  shall  shake  its 
frame. 

Fenced  by  the  Monaltrian  Chief,  it  braves 

The  storm  that  in  its  fiercest  fury  raves; 

Displays  what  deeds  his  gallant  sires  adorn, 

And  sends  their  praise  to  ages  yet  unborn. 

Should  Heaven  once  more  restore  the  ex- 
iled line. 

And  noble  Mar  with  pristine  splendour 
shine. 

Our  Cairn  would  rise  improved  in  strength 
and  grace. 

And  lasting  shame  o'erwhelm  the  Lonach 


Veiled  in  the  gloom  of  night,  the  fiend-like 

brood 
Through  snows  and  whirlwinds  marched  to 

spill  our  blood; 
A  deluge  poured  from  Mar's  too  watchful 

band, 
Dissolved  their  frost-cemented  wall  of  sand. 
Bear  my  heart's  wish,  where  Lai-ick  purls 

along, 
To  the  great  champion,  noble,  biave,  and 

strong. 
Who  loves  the  cause  of  friends,  but  never 

drew 
A  sword  to  figbt  for  Lonach's  paltry  crew. 

Braemar,  through  all  its  range  of  hills  and 

vales. 
No  parent  chief  but  brave  Mackinlay  hails; 
Like   him,   his  sons  as  flames  in  combat 

glow. 
Their  backs  were  never  seen  by  mortal  foe. 
Mackinlay's  lofty  tree  the  grove  commands. 
And  wide  its  sphere  of  leafy  boughs  expands; 
Its  umbi-age  guards,  enlivens,  soothes,  and 


No  plant  has  Lonach  reared  to  match  its 
charms. 


Nursed  in  the    orchard,   monarch   of   the 

woods, 
Tall  as  the  regal  oak  that  mates  the  clouds, 
Its  offspring  bloom  beneath  the  shade, 
And  shall  not  bend  though  Lonach's  blasts 

invade. 
The  low-lifed  Lonach,   pithless,  worthless 

throng. 
Nor  taste  the  deer,  nor  know  the  mountain 

tongue; 
Their  hardiest  boor  that  climbs  the  towering 

hill 
Has  his  cheek  bathed  with  many  a  trickling 

rill. 

Securely  swerved  to  the  luckless  side, 

They  rave  with  shameless  noise  and  sense- 
less pride; 

To  splendid  rank  can  those  produce  a  claim? 

Or  when  was  their's  the  deed  approved  by 
fame  ? 

Could  Lonach  dare  to  stretch  contention's 
cord 

With  those  who  wear  the  plaid  and  wield 
the  sword  ? 

Could  they  the  sword  like  mountain  war- 
riors wield 

Who  never  faced  a  foe  nor  spied  a  field  ' 

But  many  a  chief,  majestic,  brave,  and 
bold. 

Have  graced  the  Cairn  in  glory's  lists  en- 
rolled. 

That  oft  encountered  foes  on  foot  or  steed, 

And  bade  the  war  with  many  an  inroad 
bleed. 

Blest  be  the  race  inspired  by  valour's 
charms. 

Where'er  they  turn  may  conquest  bless 
their  arms; 

Among  our  clans  be  theirs  a  fair  renown, 

And  my  heart's  warmest  wish  their  merits 
crown. 


THE  CELTIC  CHAIR  FUND. 

At  the  recent  Meeting  of  the 
Edinburgh  University  Council,  Pro- 
fessor Kelland  in  the  chair,  a 
minute  of  the  last  meeting  of  the 
Celtic  Chair  Committee  was  read, 
in  which  it  was  stated  that  the 
amount  of  funds  now  subscribed 
was  £8065, 17s.  6d.,  and  the  amount 
already  paid  £6457,  of  which  £2800 
was  invested  in  heritable  security. 

Professor  Blackie,  in  speaking  to 


April,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


125 


this  minute,  said,  As  convener  of 
the  Celtic  Chair  Committee,  I  have 
the  utmost  pleasure  in  reporting  the 
continued  growth  and  visible  in- 
crease of  tlie  fund.  At  the  last 
meeting  of  the  council  in  October 
last,  the  subscribed  sums  stood  at 
the  figure  of  £6823,  lis. ;  since  that 
period  the  additional  subscriptions 
amount  to  £1242,  6s.  6d., — making 
a  total  of  £8065,  17s.  6d.  The 
steady  progress  of  this  fund  is  to  be 
attributed,  no  doubt,  partly  to  the 
warm  interest  and  persevering 
energy  of  the  parties  principally 
concerned,  but  partly  also  in  no 
small  measure  to  the  dissipation  of 
those  dense  clouds  of  ignorance,  and 
the  breaking  down  of  those  bristling 
walls  of  prejudice  among  the  Low- 
land population,  wdth  which  the 
proposal  of  the  University  Council 
was  originally  met.  So  far  as  the 
Celts  are  concerned  their  activity 
both  at  home  and  abroad  during 
the  last  six  months  has  been  unre- 
mitting, and  has  produced  the  most 
encouraging  results.  (Applause.)  I 
dii'ect  attention  with  special  grati- 
tude to  the  sum  of  £135  contributed 
by  the  men  of  Cow^al,  and  of  £64 
by  the  Highlanders  of  Islay.  A- 
mong  colonial  contributions  the  first 
place  is  due  to  the  Honourable  John 
Maclean  of  Redcastle,  Otago,  Avho 
has  transmitted  the  munificent  sum 
of  £200  to  the  fund,  over  and  above 
his  contributions  to  the  general  sub- 
scription of  the  district  to  which  he 
belongs.  In  returning  thanks  to 
the  colonies  generally,  I  have  to  re- 
maik  that  the  amount  of  their  con- 
tributions, except  in  a  few  individual 
cases,  has  not  as  yet  reached  me 
officially,  and  therefore  cannot  ap- 
pear in  the  list  herewith  published  ; 
but  I  feel  myself  perfectly  justified 
in  saying,  from  private  communica- 
tions made  to  me,  and  from  notices 
in  the  newspapers,  that  in  Australia, 


Ceylon,  and  New  Zealand,  in  the 
United  States,  and  (notwithstanding 
the  serious  depression  of  trade)  in 
Canada,  the  most  vigorous  exertions 
are  being  now  made  to  plant  the 
Scot  Abroad  in  that  position  wdiich 
belongs  to  him,  in  a  scheme  so 
widely  patriotic  and  so  essentially 
national  as  the  Celtic  Chair.  As 
the  fruits  of  these  eS"orts,  I  have  no 
hesitation  in  stating  that  the  real 
amount  of  the  subscribed  fund,  in- 
cluding what  has  not  been  officially 
announced  to  me,  but  of  whose  ex- 
istence I  am  morally  certain,  cannot 
be  much  less  than  £9000— (applause) 
— and  I  shall  not  be  at  all  surprised, 
if  before  next  October  we  had 
£10,000  complete,  and  by  this  time 
next  year  the  whole  £12,000,  which 
is  the  point  beneath  which,  in  my 
opinion,  the  committee  should  not 
consider  themselves  entitled  to  remit 
their  patriotic  exertions.  When 
friends  are  so  numerous  and  so 
enthusiastic  as  the  men  of  genuine 
Celtic  blood  and  Scottish  nerve  who 
support  this  movement  in  the  far 
ends  of  the  earth,  it  is  extremely 
difficult  to  signalise  individual  names 
without  doing  injustice  to  others ; 
but  considering  the  disadvantage  at 
which  I  am  placed,  living  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  various  scenes  of 
colonial  action  in  this  matter,  I  may 
be  pardoned,  besides  the  noble  name 
already  mentioned,  for  giving  special 
prominence  among  our  friends  to 
John  Mackay,  Esq.,  Chicago  ;  W. 
Murray,  Esq.,  and  C.  H.  Sutherland, 
Esq.,  Hamilton,  Ontario;  Eev.  W. 
Matthew^,  Duncan  M'Kellar,  Esq., 
J.P.,  and  John  Rutherford,  Esq., 
Victoria;  Daniel  Cameron,  Esq., 
Eiverton,  Otago;  J.  R  Gillies, Esq., 
N.  Fleming,  Esq.,  and  T.  H.  Mac- 
kenzie, Esq.,  Otago  ;  AV.  A.  Tolmie, 
Esq.,  M.P.C.,  Dunedin  ;  —  Mackay, 
Esq.,  Ceylon.  So  much  for  the  sub- 
scribed fund  :  and  for  its  realisation 


126 


THE  GAEL. 


April,  1876. 


in  hard  cash,  I  have  the  satisfoction 
to  announce  that  the  sum  of  £6457, 
16s.  has  already  been  paid  up,  of 
which  .£2800  is  invested  on  herit- 
able security  at  4|  and  4^  per  cent., 
and  the  rest  is  lodged  in  the  Com- 
mercial Bank,  looking  out  for  the 
first  favourable  investment.  The 
Council  will  therefore  distinctly  per- 
ceive that  in  a  very  short  time  the 
fund  will  show  an  annual  income  of 
£300  a-year,  which  Avill  be  a  sum 
amply  sufficient  to  cover  any  deduc- 
tion that  may  fall  to  be  made  from 
the  subscribed  total  in  name  of 
necessary  expenses,  disappointed  ex- 
pectations, miscalculations,  and  such 
accidents  as,  under  the  name  of  bad 
debts,  even  the  best  conducted 
scheme  of  subscriptions  cannot  ab- 
solutely steer  free  from.  In  con- 
clusion, I  hope  I  may  be  pardoned 
for  again  alluding  specially  to  the 
ignorant  imaginations,  silly  pre- 
judices, and  narrow  intellectual 
bigotries  which  still  possess  the 
minds  of  some  men  with  regard  to 
this  matter  of  the  Celtic  Chair. 
(Laughter.)  In  the  first  place,  some 
will  still  persistently  believe  that 
Celtic  means  Gaelic,  and  nothing 
more,  which  is  just  as  logical  as  to 
say  that  a  dog  means  a  Skye  terrier. 
(Laughter.)  Others  are  possessed 
by  the  idea  that  the  University  is 
getting  up  an  artificial  and  useless 
machinery  for  the  purpose  of  keep- 
ing a  language  alive  with  regard  to 
which  they  have  only  the  feelings 
once  expressed  in  a  fretful  moment 
by  the  Rev.  Donald  Smith,  of 
Campbelton,  the  publisher  of  the 
"  Seann  Bain,"  that  "  he  wished  it 
had  been  dead  and  buried  before  he 
was  born."  Now,  I  for  one,  with 
regard  to  this  matter,  certainly  will 
say,  that  as  a  philologer  I  prefer 
much  to  study  the  Gaelic  language, 
being  alive,  to  dissecting  it  after  it 
is  dead ;  and  I  am  well  assured  that 


if  the  Highland  Society  of  London, 
in  prosecution  of  the  first  article  of 
its  charter,  or  the  Highland  Society 
of  Scotland,  in  following  forth  those 
intellectual  aspirations  which  led 
them  to  make  the  celebrated  inquiry 
into  the  Ossianic  poetry  of  the  High- 
lands at  the  beginning  of  this  cen- 
tury, and  in  the  year  1828  to  put 
forth  their  well-known  Scoto-Celtic 
Dictionary — if  these  bodies,  I  say, 
composed  of  men  of  the  most  noble 
Celtic  descent,  and  placed  in  the 
most  influential  positions,  had  set 
themselves  seriously  at  the  time  of 
their  institution  to  do  what  we  are 
doing  now,  and  given  to  the  ancient 
languages  of  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 
land that  academical  consideration 
which  is  pre-eminently  their  due,  in 
such  case  we  should  already  have 
gathered,  from  the  labours  ef  the 
Celtic  Professor  among  the  living 
people  of  the  Highlands,  no  incon- 
siderable amount  of  valuable  philo- 
logical material,  now,  I  am  afraid, 
lost,  or  daily  being  dissipated  for 
ever.  And  if  these  are  the  views 
with  regard  to  the  living  speech  of 
the  Highlands,  which  as  a  teacher 
of  the  history  and  growth  of  lan- 
guage in  a  Scottish  University  I  am 
proud  to  hold,  not  the  less  emphati- 
cally, as  a  man  and  a  citizen,  do  I 
say  that  I  can  see  no  benefit  what- 
ever likely  to  accrue,  to  Scottish 
humanity  from  that  systematic  pro- 
scription and  violent  stamping  out 
of  the  language  of  the  Highlands, 
which  some  persons  hold  forth  as 
the  cheap  and  easy  remedy  for  all 
the  ills  that  Celtic  flesh  is  heir  to. 
(Laughter  and  applause.)  On  the 
contrary,  I  hold  that  the  Pauline 
precept  of  "rejoicing  with  those  that 
rejoice,  and  weeping  with  those  that 
weep,"  imperatively  calls  upon  us 
rather  in  the  most  kindly  way  to 
cherish,  than  in  the  most  unbrother- 
ly  way  to  disown  the  language  which 


April,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


127 


the  most  generous  and  chivalrous 
and  adventurous  part  of  our  mixed 
population — men  who  fought  our 
most  brilliant  battles  most  bravely 
— sucked  in  with  their  mother's 
milk ;  and  as  an  educationist,  I  offer 
myself  to  prove  that  the  best  pos- 
sible education  for  a  young  High- 
lander is  a  conjoint  training  in  Eng- 
lish and  Gaelic,  performing  in  their 
case  exactly  the  same  disciplinarian 
function  that  the  conjoint  study  of 
Latin  and  English  does  for  the  Low- 
lander  ;  and  I  say  to  every  School 
Board  of  a  Highland  district  that  if, 
along  with  a  just  prominence  given 
to  the  inculcation  of  English,  they 
are  not  taking  means  to  give  special 
encouragement  to  a  comparative 
study  of  Gaelic  and  English,  they 
are  acting  on  principles  contrary  to 
the  fundamental  axioms  alike  of 
educational  science  and  of  social 
polity.  But  if  they  choose  so  to  do, 
and  voluntarily  to  commit  an  act 
of  moral  and  intellectual  suicide, 
whether  from  the  lack  of  a  just  self- 
esteem  or  from  the  humiliating  posi- 
tion into  which  Scotland  has  put  it- 
self by  accepting  English  pay  and 
English  superintendence  in  points  of 
educational  detail  for  Scotland, 
which  Englishmen  have  neither  the 
capacity  nor  the  will  to  comprehend 
— in  either  case,  it  is  not  the  busi- 
ness of  the  University  to  invent  a 
machinery  to  save  them  from  that 
extinction  into  which  they  so  ig- 
nobly precipitate  themselves.  If 
the  Gaelic,  Welsh,  and  Irish  lan- 
guages were  all  dead  to-morrow,  the 
University,  though  possessed  of 
fewer  materials  for  a  comprehensive 
Celtic  philology,  has  even  a  higher 
duty  imposed  upon  it — to  preserve 
and  to  interpret  for  future  ages  the 
historic  remains  of  the  common 
British  fatherhood  of  our  race  :  and 


unless  the  Universities  of  Scotland 
are  doomed  to  exist  as  mere  know- 
ledge-shops for  the  practice  of  money- 
making  professions,  or,  as  Sir  John 
M'Neil  once  expressed  it,  as  kail- 
yards and  kitchen  gardens  contrast- 
ed with  the  splendid  hothouses  and 
luxuriant  Botanic  Gardens  of  our 
Academic  neighbours  on  the  banks 
of  the  Cam  and  the  Isis — (laughter) 
— if  Oxford  and  Cambridge  are  still 
to  remain  what  they  have  in  great 
measure  been  hitherto,  magnificent 
houses  of  refuge  for  those  branches 
of  higher  learning  and  profounder 
research,  which,  by  a  beggarly  eco- 
nomy and  a  low  utilitarianism,  have 
been  systematically  starved  out  of 
ScotLand — unless  we  are  content  to 
remain  in  inglorious  self-satisfaction 
on  this  lowest  platform  of  academi- 
cal existence- — we  shall  have  no 
difficulty  in  recognising  that,  of  all 
people  in  Europe,  there  is  the  most 
emphatic  call  on  us  here  in  Scotland 
to  place  a  Chair  of  Celtic  language, 
history,  literature,  and  antiquities 
on  a  position  of  the  most  honour- 
able equality  with  the  most  favoured 
chairs  in  that  great  corporation  of 
letters  which  we  call  a  university. 
And  I  have  only  to  express  a  hope, 
in  conclusion,  that  the  wise  and  far- 
sighted  scheme  which  by  this  Uni- 
versity has  been  so  bravely  started 
may  with  equal  promptitude  march 
to  a  speedy  completion,  and  that 
none  of  us  may  live  to  see  the  shame 
of  a  Celtic  Professor  holding  public 
lectures  in  Saxon  Oxford,  while  we 
in  Celtic  Scotland,  go  about,  hat  in 
hand,  begging  for  its  possibility 
(Applause). 

On  the  motion  of  Mr  Taylor 
Innes,  it  was  unanimously  resolved 
to  reappoint  the  committee,  and  to 
thank  Professor  Blackie  for  his 
labour. 


128 


THE  GAEL. 


April,  187C. 


loNA  Cross.— There  is  to  be  seen  in 
the  yard  of  Messrs.  Davidson,  sculptors, 
Academy  Street,  Inverness,  a  finely  orna- 
mented Runic  cross  of  Burghead  freestone. 
The  design  is  by  Mr.  Ehind.  As  might  be 
expected  from  the  ]\Iessrs.  Davidson,  it  is 
an  original  and  well  executed  work  of  art. 
The  whole  is  eleven  feet  high,  and  rests  on 
a  sloping  pedestal  of  the  same  stone.  The 
cross  is  adorned  with  raised  ornamental 
balls,  and  elaborately  carved  with  Runic 
ornaments  of  different  patterns.  The  shaft 
is  indented  into  three  variously  shaped 
panels,  separated  by  Runic  bands  contain- 
ing the  inscription  in  Gaelic,  Latin,  and 
English.  The  subjoined  is  the  inscription 
in  the  Gaelic  panel  :— 

GUIDHIBH 

AIRSON  ANAM 

EOBHAIN  CAMERON, 

ALBANACH  DE 
MEUINNTIR  INBHIR- 

RUAIDH,  AN  LOCH- 

ABAIR,  A   DHEUG  AIR 

AN  T-SEACHDAMH 

LATHA  DE  CHIAD 

MHIOS  AN  FHEGHATR 

'S  A  BHLIADHNA  1874 

'S  E  TRI  nCHEAD  BLI- 

ADHNA  'S  CEITHIR- 

DIAG  A  DH'  AOIS 

R.  I.  P. 

The  monument  was  ordered  for  a  Highland 

family  in  Geelong,  Australia. 


We  take  the  following  from  Professor 
Blackie's  recent  valedictory  address  at  the 
Edinburgh  Educational  Institute  : — 

And  for  the  Celtic  Chair — sure,  man  was 
never 
So  strangely  tricked  into  so  rare  a  job. 
Nor  more  surprised  to  find  himself  so 
clever 
To  storm  each  purse  and  rifle  every  fob. 
Look  to  j'our  laurels,  deacons  of  the  Free, 
There's  one  can  charm  the  cash  as  well 
as  you 
Forth  from  close  buttoned  pockets.     Do 
you  see 
Eight  thousand  pounds  in  hand  and  four 
in  view? 
Call  me  eccentric,  but  admire  the  blether 
Whose  wheedling  craft  brought  all  this  gold 
together. 


And  more  than  gold  !  what's  gold  ?  may 
stand  for  all, 
Worthy  or  worthless,  as  the  case  may 
be  ; 
Nought  in  itself,  but  meaning  what  you 
caU 
The  thing  with  special  virtue  lent  from 
thee. 
My  gold  means  love — love  of  all  Highland 
hearts 
That  I  have  loved  as  brother  loveth 
brother. 
And  strove  to  pour  some  balm  into  their 
smarts 
From  the  warm  bosom  of  their  Celtic 
mother. 
And  plant  them  high  in  academic  home 
With  grace  of  Greece  and  state  of  mighty 
Rome. 

And  at  my  call  from  heart  to  heart  there 
leapt 
The  swift  response  through  every  winding 
glen: 
And  clan  to  clan  replied,   and  bravely 
swept 
A  breath  of  power  from  mighty  Ben  to 
Ben  ; 
And  prince  and  peasant  caught  the  patriot 
theme. 
And  fanned  the  flame  of  Caledonian  fire, 
From  frost  of  cold  obli\don  to  redeem 
The  stout  MacDonald  and  the  Mac- 
Intyre  ; 
And  our  liege  lady  from  great  London 

town 
To  weep  warm  tears  o'er  Ossian's  grave 
came  down. 

From  sea  to  sea  the  fervid  message  ran 
Of  glorious  resurrection  to  the  Gael, 
And  every  member  of  the  scattered  clan 
To  note  of  triumph  changed  his  doleful 
wail. 
In    Indian   homes   and   far   Australian 
islands. 
And  westward  far  beyond  the  Atlantic 
tide 
The  bravest  blood  that  flowed  from  Celtic 
Highlands 
With  one  concentuous  pulse  of  pride 
replied — 
Macleans,  Mackays,  Macgregors,  raise  the 

cry 
Shoulder  to  shoulder,  sworn  to  do  or  die  ! 


Aisr 


C^^IDHEA^L 


Alar  ghath  soluis  do  m'  anamfein 

Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fhalbh." — Oiseax. 


V.  Leabh.]    CEUD  MHIOS  AN  T-SAMHRAIDH,  1876.        [53  Air. 


TUS     AGUS    NADUR    DIBHE 
LAIDIE. 

Tha  aims  an  t-saoglial  còrr  a's 
leth-clieud  priomh-dhuil,  de  'm  blieil 
gach  ni  air  a  dlieanamh  suas,  agus 
buaidheau  air  leth  aig  gacli  aon  diu. 
Tha  neart  de  na  nithe  a  clii  sinn  air 
an  deanamh  suas  de  dha  no  tri  de 
na  duilibh  so  air  an  coimlieasgadh. 
Tha  cuid  diu  nach  gabh  faicinn  idir. 
Dhiu  so  tha  'n  da  stuth  de  'm  bheil 
an  t-aile  air  a  dheanamh  suas.  Tha 
'n  cuigeamh  cuid  deth  de  'n  phriomh- 
dhuil  ris  an  abrar  oxijgen,  agus  a 
chuid  eile  de  nitrogen.  Nise  cha  b' 
urrainn  neach  air  bith  a  bhi  beo  ach 
uine  ghoirid  ann  an  aon  de  na  duilibh 
sin  air  leth.  Tha  uisge,  arithisd,  air 
a  dheanamh  suas  de  hydrogen  agus 
oxygen  ;  da  stuth  a  loisgeas  mar 
ghual  nuair  nach  'eil  iad  measgta 
feadh  a  cheile.  Mar  so  tha  an 
staillin  soilleir  cruaidh  a  fas  'na 
luaithre  ruadh,  agus  gaeh  seorsa 
feòla  nan  ni  breun,  nuair  tha  'n  t- 
aile  a  drughadh  orra.  Faodaidh  tu 
nise  a  thuigsinn  ciamar  tha  ni  cho 
milis  ri  siucar  air  a  tho'irt  a  eorna 
agus  a  buntata  grod,  agus  ni  cho 
garg  loisgeach  ri  uisge-beatha,  a 
siucar. 

Tha  siucar  air  a  dheanamh  suas 
de  dha  stuth  ris  an  abrar  'sa  Bheùrla 
carbonic  acid  agus  alcohol.  Ma  chuir- 
ear  beirm  ri  siucar  air  a  leaghadh 
ann  am  burn,  agus  gun  d'  theid 
f  hagail  air  dhoigh  a's  gun  ruig  an  t- 
aile  air,  tha  sgaradh  air  a  chuir 
eadar  an  da  stuth  ud  :  tha  bias  milis 


an  t-siucair  a  falbh  agus  'na  aite  tha 
bias  garg  an  alcohol,  air  a  choimh- 
easgadh  le  bias  geur  an  acid.  Ged 
a  tha  am  burn  agus  iad  so  fhathasd 
an  ceann  a  cheile,  gidheadh  tha  iad 
a  nise  'nam  boinneagan  air  leth  feadh 
an  uisge.  Roi'  so  blia  an  t-alcohol 
agus  an  t-acid  air  an  coimheasgadh 
air  dhoigh  's  gun  robh  gnè  gach  aon 
diu  air  a  chall,  mar  anns  an  t-siucar 
thioram.  Tha  an  stuth  a  nise  'na 
leanii.  Gabhaidh  stuth  coltach  ri  so 
deanamh  de  gach  deoch  anns  ain 
bheil  siucar,  mar  a  tha  sugh  nan 
ulihlan  agus  nam  fion-dhearcan. 
Oibrichidh  sligh  mheasan  mar  iad  so, 
gun  bheirm  idir,  ma  dh'  f  hagar  iad 
sgaoilte  's  an  aile  :  ach  ma  dhuinear 
suas  iad  ann  an  soitheach,  cha'n 
oibrich.  Ach  far  am  bheil  a  mhain 
siucar  agus  uisge  glan,  no  stuth  mar 
bhrailis,  cha'n  oibrich  e  gun  bheimi 
a  chuir  ris.  'S  e  na  tha  de  mhùth- 
adh  eadar  fiou  agus  leann,  gur  e 
fuigheall  nam  fion-dhearc  a  th'  anns 
an  dara  h-aon,  agus  fuigheall  eorna 
no  slait-shiueair  a  th'  anns  an  stuth 
eile,  maille  ri  uisge,  carbonic  acid, 
agus  alcohol.  Ma  leigear  leotha 
seasamh  anns  a  ghaoith  car  nine 
bheag,  falbhaidh  an  t-acid  feadh  an 
athair  agus  caillidh  iad  am  bias  geur; 
ach  tha  iad  cho  garg  agus  cho  laidir 
's  a  bha  iad  roimhe ;  oir  is  e  an  t- 
alcohol  a  mhain  a  tha  a'  losgadh 
agus  a'  togail  misg.  Ach  ma 
bhlaithichear  iad,  tha  'n  t-alcohol  agus 
beagan  de'n  uisge  ag  eiridh  comhla 
ris  an  acid;  agus  mar  is  treise  an 
teine,  's  ann  is  miigha  a  dh'  eireas 
9 


130 


AN    GAIDHEAL,      Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samhraidh„  1S76. 


de'n  uisge.  Nise  ma  ghlacar  an 
toit  anil  am  feadan  fada  fuar,  colt- 
ach  ri  cnuimheag  na  poite  duiblie, 
tlia  an  t-alcolwl  agus  an  t-uisge  ag 
eiridh  nam  boinneachan  an  ceann  a 
cheile,  ach  tha  an  t-acid  a  sgaoileadh 
feadh  an  aile.  Tha,  mar  an  ceudna 
beagan  de  stuitliean  sleamhain  eile, 
a  bh'  anns  an  leann  no  's  an  fliion, 
a  leantuinn  riutlia ;  agus  'se  so  a 
mliain  is  aobhar  air  na  tha  de  mhuth 
eadar  hranndi,  rum,  agns  uisge- 
beatha,  ach  gum  bheil  beagan  tuill' 
uisge  aim  an  cuid  diu  na  th'  anns  a 
chuid  eile.  Tha  gach  aon  diu 
soilleir  mar  uisge-beatha  gus  am 
bheil  dath  'g  a  chuir  orra,  an  deigh 
a  bhi  air  an  tarruinn.  'S  ann  as  an 
t-siucar  a  mhain  a  tha  an  t-alcohol  a 
tighinn  ;  agus  cha'n  'eil  an  t-atharr- 
ach  is  lutha  eadar  an  t-alcohol  a  th' 
ann  an  uisge-beatha  agus  an  t-alcohol 
a  th'  ann  an  leann,  no  ann  am  fion, 
no  an  dibhe  air  bith  eile. 

Tha  doigh  aig  daoine  foghluimte 
air  an  t-alcohol  a  sgaradh  gu  tur  bho 
gach  ni  eile :  agus  mar  so  f  huaras  a 
mach  gum  bheil  tuille  as  leth  an 
uisge-bheatha  'na  alcohol,  agus  gur 
uisge  glan,  gu  inbhe  bhig,  a  chuid 
eile.  Is  alcohol  an  ceathramh  cuid 
de  'n  f  hion  a  thatar  ag  òl  anns  na 
rioghachdaibh  so :  agus  mar  sin  tha 
e  soilleir  gum  bheil  da  ghloine  f  hion 
faisg  air  a  bhi  cho  druighteach  ri 
aona  ghloin  uisge-bheatha.  Mar  is 
treise  an  stuth,  's  ann  is  mugha  an 
diughail.  Nuair  a  tha  uisge  an 
ceann  alcohol,  cha  'n  'eil  an  t-aon 
tomhas  deth  baileach  cho  garg  's  a 
nuair  a  tha  e  gun  mheasgi^dh  agus 
uime  sin  feumar  beagan  tuille  dheth 
Ò1  mu  'n  druigh  e  air  neach  cho 
searbh  's  a  nuair  nach  'eil  sion  'n  a 
cheann.  Ach  'se  so  na  tha  de  mhiith 
eadar  a  bhi  'g  ol,  alcohol  ghlan  agus 
a  bhi  'g  Ò1  leann,  fion,  uisge-beatha 
no  deoch  air  bith  de  'n  t-seors.  Tha 
mi  creidsinn  gum  bheil  fios  agad 
fliein,  a  leughadair,  gum  feud  duine 


a'  bhi  air  mhisg  le  leann  no  le 
fion  cho  math  's  le  uisge-beatha: 
agus  tha  'n  tuille  dhiu  sin  cho  diubli- 
alach  air  gach  doigh  ri  tomhas  n'  a's 
lutha  de  'n  uisge-bheatha. 

Feudar  a  thuigsinn,  on  bhlasatb' 
air  alcohol,  agus  mar  a  sgaoileas  e  'm 
beul,  nach  biadh  no  deoch  e.  Thug 
ar  Cruitheir  dhuinn  ar  bias  agus  ar 
faireachdainn  a  chomharachadh  au 
ni  a  tha  feumail  bho  'n  ni  a  tha  cro- 
nail  do  'r  pearsa.  Nise  nan  tugamaid 
uisge-beatha  do  neach  nach  cualadh 
ni  riamh  mu  dheibhinn,  's  ann  a 
chuireadh  e  mach  e  agus  braoisg  air, 
mar  is  minig  a  chithear  air  daoine 
an  deighe  balgum  dibhe  a  shlugadh; 
cha  dean  duine  paiteach  mar  sin  an 
deigh  uisge  61 ;  ni  mo  a  tha  iotadh 
a  fantainn  an  deighe  dha  gu  leoir  ol. 
Ach  tha  alcohol  garg,  loisgeach  ;  agus 
an  aite  e  chasgadli  pathaidh,  mar  is 
mugha  a  dh'  olthar  dhe,  's  ann  is 
mugha  ar  patha,  agus  's  ann  is  mugha 
ar  deidli  air  tuille,  a  mlieud  's  'g  an 
Ò1  sinn.  Tha  clann  an  toiseach  'g  a 
shlugadh  gu  sgairteil,  ged  a  bheir  e 
deoir  bho  'n  suilibh,  on  a  tha  iad  a' 
smuaineachadh  gum  bheil  e  cluiteach 
dhaibh  gun  smuairein  a  ghabhail  a  ni 
a  tha  'g  an  goirteachadh ;  agus  mar 
so  tha  iad  ag  ionnsachadh  ol  gu  toil- 
each. 

Nuair  a  tha  alcohol  a  ruigheachd 
a  ghoile,  tha  e  'g  a  sgaldadh ;  agus 
ma  tha  neach  a  leantainn  fada  air  a 
bhi  'g  a  ol  trie,  tha  e  a  losgadh  air 
falbh  a  chochaill  a  tha  a'  comh- 
dachadh  taobh  a  stigh  a  ghoile  gu 
leir.*  Nise  tha  so  baileach  cron- 
ail :  oir  nuair  a  loisgear  an  comhd- 
ach  so,  tha  an  sùgh  a  tha  a'  sruthadh 
troimhe  a'  call  a  chuid  mhbr  d'  a 
neart;  agus  'se  'n  sugh  so  is  meadhon 


*  Fhuaras  so  a  mach  le  dearg-lighichibh 
a  dh'  fhosgail  cuirp  dhaoine  a  bha  tròin  air 
an  deoch :  agus  's  ann  mar  so  a  fhuaras  a 
mach  gu  coimhlionta  an  doigh  anns  am 
bheil  deoch  laidir  ag  oibreachadh  air  pearsa 
an  duine. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1S7G.       AX   GAIDHEAL. 


131 


air  a  bliiadh  a  clinamh.  Tha  a/co/zo/' naidh  letli-bhodacli  do  neach  òg. 
a  cuir  bacadli  air  cnamh  a  bhidh,  'S  e  'm  fàtb  nach  'eil  daoine  a  tba 
cuideachd,  a  cheann  gun  cum  e  ni '  'g  òl  tuill'  a's  so  a'  basachadh  nach 
air  bith  a  ebuirear  ann  gun  chaochl- 1  'eil  iad  ag  òl  moran  deth  combladh ; 
adh.  Xuair  is  math  le  leigh  ball- 1  oir  an  deigh  dha  sgaoileadh  feadh 
cuirp  a  chumail  gun  ghrodadh,  j  ua  fala,  tha  moran  deth  gu  h-ealamh 
cuiridh  e  an  alcohol  e.  Loisgidh  so  I  a'  tighinn  amach  troi  a  chraicionn 
an  taobh  a  mach  dheth  ;  ach  cha !  agus  's  an  anail.  Ged  a  tha  e  a'  dol 
tig  muthadh  tuille  air,  ged  chumtadh  I  am  measg  na  fala,  cha  'u  eil  boinne 
an  sin  mile  bliadhn'  e.  I  dheth  a'  fas  'n  a  fhuil,  mar  a  tha 

An  deighe  a  bin  uine  bheag  anns '  gach  seorsa  bidh.  Tha  so  a  feuch- 
a  ghoile,  tha  an  t-alcohol  a  dol  am :  ainn  nach  'eil  toradh  air  bith  ann; 
measg  na  fala,  agus  a'  sgaoileadh  air ;  oir  tha  dearbh  f bios  aig  daoine 
feadh  an  eanachainn,  agus  gach  ball  i  foghlnimte  gur  ann  as  an  fhuil  a 
de  'n  chorp.  Tha  e  nise  a'  cuir  teas  i  tha  an  corp  gu  leir  air  a  bheath- 
feadh  na  colluinne  gu  leir ;  agus  tha  achadh.  Cha 'n  eil  an  alcohol  ach 
daoiiie  a  faineachadh  a  bhi  ni  's  j  gual  a's  nisge ;  agus  chan  'eil  e  a 
beothaile,  ni 's  misneachaile,  agus  ni  j  toirt  neart  do  dhaoine  ni  's  mugha 
's  neo-omhailiche  mu  gach  ni ;  agus  i  na  tha  a  chuip  a  toirt  neart  do  'n 


tha  an  smaointean  troi'  a  cheile,  air 
dlioigh  's  nach  urrainn  iad  cuis 
dhomhaion  a  rannsachadh  mar  air 
uairibh  eile.  Mar  so  tha  an  lasanan 
agus  an  anamiannan  air  an  neai'tach- 
adh,  agus  an  tuigse  aig  a  cheart  am 
air  a  cuir  fo  mhi-riaghailt.  Tha 
daoine  an  sin  deas  air  nithe  a  labli- 
airt  nach  bu  choir  dhaibh,  air  a  blii 


each.  Tha  e  cuir  teas  agus  buaireas 
feadh  na  fala;  agus  uime  sin  tha 
moran  a'  smaoineachadh  gum  bheil 
e  'g  an  neartachadh.  Ach  beachd- 
aicheadh  iad  ciod  a  tha  tighinn  'n  a 
dheighe;  agus  chi  iad  gur  ann  a 
tha  e  '  fàgail  dhaoine  fann  agus 
aufhulanacla.  'S  e  fois  a's  hiadh 
amhain  a  shuidhich  Freasdal  chum 


cuir  bòsd  asda  f  hein,  agus  a  dean- 1  neart  ath-bheothachadh,  agus  fogh- 
amh  tair  air  daoin  eile,  agus  air  j  naidh  iad  so  ;  a's  cha  'n  'eil  feum  an 
geilleadh  do  gach  droch  run  a  dh'  j  ni  eile.  Ged  a  tha  e  cuir  teas  feadh 
eireas  'n  an  inntinn.  "  Amhaircidh  !  a  chuirp  an  toiseach  tha  e  a  fosgladh 
do  shuilean,"  arsa  Solamh,  "  air  I  pòran  a  chraicinn,  agus  tha  an  duine 
mnaibh  coimheach,  agus  cuiridh  do  i  a  rithist  ni  's  buailtiche  do  f  huachd 
chridhe  an  ceill  nithe  claona  ;  agus  1  agus  ni 's  fhuaire  na  bha  e  mus  an 
bithidh  tu  mar  an  ti  a  luidheas  sios  j  d'  òl  e  boinne  dheth.  Mar  so 
ann  am  meadhon  na  fairge,  no  mar  I  chualthar  mu  iomad  neach  a  mheil- 
esan  a  luidheas  air  barr  croinn  siuil "  |  ich  le  fuachd  an  taobh  tuath 
Gnath-fhocal,  caib.  xxiii.  v.  33,  34, 1  America,   a  cheann   gun  d'  òl  iad 

moran     branndi     ri     latha     reota 
geamhraidh. 

Labhair  na  baird  moran  mu  'n 
chridhsalas  a  tha  'g  eiridh  bho 
dheoch  laidir;  ach  b'  e  sin  cridh- 
ealas  na  boilich  agus  na  connspoid, 
a  dh'  fhagadh  daoine  tiamhaidh, 
crosda,  an  lath'  -  arnamhaireach. 
Cridhealas  gu  dearbh !  Ciod  an 
cridhealas  a  th'  aig  bean  agus  cloinn 
a  mhisgeir  nuair  a  tha  iad  'n  an 


]\Iar  so  tha  daoine  fo  chumhachd 
deoch  laidir  air  an  tarruinn  gu  braid 
agus  neoghloine,  gu  connsachadh, 
trodadh,  agus  math  a  dh'  f  heudte  gu 
mort.  Tha  Breitheachan  agus  Maoir 
a  Chruin  ag  radh  gur  h-e  'n  t-ol  is 
aobhar  corr  a's  da  thrian  de  na  ciont- 
aibh  a  th'  air  an  cuir  an  gniomh  air 
feadh  Bhreatann. 

Bheir  bodach  de  dh'  alcohol  glan 
has  duine  an  uine  ghearr  agus  fogh- 


132 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samliraidh,  1876. 


criiban  gu  luideagach,  acrach  mu 
theallach  fuar,  lom,  agus  esa  ag  ol  's 
an  tigh-leanna  an  ni  bu  clioir  biadh 
agus  aodach  a  cheannach  dhaibli, 
agus  a  cliuireas  fuaim  a  cheuman  a 
tighinn  dachaidli  sgàth  orra,  agus 
cha  'n  e  aoibhneas,  mar  bu  cbnbh- 
aidhl  Be  sincridhealasnabochdainn 
agus  na  truaighe  !  Ciod  an  cridh- 
ealas  a  tli'  aig  a  cliairdibb  nuaii-  a 
tba  e  'g  an  ruigheacbd  cbo  goirt  's 
gum  bheil  iad  cuid  de  db'  uairibh 
a  rimacbadh  gun  tigeadb  criocb  air 
a  laithibb  Ì  Ma  's  matb  le  daoine 
stutb  diubbail  61  a  ni  cridheil  iad 
car  seal,  faidbeadb  iad  luach  sgiUinn 
no  dba  de  'n  aile  ris  an  abrar  'sa 
Bheurla  laughing  gas.  Bheir  so 
orra  garacbdaich  gun  allsacb,  agus 
leum  le  b-aoibbneas ;  agus  ged  a  tlia 
e  cronail,  cba  'n  'eil  e  cbo  cronail  ri 
alcohol,  agus  tba  e  mòran  ni  's 
saoire  :  no  ma 's  matb  leo  ni  a  bbeir 
mor-sbubbacbas  dbaibb,  oileadb  iad 
beagan  opium.  Bbeir  sin  orra  bbi 
cbo  sona  ciuin  's  ged  a  bbitbeadb 
iad  am  flaitbeas.  Tba  'n  stutb  so 
gun  teagamb  ro  cbronail,  laidir,  oir 
'se  a  tba  moran  a  gabhail  nuair  a 
tba  iad  a  cur  as  daibh  f  bein ;  acb 
cba  cbuir  e  daoine  air  chaotbacb 
mar  a  ni  alcohol.  Tba  so  cuideacbd 
cheart  cbo  laidir,  cronacb ;  oir  tba 
e  toirt  bas  moran  feadb  nan  riogb- 
acbdan  so  gacb  latba  ;  agus  ma  db' 
òlas  duine  dhetb  uimbir  'sa  db' 
oladh  neacb  paiteacb  de  db'  uisgo, 
bbeir  è  bàs  obann  air.  Tba  na  nitbe 
sin  a  feucbainn  gu'm  faod  iomad  ni 
cronail  gean  a  cbuir  air  daoine,  agus 
faocbadb  a  tboirt  daibb  car  tiota. 
Be  bbi  cur  as  teine  le  bbi  cuir  conn- 
aidb  air,  bbi  'g  ol  alcohol  cbum 
pathadb  a  cbasgadb  :  oir  's  ann  a 
cbuireadb  e  tart  air  daoine  air  nach 
'eil  patbadb. 

Tba  deocb  laidir  a  fagail  dbaoine 
ni  's  buailticb  do  gacb  seorsa  galair; 
agus  ni  's  taise  an  deigb  a  gabbail : 
a-'us  a  bbarr  air  a  so,  tba  i  toa'ail 


moran  gbalaran  do  dbaoine  gun  ao- 
bbar  air  bitb  eile.  "  Cba  'n  aitbne 
dbomb  aon  ni  eile,"  ars  an  Leigb 
Trotter,  "  a  tba  togail  tuille  eucail 
na  deocb  laidir."  " 'S  e  ar  barail" 
arsa  tri  air  fbicbead  de  na  Leigbibh 
a  's  ainmeile  an  Lunnuinn,"  nach 
'eil  ni  a  b'  fbearr  cbum  anshocair  a 
laodacbadb,  agus  slainte  a  cbumail 
ris  gacb  neacb,  na  sgur  gu  h-iomlan 
de  bbi  'g  ol  deocb  laidir."  "  Air 
gacb  ball  de  'n  cborp  air  an  druigb 
i,"  ars  an  t-ollamb  Allen,  "tba  i  'g 
oibreachadb  mar  pbuinsein."* 

Tba  na  daoine  ris  an  abrar 
Quakers  combaraicbte  air  son  a  bbi 
seacbnacb  air  deocb  laidir;  agus 
uime  sin  tba  am  beatbasa,  a  reir  a 
cbeile,  ceitbir  bliadbna  deug  ni  's 
fbaide  na  beatba  a  cbuid  eile  de  'n 
t-sluagb.  Tba  cuid  de  gbalaraibh 
sgratbail  do  'm  bbeil  misgeirean 
ambain  buailteacb.  Cba  'n  fbaod 
daoine  a  bbi  smuaineacbadb  nacb 
'eil  deocb  laidir  a'  deanamb  coire 
dbaibb  acb  nuair  a  tba  i  'g  an  goirt- 
eacbadb ;  oir  tba  leigbean  ag  inns- 
eadb  gum  bbeil  i  deanamb  coire  an 
cònaidb,  air  cbo  beag  's  'g  an  gabb- 
tbar  dbi,  agus  gum  bbeil  neacb  cuid 
de  db'  uaribb  gun  gboirteas  air  bitb, 
nuair  a  tba  taobb  a  stigb  a  gboile 
air  iongracbadb  le  dibbe.  Mar  so 
tba  moran  'g  am  mealladb  fbein 
mar  a  bba  'm  fear  a  tbubbairt  gun 
robli  esa  'na  ioma  sblainte  ged  a  bba 
e  'g  ol  moran  leanna  car  fbicbead 
bliadbna,  agus  bbasaicb  e  leis  an 
t-atb  latha. 

Cba  'n  'eil  beatbacbadb  idir  an 
uisgebeatba,  no  deocb  laidir  air  bitb 
a  tb'  air  a  tarruinn  mar  sin;  agus 
cba  'n  'eil  beatbacbadb  an  leann  acb 
na  tb'  anns  an  leann-loisgte,  a  bbeir- 
tbeir  do  na  mucaibb.  Cba  'n  fbearr 
fion  no  portair. 


*  Chitear  na  teistneasan  sin,  maille  ro 
moran  eile,  an  da  leabhar  a  chuireadh  a 
mach,  le  Maighistir  Beardsall  agus  ]\Iaigli- 
istir  Parsons,  da  Mhinisteir  Sasunnaoh. 


Ceud  Mliios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876.       AN    GAIDHE AL. 


133 


Tha  cor  moran  slieoladaireau  agus 
dhaoiii'  eile  a  leig  dliiu  deocli  laidir 
gu  tur,  a  dearbhadh  gur  ro  mhear- 
achd  barail  nan  daoine  a  tha  smuain- 
eachadh  gum  blieil  alcohol  a  neart- 
achadh  neach ;  oir  tha  iad  uile  ag 
radh  gum  bheil  iad  ni  's  treise  's  ni 
's  cruadalaiche,  agus  ni  's  murraicli 
air  moran  obair  a  cliur  troi  laimh 
na  blia  iad  an  uair  a  bha  iad  ag  òl  a 
bheag  no  rahùr  dhi. 

Tha  mile  mhilltean  pund  Saghs- 
onnach  leth-cheud  uair  thairis  air  a 
chosdadh  gach  bliadhne  's  na  riogh 
achdaibh  so  air  deoch  Laidir,  suim, 
a  chumadh  suas  na  bheil  de  shluagh 
an  Albainn  car  thri  bliadhna.  Chuir- 
eadh  na  thatar  a'  cur  a  h-aithne  dh' 
eorna  an  Breiteann  comhdach,  slat 
air  dhoimhnead,  air  rathad  mòr, 
coig  slat  air  leud  agus  da  cheud 
agus  sea  mile  deug  air  fad. 

Tha  deoch  laidir  a  toirt  moran 
tuille  call  air  an  rioghachd  na  tha 
an  stuth  a'  cosdadh  ;  oir  tha  i  toirt 
moran  dhaoine  gu  bochdainn  a's 
iaigse,  a  tha  'n  sin  a  tighinn  beò  air 
daoin  eile,  agus  tha  na  milltean  a 
tha  i  toirt  gu  cionta  nan  eallaich  air 
an  duthaich,  air  dhoigh  no  doigh. 
'S  i  is  aobhar  air  moran  de  na 
losgachaibh  caillteach  a  tha  tachairt 
trie  air  feadh  na  rioghachd,  agus  air 
iomad  long  bhriseadh,  far  am  bheil 
moran  bathair  air  a  chall  an  conaidh, 
agus  iomad  uair  beatha  dhaoine. 
A  bliarr  air  a  so,  tha  i  tarruinn  air 
daoine  moran  ghalaran  agus  chuisean 
lagha,  a  tha  cosd  ro  mhoran  airgid. 

Math  a  dh  fheudte  gun  abair  thu 
gum  bheil  leighean  gu  trie  a  comh- 
airleachadh  do  dhaoine  deoch  laidir 
a  ghabhail,  airson  feum  an  slainnte. 
Ach  tha  mise  ag  radh  riutsa  gum 
bheil  leighean  mar  so  a  toirt  iomad 
neach  gu  dubh  mhisg.  Cha  bu 
choir  dhaibh  so  a  chomhairleachadh 
uair  air  bith  oir  cluinn  ciod  t'hubh- 
airt  Johnson,  leigh  ainmeil  an  Lunn- 
uinn.      "  Tha   mise   ai;   radh    trum 


bheil  iad  "  (s  e  sin  deochan  laidir) 
anus  gach  cuis  cronail  mar  dheoch, 
agus  nach  'eil  feum  orra  mar  leigheas, 
a  cheann  gum  bheil  stuithean  eile 
againn  a  ni  an  gnothach  a  cheart 
cho  math,  mur  dean  ni  's  fhearr." 
Ach  tha  leighean  'g  'a  toirt  do 
shluagh  euslan  iomad  uair,  cheann 
gum  bheil  iad  furasd  am  faotuinn, 
agus  taitneach  do  'n  ghoile  a  thug 
iad  fo  'n  leigh. 

Thachair  do  mhoran  de  leighibh 
mu  alcohol  mar  a  thachair  dhaibh 
bho  cheann  fada  mu  lotaibh.  Bha 
e  chleachda  aca  ola  goileach  a 
thaomadh  orra  agus  theireadh  iad 
nach  gabhadh  lot  leigheas  ceart  gun 
so.  Thachair  do  Fhrangach  do  'm 
b'  ainm  Pare  aon  uair  nach  b'  urrain 
da  ola  fhaotainn;  agus  mar  sin 
f  huair  e  doigh  air  lotan  a  leigheas 
ni  b'  fhearr  gun  ola  idir.  'S  e 
thabhairt  leigh  Gallda  ri  brathair- 
ceird  da  an  Dun-eidin :  "cha  bu  choir 
dhuit  a  bhi  cho  dian  an  aghaidh 
dibhe,  oir  's  ann  oirre  a  tha  sinn  a 
deanamh  moran  de  'r  coisneadh." 
Tha  so  leigeadh  ris  aon  aobhar  airson 
cuid  de  leighibh  a  bhi  air  taobh  an 
oil.  Tha  cuid  de  na  leighibh  a's 
fhearr  an  Dun-eidin  's  an  Lunnuinn 
air  leigeadh  dhiù  bhi  'g  orduchadh 
dibhe  an  cuis  air  bith.  Ma  bha 
daoine  faotainn  a  chuid  a  b'  fhearr 
de  na  h-eugailibh  airson  an  robh  na 
Gaidheil  a  toirt  uisgebeatha  dhaibh, 
's  ann  a  dhaindeoin  air  an  leigheas 
mar  bu  trice,  's  cha  b'  ann  le  chòn- 
adh,  mar  a  chi  neach  air  bith  a 
smuainicheas  air  buaidhibh  alcohol. 

Cha  'n  ann  air  pearsa  agus  air 
sporan  duine  amhain  a  tha  deoch 
laidir  a  drughadh  :  tha  i  milleadh  a 
chinn  agus  a  chridhe  cuideachd. 
Tha  mheamhair  a  failneachadh,  agus 
tha  an  tuigse  air  a  h-anf  hannachadh 
's  air  a  dalladh  ;  agus  tha  an  cridhe 
a  fas  fuar  gun  fhaireachdainn.  Tha 
gach  aon  duine  a  bha  riamh  trom  air 
an  deoch  'na  dhearbhadh  air  a  so. 


134 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  MIuos  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


Tha  iad  a  fas  clannail,  gun  seagh, 
gun  f  hirinn,  agus  gun  onoir ;  agus 
ma  gheobh  iadsa  pailteas  dibhe,  's 
coma  leo  ged  rachadh  an  saoghal 
a  dhith.  Nacli  uamhasach  an  seall- 
adh  duine  tapaidh,  gasda,  teobh- 
cliridheach  fhaicinn  air  a  thoirt 
chum  na  staid  so  ! 

Acli  math  a  dh'  f  heudte  gun  abair 
thu — "  0,  'sann  bho  anameasarrachd 
tha  so  nile  a  tighinn ;  nam  fanadh 
daoine  air  cuimse,  cha  bhitheadh  ni 
am  mearachd."  'S  ann  an  so  a  tha 
chealgaireachd  air  am  bheil  Solamh 
a'  labhairt.  Mur  blaiseadli  daoine 
boinn'  idir,  tha  e  soilleir  ri  fhaicinn 
gun  rachadh  a  mhisg  agus  gach 
diubhail  a  tha  'n  a  lorg  air  chul  a 
dh'  aona  bheum,  Ach  ged  a  bha  an 
langan  so,  fanaibh  air  cuimse,  an 
cluasaibh  dhaoine  bho  cheann  cor  a's 
da  mhile  bliadhna  bha  a  mhisg  a  sior 
aeartachadh  gus  'n  do  theann  sluagh 
ri  leigeil  dhiu  a  bhi  'g  a  bhlas.  Bha 
gach  neach  Lan  dearbhte  nach  d 
tigeadh  an  hatha  's  am  bitheadh  esa 
na  mhisgeir:  ach  a  dh-aindheoin  gach 
comhairle  agus  earail  a  ghabhadh 
toirt  daibh,  thainig  an  latha  's  an 
robh  milltean  diu  nan  dubh 
mhisgeirean.  Tha  e  furasd  fhaicinn 
carson  a  bha  na  comhairlean  ud  gun 
fheum.  "  Fanaibh  air  cuimse,"  ars 
iadsa ;  ach  cha  d'  innis  iad  daibh 
ciod  6  cuimse,  oir  cha  b  urrainn 
daibh,  cha  robh  dhaibh  tomhas 
sonraichte  ainmeachadh  ;  oir  cuiridh 
tomhas  nach  aithnich  fear  aige  misg 
air  fear  eile  ;  agus  cha  'n  e  an  tomhas 
a  chuireadh  misg  air  neach  an  uiridh 
a  chuireas  misg  air  am  bhadhna. 
Cha  mhugha  a  b'  urrainn  daibh  a 
radh,  mar  a  dh'  f  haodadh  iad  a  radh 
a  thaobh  biadh  a's  deoch,  iad  a 
gliabhail  gus  nach  bitheadh  deigh  aca 
air  tuille  ;  oir  mar  is  mugha  a  dh' 
òlas  neach  's  ann  is  mugha  a  dheigh 
air  tuille.  Cha  robh  math  dhaibh 
a  radh  iad  a  dh  'òl  gus  am  faireadh 
iad  an  cinn  a  fas  eatrom;    oir  air 


cheann  sin  bhitheadh  daorach  bheag 
orra. 

Ach  's  ni  faoin  a  bhi  a'  bruidhinn 
air  cuimse  an  leithid  so  de  chuis. 
Se  cuimse,  gu  leoir  de  ni  feumail. 
Cha  'n  urrainn  cuimse  a  bhi  an  nithe 
cronail.  B'  amaideach  do  neach  a 
radh  nach  robh  eucoir  cronail  nam 
fanadh  daoine  air  cuimse  ;  agus  tha 
e  cheart  cho  amaideach  a  bhi  'g  radh 
nach  'eil  cron  an  deoch  laidir  ma 
dh'  fhanas  daoine  air  cuimse,  nuair 
a  tha  i  deanamh  cron  air  cho  beag 
's  gan  olthar  dhi. 

'S  ann  o  bhi  'g  òl  heagan  an  drasd' 
's  a  rithisd  a  thainig  gach  misgeir 
a  bha  riamh  air  thalamh  gu  fas 
deidheil  air  an  deoch,  agus  gu  bhi 
'g  òl  moran.  Cha  chualas  iomradh 
air  neach  riamh  a  thainig  gu  bhi  na 
mhisgeir  a  dh'  aona  bheum. 

On  a  tha  nadur  an  duine  agus 
buaidhean  na  dibhe  direach  mar  a 
bha  iad,  an  ni  a  bha  'sea  bhitheas. 
Fhad  's  a  bhitheas  daoine  'g  a 
blasad,  thig  moran  diu  gu  bhi  'n  am 
misgeiribh.  Tha  gach  neach  deas 
air  a  bhi  'n  duil  gun  teid  esa  as, 
on  a  chaidh  daoine  eil  as :  ach 
beachdaicheadh  e  air  a  chuis  gu  geur, 
gun  chlaou-bhreith,  agus  chi  e  nach 
'eil  dearbhadh  air  bith  aige  nach  bi 
e  air  aon  de  'n  dream  air  an  toir  an 
dibhe  buaidh.  'S  e  thug  air  moran 
fas  trom  air  an  òl  gun  robh  iad  am 
barail  nach  tigeadh  an  latha  a 
thigeadh  iadsa  gu  bhi  mar  so.  Tha 
duine  cinnteach  nach  ionnsaich  e  'n 
t-òl  fhad  's  nach  blais  e  boinne,  ach 
ma  tha  e  'g  a  bhlasadh  cha  'n  urrainn 
da  bhi  cinnteach. 

Cha  ruig  mise  leas  ni  a  radh  mu 
'n  doigh  anns  am  bheil  daoine  carach 
mealladh  dhaoine  eile  troi  mheadhon 
deoch  laidir,  agus  a  faotainn  uapa 
brath  air  iomad  ni  nach  bu  choir 
dhaibh  innseadh ;  oir  cha  'n  'eil 
moran  's  a  Ghaidhealtachd  aig  nach 
'eil  f  hios  air  a  so  a  cheana. 

Nam  bitheadh  daoine  a  smuaineach- 


Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876.       AN    ^  -AIDHEAL. 


135 


adh  nach  dean  dibhe  coire  dhaibh 

mur  oil  iad  uair  air  bith  gns  am  bi 

an  dall  daoirich  orra  :  oir  tha  daoine 

foghluimte  ag  innseadh  gu  soni'aichte 

gum  bheil  a  bhi  'g  a  bhlas  trie  ni  's 

miosa  na  bin  'g  ol  moran  corruair, 

agus  gur  luaithe  bheir  e  bas  duine  a  ]  thainig  e.     Rinn  e  siid,  agus  's  ann 

mar  sin  a  f  huaras  a  macli  branndi  no 
uisirebeatha  an  toiseach.    Cha  dean- 


cbadh  e  ri  fion  a  tharruinn,  gun 
fliios  nach  fodhnadh  an  stuth  a 
thigeadh  as ;  oir  bha  iad  eolacli  air 
tarruin  roimhe  so ;  agus  bha  fios  aca 
gun  robh  an  stuth  tarruingte  moran 
ni   bu  treise  na  'n  stuth  as  an  d' 


tha  'g  ol  beagan  gach  latha  na  bas 
fir  a  dh'  olas  aon  uair  's  a  mhios  gus 
am  bheil  e  call  a  bheachd  agus  Ihs 
nan  cas.  Chunncas  daoine  do  'n 
do  thog  a  bhlaisemeineachd  so  an 
galar  ris  an  abair  leighean  delirium 
tremens,  no  am  boile  critheanach 
cucail  sgàthach,  nach  fhacas  riamh 
-air  neach  a  bha  seachnach  air  deoch. 
Dh'  innis  mi  dhuit  gun  oibrich 
sugh  mheasan  nuair  a  dh'fhagthar 
iad  sgaoilte  fo'n  aile.  'S  ann  mar 
so,  a  reir  coltaich,  a  fhuaras  amach 
deoch  laidir  an  toiseach.  Nuair  a 
thug  Noah*  an  siigh  as  na  fion- 
dhearcaibh,  chaidh  leigeil  leis  seas- 
amh  an  saothach  fosgailte ;  agus 
mar  sin  dh'  oibrich  e.  Nuair  a  dh' 
ol  se  dheith,  thug  e  'n  aire  gun  d' 
f  has  e  beothail  'na  dheighe  :  agus 
mar  sin  mheuUthar  e,  mar  a  mheall- 
thar  cho  lion  mile  d'  a  shliochd  'na 
dheighe.  Shaoil  daoine  nach  dean- 
adh  e  coire  air  bith  mur  òileadh  iad 
gus  am  bitheadh  iad  air  mhisg  ;  oir 
nuair  nach  òladh  iad  ach  beagan  cha 
robh  an  t-olc  cho  mòr  na  cho  soilleir; 
agus  tha  daoine  deas  air  a  bhi  leigeil 
as  am  beachd  nanduibhailceanatha 
tighinn  an  lorg  ni  a  tha  toirt  toileach- 
adh  dhaibh  aig  an  am  ;  agus  mar  sin 
lean  daoine  air  a  bhi  'g  ol  alcohol 
gus  an  latha  an  diugh. 

Cha  robh  eolas  aig  daoine  air 
stuithibh,  tarruingte  mar  uisge- 
beatha  gu  naoi  ceud  bliadhna  au 
deighe  teachd  ar  Slanuighear.  Mu'n 
am  sin  bha  daoine  am  barail  gun 
gabhadh  stuth  faotainn  a  theann 
dadh  gach  ni  gu  h-òr ;  agus  uime  sin 
smuainich  ollamh  Arabach  gum  feu- 


*   Faic  Genesis,  caib.  ix.  20,  21. 


adh  e  or  na  airgiod  de  ni  a  chuir- 
thear  ann ;  ach  bha  e  moran  ni  bu 
treise  gu  daoine  a  bheothachadh  car 
seal  na  fion.  'S  ann  airson  so  a  thug- 
thar  uisge  heatha  mar  ainm  air — 
ach  's  e  uisge  bàis  ainm  bu  fhrea- 
garraiche  gu  mor.  Chaidh  buaidh- 
ean  an  stutha  a  mholadh  thair 
tomhas ;  cha  mhor  nach  tugadh  e 
beo  na  mairbh,  a  reir  na  h-aithris, 
Bha  daoine  'san  am  sin  ro  aineolach, 
agus  deas  gu  bhi  creidsinn  gach  ni 
a  dh'  innsear  dhaibh,  a  bha  idir 
deall)hach,  gun  a  bhi  'g  iarraidh 
dearbhan  pongail  gun  robh  e  fior ; 
agus  mar  sin  chreid  iad  gum  bu 
leigheas  ro  fheumail  akohol.  Ach 
's  ann  mar  leigheas  amhain  a  ghna- 
thaichthear  è  car  sheachd  ceud 
bliadhna,  agns  cha  robh  e  ri  f  haot- 
ainn  ach  am  buthaibh  nan  leigheas- 
reiceadairean.  Ach  chomharraich 
cuid  de  na  h-Arabaich  mar  a  chuir- 
eadh  branndi  daoine  air  bhoile  car 
seal ;  agus  uime  sin  thug  iad  al 
cohol  no  al  goril  mar  ainm  air,  's  e 
sin,  air  eadar-theangachadh,  an  droch 
sjnorad,  agus  lean  an  t-ainm  sin  gus 
an  latha  'n  diugh. 

Fhuaras  amach  a  rithisd  gum 
faidhtear  stuth  co-ionnan  a  leann  no 
ni  air  bith  mar  sin ;  agus  their  na 
Gaidheil  anise  uisge-beatha  ris  an 
stuth  a  gheobhar  a  leann  bracha. 
Bho  cheann  còrr  us  da  cheud  bliadh- 
na thoisich  cuid  ri  smuaineachadh 
gur  cinnteach  gun  robh  e  feumail  do 
dhaoine  slainnteach,  cho  math  's  do 
dhaoine  tinn,  ged  a  tha  dearbh  f  hios 
aig  gach  leigh  gum  bheil  gach 
leigheas  cronail  do  dhaoine  slainn- 


136 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samliraidh,  1876 


teach ;  agus  mar  sin,  uidh  air  'n 
uidlie,  thainig  daoine  gu  blii  'g  a  òl 
air  gach  tacliartas. 

P.  Macgriogair. 


C  E  0  L    U  E. 

AN  T-URLAR. 

Cliaidh  mi  steach  a  'n  àr — 

Fein  a'  fòghnadh  leam; 
Phronnadh  mi  gu  Ikr 

Gun  neach  chòmhnadh  leam; 
Liigh  na  feòl'  a'  tar 
Air  an  Neart  is  Feàrr; 
Is  Ti  mòr  nam  blàr 

Treis'  nior  dheònaich  dhomh. 
Ann  an  sud  an  truaigh' 
Aig  ^s-creideamh  cruaidh; 
Thug  air  m'  anam  buaidh — 

Dh'  fhkg  fo  leònadh  mi; 
Mheath  an  t-òran  luaidh, 
Sùil  an  fhradhairc  nuaidh; 
Thainig  dreach  na  h-iiaigh'; 

'S  a'  sior  bhrònadh  mi. 

AN-T-DRLAK. 

Och!  gur  mis'  tha  'm  boinn 

Nach  'eil  sòlasach! 
Peacadh  cur  à  loinn 

Gu  ceum  dòlasach; 
Lag  mar  naodh  a  broinn, 
Math  is  olc  'g  am  roinn, 
Mi  gun  rath,  gun  sgoinn, 

Dall,  neo-eòlasach! 
Tha  mo  stri  gun  stà; 
Mo  chur  sil  gu  bràth 
Cha  toir  bladh  no  blkth 

A  freumh  feòlmhoireachd; 
Nàimh  ag  ith'  an  skith 
Air  mo  raon  gach  trkth, 
Tharam  le  "Aha!" 

'N  an  droch  cheòlmhoireachd. 

AN  SIUBHAL. 

Ach  thùirling  an  Spiorad; 

Is  thug  e  dhomh  deòthas; 
Is  nochd  e  dhomh  uiread 

'S  a  thug  mi  gu  beòthas  : 
An  guirme  an  athar 
Bha  samhladh  na  cathair 
Gu  loisgeach  o  'n  sgathar 

Bhkrr  chruinne  gach  fòtus! 
Do  sgaoil  e  dhomh  rola, 

Is  chuir  e  leis  òrdugh  : — 
Feuch!   "  Ith!"  an  sgriobh  fola ! 

E  ghortach'  no  chòrdadh. 
Ghabh,  's  dh'  ith  mi  gu  h-ealamh : 


A'  m'  bheul  e  mar  mheala; 
Ach  searbh  a'  m'  bhrti  talaimh 
Bha  chnkmh  ann  am  ròdaibh. 

AN  SIUBHAL. 

Puith,  ruith  mi  a'  siubhal 

A'  caiseamachd  òrain! 
A'  spionadh  an  fhuigheil 

A  bha  'na  fhreumh  dòruinn! 
An  crojh'  ris  a'  ghealladh; 
A'  dearc'  air  an  t-sealladh 
'S  am  faicear  am  mealladh 

'S  an  t-sligh'  air  nach  sòrainn. 
Mo  cheum  troimh  chruas  lainne 

A'  gearradh  gach  dòlais; 
Ag  hi  an  fhior  bhainne 

A  Tobar  an  Eòlais; 
An  fhdin  an  staid  fainne; 
Lòn  na  feòla  an  gainne; 
Am  manna  an  aithne; 

Is  m'  anam  Ikn  sòlais. 

AN  CRUNLUATH. 

Ach  dh'  ^irich  suas  gn^  fhineadail 

Nach  d'  aithnich  luach  na  ìèìge, 
Le  sHochd  £Ìs-creidmheach,  cineadail 

A'  dol  am  boinn  na  brèige; 
Bu  daor  an  t-saors'  a  cheannachadh, — 
Gun  bheag  do  bhuaidh  no  bheannachadh, 
'S  an  dithreabh  air  mo  theannachadh 

Le  feartaibh  daU  an  eige! 
Ach  lughdaich  duibhr'  nam  meallaidh- 
ean, 

A'  foillseach'  grèìn  'na  sgèimhe, 
A  sheòl  le  gathan  gheallaidhean 

Troimh  ghlinn  nan  neul  gu  sèamha; 
Dh'  fhalbh  fksach  cian  na  fealtaireachd, 
Le  bhlkir,  le  chreuchd,    's  le  spealtair- 

eachd; 
'S  tha  mi  fa-dheòidh  gun  ghealtaireachd 

A'  coimhead  raoin  nan  neamha. 

B.  N.  F. 


LITREACHAS. 

Leis  an  fhacal  Litreaclias  tha 
sinn  a'  tuigsinu  na  sgriobhaidhean 
anns  am  faighear  smuaintean  is  fair- 
eachduinean  na  cuid  do'n  chinne- 
dhaonna  air  an  do  bhuihcheadh 
tomhas  do  thuigse.  Ann  am  briath- 
ran  eile  is  e  Litreachas  anns  an  t- 
seadh  is  àirde  modh  labliairt  troimh 
sgriobhadh  eadar  fear  agus  fear  'nan 
nàdur  agus  'nam  faireachduin  mar 
dhaoine.  Gheibh  sinn  Litreachas 
mar  so  'ga  roinn  fein  a  mach  ann 


Ceud  MUos  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876.       AN   GAIDHEAL. 


137 


am  meòir  do  smuain  agus  do  eolas 
aig  am  blieil  am  freumh  ann  an 
inntinn  an  duine.  Tha  meur  na  h- 
Eachdraidh  ann ;  meur  na  Feallsan- 
aclid  :  meur  na  h-Ur-labhrachd  no 
na  h-Ealantacbd ;  agus  meur  na 
Bardachd. 

Ged  is  ann  an  sgriobhadh  agheibb- 
ear  gach  gne  Litreachais,  gidheadb 
cha'n  'eil  a'  h-uile  sgriobbadb  airidb 
air  a  bbi  air  a  gbabhail  a  steacb  fo'n 
ainm  Litreachas,  Tha  mar  so  da 
sheòrsa  Litreachais  ri  'm  faotainn. 
Tha  seòrsa  ann  a  tha  sihhhlach, 
ag  atharrachadb  leis  an  la  is  leis  an 
linn ;  agus  tha  seòrsa  ann  a  tha 
huan  a  sheasas  maireann  cho  fada 
agus  a  bhios  cridheachan  agus 
inntinnean  dhaoine  do'n  glmè  de  'm 
bheil  iad  a  nis.  Anns  an  Litreachas 
a  tha  siiibhlach  no  caochlach  gheibli- 
ear  na  sgriobhaidhean  a  tha  do 
ghne  shuaraich  no  shalaich,  agus  a' 
chuid  a  tha  tioram  gun  suspainn 
nach  ruig  no  nach  drliigh  air  anam 
coitcheann  a'  chinne-dhaonna.  Sgeul 
rùisgte  nach  'eil  air  a  shuidheachadh 
ann  an  corp  do  chainnt  sgeineil 
shnasmhoir;  prionnsapalanlethtrom- 
ach  nach  'eil  ag  eiridh  a  mach  a 
fior  Hcàdur  an  duine ;  òraidean  no 
searmoinean  anns  nach  'eil  bias  no 
brigh  ;  agus  ranntachd  nach  'eil  binn 
no  buadhach, — na  leabhraichean  no 
na  sgriobhaidhean  anns  nachfaighear 
ach  a'  ghne  dhiombuan  so  do 
litreachas  cha  bhuin  do  'n  t-seùrsa  a 
tha  buan  no  maireannach. 

I. — EACHDEAIDH. 

Cha  chanar  eachdraidh  anns  an 
t-seadh  cheart  ri  leabhraichean 
ghiuealach  anns  nach  faighear  ach 
stiall  fhada  do  ainmean,  Mac 
Dhòmhnuill,  Mhic  Iain,  Mhic 
Choinnich,  &c.  'S  e  eachdraidh 
anns  an  t-seadh  is  àirde  sgeul  fior 
mu  ghniomh,  mu  euchd,  is  mu  f  has 
suas  a'  chinne-dhaonna,  mar  tha  an 


cinne-daonna  'na  aon  no  ann  an 
cinnich  fa  leth.  Mar  bhuill  do  'n 
chinne-dhaonna  tha  sinn  a'  gabhaii 
tlachd  coitcheann  ann  an  eachdraidh 
mar  chuspair  meadhrachaidh.  Oir 
tha  sinn  a'  faotainn  iomraidh  ann 
an  eachdraidh  air  modh  oibi'each- 
aidh  cumhachdan  agus  feartan  gin- 
eadail  Ucàdur  an  duine.  Chi  sinn  an 
sud  reuson  a'  tionnsgnadh  agus  ag 
giùlan  a  macli  a  chriochan  iom- 
chuidh  fèin ;  agus  mar  an  ceudna  an 
toil,  dian  lasanta,  do-Kibaidh  is  rag, 
no  fulangach.  A  ris  tha  e  cho 
tlachdmhor  leinn  a  bhi  sealltuinn 
air  fein-ghloir  is  fein-iarrtuis  'nan 
ròidibh  ciontach  agus  a  tha  e  bhi  ag 
amharc  air  stri  ioumholta'  an  f hir  aig 
am  bheil  gràdh  agus  math  a  dhùth- 
cha  a'  lasadli  le  cheile  'nan  run 
teinnteacb  'na  chridhe.  Oir  ann  an 
sud  tha  againn  sruthadh  a  mach  air 
da  thaobh  Ucàdur  an  duine;  agus  tha 
deigh  againn  air  a  bhi  faicinn 
dhaoine  'nuair  is  miosa  agus  an  uair 
is  feàrr  a  tha  iad.  Cha  'n  'eil  a 
bheag  do  eachdraidh  is  fiach  againn 
anns  a'  GhàiUg  an  taobli  a  mach  do 
ranna  ginealacli  is  sgeulachdan  nan 
seanachaidhean  nach  maireann.  Cha 
deachaidh  na  cnàimli  eachdraidh- 
eil  a  chruinnich  iadsan  ri  cheile 
a  chomhdach  fathast  le  faUuinn 
feola  iir-dheiseach  na  h-eachdraidh. 
Thug  Mac-Calum  is  Mac-Aoidh  ionn- 
saidhean  math  air  eachdraidh  na 
h-Eaglais — mir  beag  dhi  co-dhiii — a 
thoirt  duinn  ;  agus  thug  Clan- 
Choinnich  ciinntas  nach  dona  air 
eachdraidh  choitcheann  ar  diithcha. 
Ach  cha  'n  'eil  an  sud  ach  oidhearpan 
beaga  làimh  ris  na  sgriobh  Herodotus 
is  Thucydides  's  a'  Ghreig,  Livi/  is 
Tacitus  's  a'  Roimli,  Guizot,  's  a' 
Fhraing,  agus  Grihbon,  Hume,  is  ]Mac- 
Aulai,  e^-c,  ann  an  Sasunn.  Tha 
eachdraidh  a'  Ghàidheil  'na  thuin- 
eachadli  is  'na  fhcàs  is  'na  thighinn 
a  mach  ann  am  Breatunn  agus  ann 
an  Eirinn  fathast  <run  sgriobhadh. 


138 


AN    GAIDHEAL,       Ceud  MHos  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


II .— FEALLSANACHD. 

Is  e  feallsanachd  no  gràdh  gliocais 
no  eolais  aithne  bhi  againn  air  cliù 
cumhachdan  ar  n-eolais,  ar  faireach- 
duinean,  ar  n-iarrtuis,  agusar  toilean. 
Cha  'n  'eil  moran  am  measg  nan 
Gàidheal  'nan  seann  sgriobhaidhean 
air  na  cuspairean  so  ;  ach  tha  beagan 
do  litreachas  ri  fhaotainn  mu  chuid 
do  na  h-ealainibh  a  tha  toirt  eolais 
duinn  air  feartaibh  na  taUmhain  is 
air  laghan  a'  chruinne-chè.  Canar 
feallsanachd  ris  an  so  mar  an  ceudna ; 
ach  cha  bhuin  e  anns  an  t-seadh  is 
àirde  do  litreachas.  Tha  eolas  nan 
ealan  so  cho  caochlaideach,  cho 
diombuan,  an  diugh  ann  is 
am  màireach  as,  no  cho-dhiu  air 
atharrachadh,  gus  nach  gabhar  e  a 
steach  fo'n  ainm  litreachas.  Cha  'n 
'eil  teagamh  nach  robh  fios  aig  na 
seann  Draoidhean  air  moran  mu 
chuspairean  nàdurra  do'n  t-seòrsa  so ; 
ach  chaidh  a  chuid  is  moth  a  d'an 
solas  am  mughadh  maille  riu  fein. 


III. 


-EALANTACHD. 


'Se  còirichean  agus  leas  a'  chinne- 
daonna  na  cuspairean  air  am  bheil 
ealantachdnolir-labhrachd'gacleach- 
dadh  fein.  Feudaidh  lir-labhrachd 
a  bhi  ann  an  òraidean  a  chaidh  a 
labhairt  no  ann  am  feadhainn  nach 
robh  ach  air  an  sgiiobhadh.  A  bhàrr 
air  ealantachd  shearmoinean  gheibh 
sinn  iir-labhrachd  air  a  cleachdadh 
a  dhion  còirichean  an  t-sluaigh — an 
saorsa,  an  gloir  no  an  onoir  chin- 
eadail,  an  neo-eiseamalachd,  agus 
gach  ni  aig  am  bheil  feum  coitcheann; 
mar  an  ceudna  a  chur  as  do  olc,  a 
sheasamh  an  neochiontaich,  agus  a 
ghiùlan  a  mach  gach  orduigh  modh- 
annail. 

IV. — BARDACHD. 

Is  e  bàrdachd  co-chòrdadh  eug- 
naidh  ann  an  cainnt  bhinn  bhlasda 


eadar  an  saoghal  faicsinneach  am 
muigh  agus  an  saoghal  neo-fhaicsinn- 
each  a  stigh — eadar  dathan,  cruthan 
is  coslais  a'  che  nàdurra  agus  fair- 
eachduinean,  staidean,  agus  iarrtuis 
anam  duine, — is  e  bardachd  cordadh 
aonachd  is  tuigse  a  thoirt  a  mach 
mar  so  a  coltais  agus  à  prionnsapalan 
lal  nan  spiorad  agus  an  t-saogh- 
neo-reusonta. 


SAMHLAIDHEAN. 

Cho  fliuch  ri  iasg — cho  tioram  ri  seich, 

Cho  beò  ri  eun — cho  marbh  ri  cloich ; 

Cho  brisg  ri  glaine — cho  righinn  ri  teud, 

Cho  mall  ri  seilcheag — cho  luath  ri  steud  ; 

Cho  Ikidir  ri  each — cho  lag  ri  caot, 

Cho  mills  ri  siùcar — cho  neo-bhlasd  ri  sgaot 

Cho  geal  ri  lili — cho  dubh  ri  sùith, 

Cho  mear  ri  piseig — cho  tinn  ri  cù  ; 

Cho  dòmhail  ri  peatraid — cho  sùmhail  ri 

sgadan, 
Cho  reamhar  ri  muic — cho  bochd  ri  radan ; 
Cho  direach  ri  saighead — cho  cam  ri  bogha 
Cho  ban  ri  lèine — cho  dubh  ri  gobha  ; 
Cho  carrach  ri  creig — cho  lorn  ri  bòrd. 
Cho  geur  ri  sgian — cho  maol  ri  òrd  ; 
Cho  cruaidh  ri  spor — cho  bog  ri  im, 
Cho  luaineach  ri  sid — cho  cinnteach  ri  tim ; 
Cho  fior  ris  an  t-Soisgeul — cho  f calls'  ris  an 

duine, 
Cho   caochlach  ri  bean — cho    deimhin   ri 

gunna  ; 
Cho  teth  ri  hmhuinn — cho  fuar  ri  sneachd, 
Cho  lag  ri  cuileig — cho  laidir  ri  seachd  ; 
Cho  aotram  ri  it — cho  trom  ri  luaidh' 
Cho  glas  ri  feur — cho  ruadh  ri  luaith  ; 
Cho  mall  ri  as— cho  bras  ri  tuil, 
Cho  geal  ri  latha — cho  dearg  ri  fuil ; 
Cho  garbh  ri  ròcas — cho  binn  ri  bàird, 
Le  mil'  samhl'  eile  riu  so  ann  an  ciiird. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876.       AN    GAIDHEAL. 


139 


DAX  LEIS  A'  CHEAXX-FHEADHXA  BLACKIE. 
(O'N  Bheurla.) 

'XUAIR  a  thriall  mi  sios  Gleann  Spiathain 

Thar  a'  bhruthaich  uaine  fheuraich, 
Le  ceum  eutrom  tliàrr  mi  suas 

Ei  àille  chasthruim  dheuraich. 

Bha  ultach  aice  air  a  druim 

Is  pasgan  ann  a  làimh, 
Is  bha  i  aindeonach  a'  falbh 

Mar  eilthireach  Ian  cràidh. 

"  Aille  luraich!  "  arsa  mis' — 

'Sa  duail  òrfhuilt  sios  o  cùl, 
Le  siiilibh  donn,  is  ballaibh  fionn, 

Bha  cho  grinn  do  shealladh  shùl — 

"  Aille  luraich,  air  la  geal  samhraidh 

De  fàth  do  choltais'thruaigh, 
Bhi  falbh  gu  tiamhaidh  casruisgte 

Air  slighe  chloiche  chruaidh  ] 

"  Tha  mis'  ùr  laidir  le  deadh  cbaiseart 

Is  tha  thus'  fo  uallach  trom ; 
Gluais  ni's  cridheil',  is  leig  dhomhsa 

Xa  h-ultaich  a  ghiùlan  learn." 

"  Cha  leig,  cha  leig  !  "  ars'  is'  "  cha'n  fheud  mi ; 

Giùlainidh  mi-fèin  na  f huair ; 
Do  mhath  no  olc  na  's  toil  le  Dia 

Mo  chuibhrionn  biodh  leam  gach  uair." 

"  Ach  tha  dhà  leatsa,  's  mise  falamh, 

Tabhair  dhomhs'  aon  's  thu  sgith  ]  " 

An  t-eallach  a  tha  air  do  dhruim 

'S  a  thruime  'na  bhristeadh-cri." 

"  Cha'n  8,  cha'n  e  !  "  ars'  is',  "  ma's  aill  leat, 

Am  fear  so,  Ikmh  eiV  an  coir 
An  fhir  ud  cha  teid  a  thoirt  o'n  Ghleann 

A  nunn  thar'  na  mara  mòir' !  " 

"  Ma  ta,  ma  ta  ;  ach  iunis  dhomh 
Gu  de  tha  'n  luib  do  sgòid 
Tha  thu  toirt  leat  le  aire  chaoimh, 
'S  thu  'gad  chlaoidh  le  stiir  an  ròid  ? 


140 


AN   GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Minos  an  t-Samhraidh,  187e 


"  Is  cosmliuil  e  ri  tiodhlac  ghriiin 
0  charaid  an  am  blii  dealach' ; 
Dh'  f  haoidt',  mar  's  e  àbliuist  nighneag  glileusd, 
Do  thochradh  tha  leat  's  an  eallach." 

Chrath  i  a  làmh  gu  tiamliaidh 
'S  i  'g  aomadh  a  sùil  gu  làr : 
"  Na  bi  ri  feala-dhà — 's  e  th'  ann 
Sgrathag  o  uaigh  mo  mbàth'r  ! " 

Cha  dubh'irt  mi  facal :  air  taobb  an  ròid 

Sliuidh  sinn  a'  sileadh  dheur ; 
'S  cba  'n  facas  dritichd  bu  ghloine  'n  la  ud 

A'  laidbe  'na  bhraon  air  feur. 


FACAL  jSIU  UGHDAR  AN  DAIN. 

Bha  iomradh  anns  "  A'  Ghaidh- 
EAL  "  roimh  'n  f  hear  mu  dheireadh 
air  an  oilear  ainmeil  Blackie ;  bha  na 
bh'anngleshnasmhoragus  cliiiiteach ; 
ach  shaoil  mise  gu  'm  biodh  barrachd 
ann  mu  'n  Cheann-fheadhna  ur  a 
fhuair  na  Gàidheil  anns  a'  cheath- 
arnach  so  air  an  do  thuit  faUuinn 
Osein  gu  bhi  comhdach'  le  briath- 
raibh  binn  ealanta  spiorad  Fhinn  a 
tha  chòmhnuidh  a  steacL  Shaoil- 
innse,  mar  b'  e  gnàth  na  Feinne 
'n  uair  shuidheadh  iad  aig  fleagh 
an  dtiigh  na  buaidh,  agus  mile  bard 
a'  togail  an  dàin,  gur  h-ann  a  bhiodh 
mile  bard  an  dràsd  a'  togail  cliù  a' 
Chinn-fheadhna  tiir  ann  an  dan  dian 
lasanta  no  ann  an  rosg  ruithteach 
anmadail  d'  am  biodh  mac-talla 
maireannach  a'  freagairt  a  com 
cridhe  aosda  nan  Gàidheal  o  'n 
Charbh  is  o  'n  Ord  Ghallach  gu 
Cinn-tire,  is  gus  an  Eoinn  Ilich. 

Cha'n  ann  do  '"N  Ghaidheal" 
no  do  Ghàidheil  feadh  an  domhan  a 
ruigear  a  leas  toiseachadh  air  inns- 
eadli  CO  e  Blackie,  Ceann-feadhna 
nan  Gàidheal.  Co  an  Ceann- 
feadhna  a  bha  riamh  cosmhuil  ris  Ì 
Mur  faighear  a  lethbhreac  am  measg 
suinn  na  Feinne,  cha'n  aithne 
dhomhsa  a  leithid  am  measg  nan 
ginealacha   fiara   nach   maireann   a 


bh'  again  n  's  na  làithibh  deireannach 
so,  Sud  agad  gnè  Bhlackie,  Fionn 
an  sonn,  nach  d'  fhàilnich  riamh  's 
an  strith.  A  nadur  allail,  àrd,  do- 
chìosnaicht',  ginidh  e  a  mhisneachd 
do-mheata  fòin  ann  an  anam  a 
leanmhuinn.  Gu  robh  buaidh  leis 
fein  agus  le  sheòid  !  Suas  le  Blackie 
is  le  uabhraich  na  Gàilig  !  gus  an 
tèid  ainm  a  sios  troimh  na  h-àil  a 
thig  'n  ar  dèighfo  chliù  neo-bhàsmhor 
Chuinn,  "Blackie  nan  ceud  cath  ! " 
Cha  robh  raointean  chatha  Fhinn  no 
Chuinn  fein  ni  bu  lionmhoire,  no  ni 
b'  fharsuinne  na  an  àrfhaich  air  an 
do  chasgair  Blackie  feachdan  nan 
lethbhrethan  claona  fiara  puinns- 
eanta  ceud-cheannach  a  bha  troimh 
linntibh  a'  caitheamh  an  saighdean 
nimh-thumte  ann  an  cainnt  aosmhoir 
nan  Gàidheal !  Tha  laoich  mheanbh 
eile  againn  a  chuir  as  do  mhòran. 
Togaidh  na  bàird,  mar  is  dual, 
marbhrainn  bhinn  os  ceann  an  cùirn. 
Ach  mar  a  bhios  òighean  na  Gàilig 
a'  seinn  le  cridhe  laiste  mu  'n 
bhuaidh  cluinnear  an  seis  a'  toirt 
sgail  as  na  glinn  liath  aosda, 
"  Mharbh  each  na  miltean,  ach 
mharbh  Blackie  na  deich  miltean  !" 
Cha  'n  fhada  bhios  anam  do  na 
Philistich  beò  !  Cha  mhòr  dhiubh 
nach  'eil  air  sgànradh  cheana  do  na 
h-uamhachan  agus  do  sgoltaich  nan 
creasy.     Am  beagan  a  tha  am  beul- 


Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


141 


fo-fhraocli  a'  feitlieamh  a'  chothruim 
loisgidh  Blackie  as,  a'  cur  teine 
riutlia  fèin  agus  ris  an  fhraocli  mu 
'n  cluasaibh  leis  an  teangaidh 
tlieinntich  iid  nach  urrainn  na  blieil 
do  uisge  ann  an  tir  nan  Gall  a  chosg. 
Agus  mu  na  làraich  ud  for  an  robh 
na  Philisticli  a'  deanamh  an  uaill 
mu'n  do  cliaitlieadh  as  an  tir  iad, 
bidh  na  Gcàidlieil  mlieamnacli  a  tliig 
'n  ar  deigli,  a'  togail  sèis  mhaireann- 
aich — 

"  Thig  a  nimn  gu  oilthigh  Bhlackie, 
Thèid  ini  nunn  gu  oilthigh  Bhlackie, 
Tigh  mòr  nan  seòmraichean  fòghluiin, 
Far  am  faigh  na  Gàidheil  Blackie. 

"  Thuirt  an  seanachaidh  ri  Dòmhniill, 
'  Cuir  do  shall  air  sròn  nan  Gallaibh, 
Gus  an  tog  sinn  carragh  Gàilig 
Anns  an  kite  so  do  Bhlackie.'  " 

Ceud  fcàilte  a  chinn-fheadhna  òir- 
dheirc !  Seadh,  agus  feadh  an  domh- 
an  f  harsuinn. 

"  Gheibh  thu  fàilte  'n  crlochaibh  Ghàidh- 
eal, 
'S  e  do  bheatha  'n  Innsse-Gall; 
Ni  gach  triath  riutsa  comunn, 

Gheibh  thu  moladh  'n  Eirinn  thall. " 

Cliùmhor  agus  a  ta  thu  mar 
oilear  eugnaidh  glic  troimh  fhar- 
suinneachd  chainntean  na  h-Eòrpa 
agus  na  seann  Ghrèige  gidheadli  's 
e  do  charragh  Gàilig  is  buaine  a 
mhaireas  ann  an  còmhstri  chaitht- 
ich  nan  sian. 

'IST  uair  a  bhios  t'  fliòghlum  Ger- 
mailteach,  d'  eadar-theangachadh 
binn  blasda  air  teallsanachd  dhruidh- 
eil  Iain  Fost,  a'  triall  a  cuimhne  nan 
linn, — 'n  uair  a  bhios  d'  òraidean 
milis  air  Maise  a'  call  an  sgèimh  ann 
an  liathcheo  nan  aimsir, — 'n  uair  a 


is  Mòraltachd,  Ghreugach,  Gheint- 
leach,  is  Chriosdaidh  air  del  a  seall- 
adh  ann  an  glanadh,  fàsgadh  is  ath- 
ghineamhuinn  seann  Adhaimh  ar 
nàduir, — 'n  uair  a  bhios  eadhon  t' 
eòlas  mòr  Greugach  maille  ri  d'  cho- 
chomunn  diomhair  ri  ban-dèethan 
pàganach  Helicoin  air  an  adhlacadh 
fo  chlàir  neo-sgeineil  nam  burraidh 
leth  bhorb  ud  a  thig  a'  burach  a'  d' 
dheigh, — 'n  uair  a  bhios  iad  so  uile 
air  an  sad  a  thaoibh  ann  an  ciiiltibh 
llichairt  seann  eachdraidh  a  thàladh 
dhamhan-allaidh  's  a  dh'  àrach 
leòmunn  bidh  aitreamh  òidhearc  na 
Gàilig  a  chuir  thu  air  buinn  's  air 
loinn  a'  dccàrsadh  'na  glòir  Ghàidh- 
ealaich ;  agus  d'  ainmsa,  mar 
Bhesaleel  anns  an  do  chuireadh  tùr 
nèamhaidh  a  thogail  ar  n-iir  àrois, 
air  a  tharruing  ann  an  litrichibh 
ailbhinn,  gun  bheàru,  gunbhriseadh 
gun  chaitheamh,  a'  deanamh  sgeil  do 
ghinealaich  nach  d'  thainig  fathast 
gu  stàirsnich  an  t-saoghail  air  euchd- 
aibh  agus  air  gniomhaibh  eugnaidh 
do  laimh  :  Seadh  agus  do  chlih  is  do 
choslas  bidh  air  an  altrum  'nar 
cridlie,  'nar  beul-aithris,  agus  'nar 
ceum,  mar  tha  cliii  agus  manaidh 
chaoimh  ar  sinnsre ;  is  bidh  bàird  is 
glinn  is  beannta  is  locha  na  Gailig 
a'  togail  am  basa  ann  an  aiteas  os  do 
cheann  ag  guidhe,  "  Thu  bhi  cruaidh 
mar  am  fraoch  is  luan  mar  an 
darach,"  agus  a'  taomadh  beannachd 
an  criclhe  air  do  dhreach  ionmhuinn 
fearail  uasal,  a  chuir  beatha  nuadh 
's  a'  Ghailig, — 

"  Air  sàr  Mac  Dhubhaig  àgh,  is  cuimhn',  is 

buaidh, 
A  rinn  gu  h-ùr  a  dùsgadh  ds  an  uaigh! " 

Seann  Eamh. 


142  AN    GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  MWos  an  t-Samhraidh,  isre. 


MORT  GHLINNE-COMHANN. 

0  chlàrsair  dhomhsa,  cuir  an  ceill 

Cia  fàth  do  cliaoidh  's  do  cliumlia  gèur ; 

Am  fas  Ghlinn-Comhann  sliios  leat  fein 

A  bheag  cha  'n  eisd  ri  d'  cheol-bhinneas ; 
Do  'n  cheò  a  shiubli'leas  bheil  thu  sèinn, 
Do  'n  chiar-dhamh  luath  mar  gbatli  na  grèin', 
Do  'n  iolair  shuas  an  àird  nan^spèur 

Tha  SErreuchail  sèisd  ri  d'  orainibh  ? 


Cha  'n  eil,  gheibh  iadsan  tàmh  dboibh  fein ; 

Bidh  'n  coron  ceo  air  bhàrr  na  beinn', 

Bidh  'm  fiadh  'n  a  chos,  's  'n  a  nead  bidh  'n  t-eun 

Gun  eagal  beud  bho  shealgairean  : 
Ach  dhaibhsan,  och  !  mu  'm  bheil  mo  dhan, 
Na  beanntan  glas,  no  coilltean  fas, 
No  'n  t-slochd  so  fein  nach  faic  an  la 

Cha  dheanadh  sgàil  bho  mhealltaireachd. 


Bha  'm  bratach  fillt',  bha  'u  drama  balbh, 
Na  madraidh  fein  bha  iad  'n  an  tamh, 
Ri  neach  a  thig  mar  charaid  gràidh 

Cha  b'e  an  àbhaist  tathunnaich  : 
Le  ceileir  ait  bha  phiob  ri  ceol ; 
Bu  riomhach  ribean-grnaig  na  h-oigh ; 
'S  a  cuigeal  dh'  fhàg  a  màthair  fòs 

A  dheanadh  coir  bhean-tigheachd. 


An  làimh  a  mheasg  leo  anns  an  tràth, 
An  claidheamh  ghlac  aig  uair  na  tàimh, 
A  dhioladh  duals  do  chridhe  blath 

An  fhir  thug  tarraunn  's  aoibhealachd 
Bho  'n  teinntean  theoidh  gu  cairdeil  i 
Aig  meadhon  oidhch'  am  bioran  spion 
A  rinn  an  gleann  so  thoirt  gu  dith 

Le  lasraibh  millteach  boissreacheil. 


Bha  sgreadail  bhan  ri  chluinn  gun  stà ; 
Bior-chaoineadh  leanaba  ris  a'  bhàs 
Na  osnaich  throm  na'm  fir  ga'n  cràdh 

Cha  cheann'cheadh  dàil  bho  'n  chasgaireachd 
An  luath  ghaoth  gheamhraidh  dh'  fhead'laich  geur, 
An  sneachd  bha  'n  oidhch'  ud  air  an  fheur, 
Ged  b'  fhiadhaich  fuar  bha  iadsan  fein 

Ni  b'  iochdmhor  gnè  nan  Sachunnach. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samhraidh,,  1876.      ^N   GATDHEAL. 


143 


Bho  cliian  a  fonn  mo  chlàrsach  chaill, 
Tha'  teudan  tearc,  tlia  'fuaim  ro  fhann, 
'S  cha  chluich  i  chaoidh  's  na  coiltibh  fas 

Ach  truaigh  a  maighstir  chiar-flialtaich: 
Ged  robli  gacli  riobag  liath  'n  'a  teud 
'S  e  mallachd  thilgeadh  iad  gu  leir 
Ach  gus  an  glaoidheadh  Alb'  gu  geur, 

"  Gu'n  diolar  ceilg  is  fiar-bheartean." 

Eadar.  le  dojihnull  maccallum. 


tACHDEAIDH  IAIN  FOST. 

Anns  am  bJieil  a  dhroch  hheatha 
agus  a  hhas  oillteil  air  am  faicinn  ; 
agus  cionnus  a  reic  se  e-fèin  ris  an 
Diahlmll  air  son  cumhachd  a  bid  aige 
fad  ceithir  hliadhia  fichead  gach  ni  a 
dh'  iarradh  e  a  dheanamh ;  mar  an 
ceudna  nitJie  iongantach  a  rinn  e  le 
cuideachadh  Mhephistopheles.  Le 
cunntas  air  mar  thainig  an  Diabhull 
aig  ceann  nan  ceithir  bliadhna  fichead 
agus  a  phronn  e  Post  'na  mhirean. 

Caib  I. 

Breith  is  fòghlum  an  Olla  Fost  :  maille 
r'a  thuiteam  o  na  Sgriobtuiribh. 

Eugadli  an  t-OLLA  Iain  Fost 
anns  a'  Ghermailt.  Cha  robh  'na 
athair  ach  fear-obair  bochd  nach  b' 
urrainn  ionnsachadh  ceart  a  thoirt 
d'a  mhac  lain ;  ach  bha  bràthair 
aige  's  an  duthaich  ud  fein  a  bha  ro 
bheairteach  agus  aig  nach  robh  clann 
e-fein  idir.  Ghabh  am  brathair  so 
tlachd  ann  an  Iain,  agus  chnir  e 
roimhe  sgoileir  a  dheanamh  dheth. 
Chuir  e  do  n'  sgoil  e  far  an  d'  ionn- 
saich  6  gu  h-anabarrach,  gu  sòn- 
ruichte  Laidionn.  'Na  dhèigh  so 
chaidh  a  chur  do  n'  Oilthigh  a 
thogail  fòghluim  na  diadhachd. 
Ach  cha  do  chord  teagasgan  a' 
Bhiobuill  ri  Fost  òg.  Uime  sin 
thug  se  e-fein  suas  do  nithibh  eile 
anns  am  bu  mhotha  bha  a  thlachd  : 


Druidheachd  is  Fiosachd  ;  agus  aun 
an  hine  ghoirid  cha  robh  iad  ach 
tearc  a  rachadh  air  thoiseach  air 
anns  na  h-ealainibh  diomhair  so. 
Dh'  ionnsuich  e  buinn-theagasg  a' 
chreidimh  chriosduidh  mar  an 
ceudna  ;  agus  air  son  an  f  hòghhiim 
so  rinneadh  e  'na  Olla.  Ach  goirid 
an  dèigh  so  thuit  e  'na  leithid  do 
mhac-meamna  agus  do  bhreithneach- 
adh  iongantach  agus  gu'n  do  chuir 
e  roimhe  na  sgriobtuirean  a  thilg- 
eadh uaithe  air  fad,  agus  e-fein  a 
thoirt  seachad  gu  h-iomlan  do  theag- 
asg  druidheachd,  griosaid,  gheasan, 
ubagan,  fiosachd,  agus  buidseachd 
do  gach  seòrsa. 

Caib  II. 

Mar  a  ghrios  Fost  a  nios  an  Diabhnll,  a' 
toirt  air  tighinn  a  fhaicinn  aig  a  thigh 
fein. 

Lean  Fost  air  fòghlura  fiosachd 
a  dh'  oidhche  agus  a  latha.  Ghabh 
e  aon  latha  sgiathan  iolair  agus  dh' 
fheuch  e  ri  iteagach  feadh  an  t- 
saoghail  air  fad,  a  dh'  fhaotainn  a 
mach  rùintean  diomhair  neimh  agus 
an  talaimh.  Ann  an  ùine  ghoirid 
bha  6  comasach  air  toirt  air  an 
diabhull  tighinn  a  nios  'na  làthair 
mar  a  thogradh  e.  Bha  Fost  agus 
caraid  aon  latha  a'  coiseachd  còmhla 
ann  an  coille  làimh  ri  JVirtemberg  's 
a'  Ghermailt.  Bha  an  caraid  air 
son   fiosachd  an  Olla  Fost  fheuch- 


144 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Oeud  Mhios  an  t-Samliraidh,  187G. 


,  aiiin  ;  agus  dh'  iarr  e  air  Fost  feucli- 
ainn  am  b'  urrainn  e  Mephistophiles 
a  ghriosadh  a  nios  anns  a'  cheart 
am  agus  àite  ud.  Thoilich  Fost  so 
a  dheanamh.  Air  ball  aig  a'  clieud 
ghlaodh  rinu  an  diabhull  a  leithid 
do  thoirm  anns  a'  choille  's  gu'n 
saoilteadh  gu  n  tigeadh  nèamli  agus 
talamh  'nam  prannalacli  còmhla. 
Rinn  an  diabhull  an  sin  a  leithid 
do  rànaich  agus  gu'n  saoileadh  tu 
gu  'n  robh  a'  choille  Ian  do  bheath- 
aichibh  fiadhaich.  Tharruing  Fost 
an  sin  cearcal  air  son  an  diabhuill ; 
agua  thoisich  an  diabhull  air  ruith 
mu  'n  cuairt  air  a'  chearcal  so,  a' 
deanamh  fuaim  cho  mhòr  agus  ged 
bhiodh  deich  mile  carbad  a'  starara- 
ich  air  ùrlar-cloiche.  'Na  dhèigh 
so  bha  tairneanaich  is  dealanach 
ann,  mar  gu  'm  biodh  an  saoghal 
uile  air  theine.  Bha  ioghnadh  air 
Fost  agus  air  a  charaid  do  'n  toirm 
a  bha  so,  agus  gu'n  robh  an  diabhull 
a'  cur  dàil  ann  an  tighinn,  agus  thug 
iad  làmh  air  an  riomball  fhàgail. 
Ach  'nuair  a  mhothaich  e  so  thoisich 
e  ri  ceòl  cho  binii  's  nach  cuala  iad 
a  leithid  riamh. 

Chord  so  ri  Fost  cho  mhath  's  gu 
'n  do  thoisich  e  air  Mephistophiles 
a  ghriosadh  a  nios  a  rithist  ann  an 
ainm  prionnsa  nan  diabhull ;  agus  e 
a  thighinn  'na  choslas  fein.  Air 
ball  bha  dragon  mòr  an  crochadh 
OS  ceann  a  chinn.  Ghlaoidh  Fost  a 
rithist  air  an  dòigh  a  rinn  e  roimhe, 
agus  bha  ran  anns  a'  choille  mar 
gu'm  biodh  ifrinn  air  fosgladh, 
maille  ris  gach  anam  a  tha  ann  an 
sud  an  dòruinn.  Re  na  h-ùine  so 
chuir  Fost  mòran  cheist  air  an 
diabhull,  agus  thug  e  air  mòran  do 
charan  ifrinneil  a  leigeil  fhaicinn. 

Caib  III. 

Mar  a  tliàinig  Mephistophiles  do  thigh  Fost 
agus  na  thachair  eatorra. 

Thug  Fost  càithne  do'n  spiorad  a 


choinneachadh  aig  a  thigh  's  a' 
mhaidinn  an  la  'r  na  mhàireach  aig 
deich  uairean.  Aig  an  am  shuidhichte 
thàinig  e  stigh  do  'n  t-seòmar  a' 
feòraich  do  Fhost  gu  dè  a  bha  dhitli 
air.  Thuirt  Fost  ris  gur  h-e  bha  a 
dhith  air  gu'm  biodh  esan  umhal 
dha,  a'  tighinn  air  iarrtus,  anns  na 
puinncean  a  leanas : 

I.  Gu'm  frithealadh  an  spiorad 
air  anns  gach  ni  a  dh'  iarradh.  e,  o 
'n  am  sin  gu  am  a  bhàis. 

II.  Gu'n  tugadh  e  d'a  ionnsuidh 
ni  'sam  bith  a  bhiodh  a  dhith  air. 

III.  Gu'n  innseadh  e  dha  ni  'sam 
bith  a  bu  mhaith  leis. 

Fhreagair  an  spiorad  e,  agus 
thubhairt  e  nach  robh  cumhachd 
aige  fein,  ach  gu'm  faigheadh  e  a 
mach  o'n  phrionnsa  bha  os  a  cheann : 
"  Tha  luchd-riaghlaidh  os  ar  ceann- 
ne,"  thuirt  esan,  "  a  tha  'gar  cur  a 
mach  agus  'g  ar  n-òrdachadh  dhach- 
aidh  mar  a  thogras  iad  ;  agus  cha'n 
urrain  dhuinn  dol  ni's  faide  na  an 
cumhachd  a  thugadh  dhuinn.  Tha 
an  cumhachd  so  air  a  thoirt  dhuinn 
le  Lucifer  a  chuireadh  a  mach  a, 
nèamh  mar  a  chual  thu  air  son  a 
ràiteachais.  Ach  cha'n  innis  mi 
tuilleadh  dhuit  gus  an  toir  thu  thu- 
fein  seachad  dhuinn."  'Nuair  a 
chual  e  so  thuirt  Fost,  "  Gheibh  mi 
m'  iarrtus  Ì  ach  bidh  mi  air  mo 
dhamnadh  comhla  ruibhse."  An 
sin  thuirt  an  spiorad,  "  Cha'n  f  haigh 
thu  t'iarrtas,  is  tha  thu  agamsa, 
agus  cha'n  urrainn  an  saoghal  do 
shaoradh  a,  m'  laimhsa."  An  sin 
thuirt  Fost,  "  Thoir  ort !  agus  tha 
mi  'gad  ghriosad  thu  thighinn  a 
nios  am'  ionnsuidhsa  'san  oidhche." 
Chaidh  an  spiorad  an  sin  a,  sealladh." 
'Na  dhèigh  sud  thoisich  Fost  air 
smaointeachadh  cionnus  a  gheibh- 
eadh  e  iarrtus,  agus  anam  a 
ghleidheadh  o'n  diabhull. 

Ag  obair  air  na  mic-meamna 
bhrònach  ud  bha  Fost  a'  feitheamh 
Efus  an  d'  thàinig  an  oidhche.      Dh' 


eud3Ihiosant-Sa-nliraidh,18r6.       AN    GAIDHEA.L. 


145 


fhoillsich  an  droch  spiorad  e-fein  a 
ris  do  Fhost.  DIi  'innis  e  gu  'n  d' 
fhuair  e  òrdugli  o'n  phrionnsa  blii 
umlial  dha  air  cumha  e-fein  a  thoirt 
dliasan  's  gach  ni  a  dh'  iarradh  Fost 
e  a  dheanamh.  "  Gu  de  tha  dhith 
ort  1 "  thuirt  esan.  Fhreagair  Fost 
gu  'm  be  a  mhiaun  a  bhi  air  a 
dheanamh  'na  spiorad ;  gu'm  biodh 
Mephistophiles  daonnan  aig  a  laimh ; 
gu'm  biodh  e  neo-fhaicsinneach  do 
f  headhainn  eile  ;  agus  gu'm  b' ' 
urrainn  e-fein  gach  cruth  a  thogradh  , 
6  aghabhail.  Thubhairt  an  spiorad 
gu'm  faigheadh  e  iarrtuis,  ma'n 
cuireadh  e  a  làmh  ris  na  cumhachan 
a  dh'  iarradh  esan.  Chaidh  Fost  a 
nis  a  thaoibh  agus  chuir  e  sàthadh 
an  caol  a  dhùirn  as  an  do  shruth 
fuil  ann  am  mèis  a  bh'  aige.  Ach 
dh'  fhuaraich  an  fhuil  an  tiota  a' 
toirt  rabhaidh  dha  mu'n  ghniomh 
ifrinneil  a  bha  e  dol  a  dhean- 
amh. Chuir  e  mhias  os  ceann  nan ' 
eibhleag  a  theasach'  na  fola  agus 
leatha  sgriobh  e  mar  a  leanas  : 

AN  CUMHXAXT  RI  LUCIFER. 

"  Tha  mise,  Iain  Fost,  a  ghabh- 
adh  a  steach  a'm'  011a  'san  diadh- 
achd,  le  mo  laimh  fein  ag  aideachadh 
agus  a'  toirt  fianuis  gu  "n  d'  thug  mi 
mi-fein  seaohad  a'm'  sheirbhiseach 
do  Lucifer,  Prionnsa  na  h-Airde- 
Tuath  is  na  li-Airde-'n-Ear ;  agus 
gu'm  bheil  mi  a'  toirt  dhasan  gu 
saor  agus  gu  toileach  araon  m'  anam 
agus  mo  chorp  re  ceithir  bliadhna 
fichead  air  chumha  gu  'm  fritheil 
esan  ormsa  anus  gach  ni  a  dh'  iaiTas 
mi :  aig  ceann  na  h-iiine  so  tha  mi 
toirt  dha  comas  deanamh  rium  a 
reir  a  thoil,  m'  anam  no  mo  chorp 
a  ghitilan  no  a  shrachdadh  mar 
thogras  e  :  Le  so  tha  mi  toirt  dùlan 
do  Dhia  agus  do  Chriosd  agus  do 
fheachd  nan  aingeal  agus  do  gach 
spiorad  math  air  am  bheil  a  chruth 
no  iomhaighsan  ri'm  faicinn  :  Agus 
a  dheanamh  a'  chùmhnainte  so  ni's 


làidire  sgriobh  mi  e  le  m'  fhuil,  a' 
cur  m'  ainm  ris,  agus  a'  gairm  uile 
chumhachdan  na  h-ifrinu  a  thoirt 
fianuis  air  mo  run  's  a  chòrdadh 
so. 

"  Lux  Fost." 

Caib  IV. 

ISTa  thachair  ri  Fost  an  dèigh  dha  a  lamh 
a  char  ris  a'  sgriobhadh. 

'Xuair  a  bha  an  sgriobhadh  deas 
thug  Fost  e  do  Mephistophiles. 
Rinn  Fost  mòran  nithe  iongantach 
air  ball.  Chuir  e  as  do  leòghann, 
thug  e  air  tarbh  dannsadh,  agus  air 
ceudan  do  spioraid  tòiseachd  ri  ceòl 
agus  ri  dannsadh  'na  làthair.  'Xuair 
a  bha  'n  ceòl  seachad  chunnaic  Fost 
deich  bagaidhean  airgid  laimh  ris. 
Thòisich  e  air  an  reic,  ach  cha  V 
urrainn  e ;  oir  bha  iad  cho  teth  's 
nach  b'urrainn  duine  lamh  a  chur 
orra  ach  e-fein.  Chord  gnothuichean 
ri  Fost  cho  math  's  gu'n  do  ghabh 
e-fein  agus  an  spiorad  còmhnuidh 
còmhla  gu  toilichte.  Bha  an 
diabhull  fein  leo  'na  uairean  'nan 
gleidheas-tighe:  's  bha  bhlàth  ri 
fhaicinn.  Roimhe  so  gheibheadh 
na  bochdan  rud ;  ach  tha  chilis  air 
atharrachadh  a  nis. 

Caib  V. 

Mar  a  rinn  Fost  air  Diùc  Bhabharia. 

'X  uair  a  cliuala  a  chàirdean  agus 
a  choimhearsnaich  gu'n  do  reic  Fost 
anam  ris  an  Diabhull  cha  tigeadh 
iad  a  choir ;  oir  bha  e  air  sgaoil- 
eadhamachnachrobh  aigedo  thlachd 
ach  spiorad  a  bha  leis  a  ghnath  a' 
deanamh  gach  gne  lùthchleas  a  bu 
mhiann  leis.  Bha  Diiic  Bhabharia 
a'  fantuinn  laimh  ri  tigh  Foist. 
Fagus  do'n  Diùc  bha  mar  an  ceudna 
Diiic  Shacsoni,  agus  Easbuig 
I  Shalisburgh.  Bhiodh  5lephistophiles 
j  a'  dol  do  thighean  nam  feadhainn  so 
I  agus  a'  toirt  leis  as  an  seomraiche 
10 


14G 


AN    GAIDHEAL.        Ceud  MMos  an  t-Samhraidh,  isre. 


dibhe  gach  ni  a  b'  fheàrr  a  gheibli- 
eadh  e.  Thug  Diiic  Bhabliaria  aon 
la  cuireadh  do  uaislibh  na  dùthcha 
gu  dinneir.  Agas  air  an  son  dh' 
ullaich  e  pailteas  do  gacli  seòrsa  bìdh. 
'Nuair  a  thàinig  na  h-uaislean  agus 
a  bha  iad  deas  gu  suidhe  sios,  dh'iadh 
Mephistophiles  mu'n  cuairt  agus 
sgiiob  e  gach  ni  a  bh'  ann  leis.  Bha 
na  daoine  Ian  do  ioghnadh.  Ach 
cha  robh  comas  air  a'  chilis.  Sud 
mar  a  rinn  Fost  air  an  Diiic.  'N 
uair  a  bu  mhath  le  Fost  eunlaith 
fhaotainn  an  itheadh,  bheireadh 
Mephistophiles  sgaothan  do  eòin  a 
steach  air  an  uineig.  Theagaisg  an 
spiorad  dha  mar  an  ceudna  dòigh 
air  nach  b'  urrainnear  le  glais  no 
iuchair  an  eunlaith  a  chumail  a  mach. 
Bha  comas  aig  Fost  fèin  mu  dheir- 
eadh  air  itealaich  far  am  b'  àill  leis, 
a  bhàrr  air  mòran  do  nithibh  neònach 
eile  air  nach  'eil  againn  ùine  an  dràsd 
a  bhi  ag  innseadh. 

Caib.  VL 

Mar  a  bhruadair  Fost  'na  chadal  air  if  rinn 
agus  na  cliuncaic  e  an  s\id. 

Bha  Fost  agus  an  spiorad  aon  la 
a'  conaltradh  treis  mhòr  mu  thuit- 
eam  Lucifeir  agus  mu  staid  nan 
ainglean  a  thuit  leis.  Chunnaic 
Fost  ann  an  aisling  ifrinn  agus  na 
diabhlan  agus  na  h-anaman  a  tha  'g 
am  pianadh  an  sud.  Bha  ifrinn  air 
a  roinn  'na  chùirtean  no  na  thuill 
bheaga  dhomhain.  Aig  gach  toll 
dhiubh  so  bha  diabhull  air  a  shuidh- 
eachadh  a  pheanasachadh  na  bha 
air  an  cur  fo  a  riaghladh.  Dh' 
f  heoraich  Fost  do  'n  spiorad  gu  de 
an  f  headhainn  a  bha  anns  a'  cheud 
toll.  Thuirt  an  spiorad  gu'n  robh 
an  fheadhainn  a  bha  leigeil  orra 
gu'n  robh  iad  'nan  lighichean,  agus 
a  phuinnseanaich  gu  bàs  mòran 
mhìltean  troimh  flioill  's  troimh 
aineolas.  Tha  iad  a  nis  ag  òl  nan 
cungaidhean   ud   iad   fèin  ach  cha 


bhàsaich  iad  a  chaoidh.  Bha  sgilp 
OS  an  ceann  air  an  robh  poitean  Ian 
do  phuinnsean  agus  do  mheasgach- 
adh  marbhtach.  Thàinig  iad  an 
sin  gu  fosgladh  caol  fada  dorcha 
anns  an  robh  mòran  shnàgairean. 
Dh'  innis  an  spiorad  do  Fhost  gu'ni 
b'e  meairlich  is  luchd-spiolaidh 
phocaidhean  a  bha  an  sud.  An 
dèigh  dol  seachad  air  ioma  seòrsa 
eile  thàinig  iad  gu  dorus  mòr  cùirt 
as  an  robh  sgàirich  òiUteil  a'  tigh- 
inn.  Dh'  innis  an  spiorad  dha  gu 
'm  b'e  buidsichean  a  bha  a  stigh  an 
sud,  agus  mar  an  ceudna  an  fheadh- 
ainn a  bha  a'  cur  mar  fhiacham  gu'n 
robh  iad  'nan  naoimh  anns  an  t- 
saoghal  eile ;  agus  is  ann  aca  a  bha 
an'  upraid  agus  an  spionadh  air  a 
chèile !  Rud  beag  sios  uathasan 
bha  luchd  siùrsachd  is  adhaltrannais, 
agus  iad  ri  sgàruaich  ghràineil ; 
chuir  iad  Fost  air  chritli.  A'  dol 
sios  ceum  no  dha  eile  chunnaic  iad 
sluagh  mòr  leth  fholaichte  ann  an 
ceo  's  an  smliid.  Dh'  innis  an 
spiorad  dha  gu'm  b'e  muilleirean 
agus  fuineadairean  a  bha  an  sud ; 
agus  's  ann  aca  fein  a  bha  an  toirm  ! 
Na  muilleirean  a'  rànaich  ris  na 
fuineadairean  agus  na  fuineadairean 
ris  na  muilleirean  air  son  cuideach- 
aidh,  ach  cha  robh  cobhair  ri 
faotainn.  A'  dol  beagan  ni  b' 
fhaide  chunnaic  iad  miltean  do 
mharsantan,  cuid  diubh  a  dh'  aith- 
nich  Fost.  Bha  iadsan  air  am 
peanasachadh  air  son  na  foill  a  rinn 
iad  air  luchd  ceannaich.  'Na 
dheigh  so  thug  an  spiorad  leis  Fost 
air  a'  ghualainn,  agus  dh'  fhàg  e  'na 
thigh  fein  e.  'N  uair  a  dhiiisg  e 
agus  ioghnadh  mòr  air  mu'n  bhruad- 
ar  thòisich  e  air  feòraich  do'n 
spiorad  gu  de  an  t-àite  bh'  ann  an 
Ifrinn.  Fhreagair  an  spiorad,  "Nach 
'eil  fliios  agadsa  nach  robh  ifrinn 
idir  ann  roimh  thuiteam  Lucifeir, 
ach  'n  uair  a  thuit  esan  dh'  òr- 
duicheadh    ifrinn.       Cha'n    aithne 


Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1S76.       AN    GAIDHEAL. 


741 


eadhon  do  dliiablilaibh  mar  a  tha 
raise  gu  de  an  stuth  dheth  'm  blieil 
ifrinn  air  a  dheanamh ;  acli  's  e 
fearg  Dhe  a  thoill  sinne  a  tha  'ga 
dheanamh  cho  uamhasach.  Cho 
fhad  agus  is  aithne  dhuinne  gheibh 
thu  fein  a  mach  'n  uair  a  thig  thu 
leinn  ciod  e  ifrinn  agus  cionnus  a  tha 
e  air  a  riaghladh." 

Caib  VII. 

Cleasan  a  rinu  Fost. 

Bha  an  t-Impire  aon  uair  miann- 
ach  air  Fost  fhaicinn  agus  cuid  d'  a 
chleasan  fhaicinn  mar  an  ceudua. 
'is  uair  thugadh  e  air  beulaobh  an 
Impire  dh'  iarr  an  t-Impire  air  rud- 
eigin  cridheil  a  dheanamh,  Dh' 
amhairc  Fost  mu'u  cuairt  air  agus 
chunnaic  e  morair  mor  a'  sealltuinn 
a  mach  air  uineig.  Ghlaoidh  Fost 
air  an  spiorad;  agus  air  ball  bha  da 
adhairc  'n  an  seasamli  air  ceann  a' 
mhoraire,  agus  cha  b'  urrainn  dha  a 
cheann  a  thoirt  a  stigh  gus  an  d' 
thug  Fost  dheth  na  h-adhaircean  a 
rithis.  Bha  fearg  mhor  aig  a'  mhor- 
air  so  ri  Fost ;  agus  a  dheanamh 
dioghlaidh  air  chaidh  e  mile  mach 
as  a'  bhaile  'g  a  f  halach  fein  taobh 
an  rathaid  a  bhiodh  Fost  a'  dol 
dhachaidh.  'N  uair  a  bha  Fost  a' 
dol  seachad  ruith  am  morair  's  e  air 
each  gàbhaidh  a  mabh  as  a'  choille 
air  muin  Fost,  ach  le  cuideachadh 
an  spioraid  thug  Fost  am  morair  's 
an  t-each  air  beulaobh  caisteal  an 
Impire,  agus  shuidliich  e  da  adhairc 
cho  mhor  ri  feadhainn  daimh  air 
ceann  a'  mhorair,  agus  cha  d'  f  huair 
am  morair  dheth  iad  gu  la  a  bhàis. 

Caib  VIII. 

Mar  a  dh'  ith  Fost  an  lòd  feòir. 

Bha  feallsanaich  is  fir  fhoghluim 
mhòir  le  Fost  aon  la  a  mach  ann  an 
achadh  anns  an  robh  lòd  feòir.  "Gu 
de  a  dh'  iarras  tu,"  thuirt  Fost  ri 


sgonnbhalach  a  bh'  ag  obair  ris  an 
fheur,  "air  son  Ian  mo  bhroinn  do 
'n  fheur  ] "  Shaoil  am  balach  gu  'n 
robh  Fost  air  a  chuthach;  ach  thuirt 
e  ris  gheibh  thu  Ian  do  chuirp  air 
son  sgilinn.  Einneadh  còrdadh  aig 
a  so.  Thòisich  Fost  air  itheadh 
agus  ann  an  tiotadh  bha  leth  an  lòd 
f  lieòir  air  itheadh  !  Bha  na  fir  eile 
a'  srachdadh  ag  gàireachdaich  air  a' 
bhalach,  's  draoin  ioghnaidh  air  gu 
'n  robh  e  brath  am  feur  a  chall. 
Ghuidh  e  air  Fost  sgur ;  rinn  Fost 
so  a'  gabhail  truais  do  'n  bhalachan 
bhochd.  Mu  'n  do  ràinig  am  balach 
an  tigh  leis  a'  chairt  's  ann  a  f  huair 
6  gu  'n  robh  am  feur  a  dh'  ith  Fost 
air  a  chur  air  ais  innte. 

Caib  IX. 

Mar  a  dhall  Fost  na  h-oileanaicli. 

Choinnich  tri  oileauaich  dheug  ri 
seachd  eile  aon  la  aig  tigh  Fost ; 
thòisich  an  da  bhuidheann  ri 
connspaid  's  mu  dheireadh  ri 
buillean.  'N  uair  a  chunnaic  Fost 
gu  'n  robh  an  tri  deug  ro  làidir  air 
son  an  t-seachd  eile  's  nach  robh 
cothrom  na  Feinne  ri  fhaotainn 
ghrios  e  doille  air  na  h-oileanaicli  air 
fad.  Bha  iad  an  sin  a'  smùideadh 
air  a  cheile  air  dòigh  cho  iongantach 
's  gu  'n  robh  luchd  na  sràid  ri  gàire 
fanoid.  Chaidh  an  toirt  d'  an  seomr- 
aichean  agus  f  huair  iad  am  fradharc 
's  a'  mhionaid. 

Thàinig  Fost  la  eile  do  thigh- 
òsda  agus  càirdean  leis.  Ach  cha 
'n  f  haigheadh  iad  fois  's  am  bith ; 
oir  bha  buidheann  bhalach  a  stigh 
ri  rànaich'srirabhaicidh  uamhasaich, 
's  iad  air  mhisg.  Ghrios  esan  gu  'm 
biodh  am  beòil  air  an  ragadli  's  iad 
fosgailte ;  mar  so  thachair,  's  cha 
b'  urrainn  iad  am  beòil  a  dhùnadh. 
Dh'  amhaire  iad  air  a  cheile  's  cha 
b'  urrainn  iad  labhairt,  agus  an  dùil 
gu  'n  deachaidh  buidseachas  a  dhean- 
amh orra  shèab  iad  a  mach  as  an 


148 


AN   GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


tigh-òsda,  's  cha  'n  fhacas  ann  iad 
riamh  tuille. 

Caib  X. 

Mar  thug  Fost  air  Bean-uasal  tuiteam  ann 
an  gaol. 

Bha  duin' -nasal  òg  ann  an  IVirtem- 
berg  ann  an  staid  chianail,  's  e  an 
■  gaol  air  tè  nach  eisdeadh  r'a  shniridh. 
Dh'  innis  e  do  Fhost  an  eigin  anns 
an  robh  e,  gu  'm  bàsaicheadli  e  mur 
faigheadh  e  i.  Thuirt  Fost  ris  gu'n 
eagal  a  bhi  air  gu  'm  faigheadh  e  i. 
Dh'  atharraich  Fost  inntinn  na 
libhinn  uasail  gus  nach  b'  urrainn  i 
smuaineachadh  air  ni  's  am  bith 
acli  am  fear  a  bha  'ga  h-iarraidh. 
Thuirt  Fost  ris  fàine  a  thug  e  dha 
a  shèapadh  air  a  meur.  Einn  e  so, 
agus  an  sin  thòisich  a  cridhe  air 
losgadh  an  taobh  a  stigh  dhi.  An 
àite  bhi  gruamach  's  ann  a  bha  i 
nis  Ian  fàite  ris.  Cha  robh  fois  aice 
gus  an  dubhairt  i  ris  am  jjòsadh  e  i. 
Fhreagair  esan  le  uile  chridhe  gur 
h-e  sud  a  bha  dhith  air.  Phòsadh 
iad  an  la  'na  dhèigh  sud. 

Caib  XI. 

Mar  a  thug  Fost  air  na  mnathan  dannsadh 
's  iad  riiisgte. 

Bha  Fost  aon  la  air  sràid  a' 
mhargaidh,  is  chunnaic  e  seachd 
mnathan  'nan  sreath  a'  reic  uibhean 
im,  &c.  Cheannaich  e  rudeigin  o 
gach  tè  is  dh'  fhalbh  e.  Cha  bu 
luaithe  bha  e  air  falbh  na  a  chunnaic 
iad  gu  'n  robh  na  bh'  aca  'g  a  reic 
air  falbh  tur  as  na  basgaidean. 
Thuirteadh  riu  mu  dheireadh  gur 
li-e  Fost  a  ghriosadh  air  falbh  na 
bh'  aca.  Euith  iad  gu  tigh  Foist ; 
agus  dh'  iarr  iad  riarachadh  mu  'n 
chilis.  Chuir  esan  roimhe  gu'n  tug- 
adh  efeala-dhà  do  shluagh  a'  bhaile 
air  na  cailleachan.  Chuir  e  air  falbh 
iad  riiisgte  mar  thainig  iad  à  broinn 
am  màthar,  agus  an  deigh  toirt  orra 
dannsadh  riiisgte  air  sràid  a  mharg- 


aidh car  tacuin  leig  e  iad  as  na 
geasan,  agus  fhuair  iad  gu'n  robh 
an  cuid  a  thugadh  air  falbh  air  a 
ghriosadh  air  ais  do  na  basgaidean 
a  rithis. 

Catb.  XII. 

Mar  a  rinn  Fost  air  na  Mucan. 

Thachair  Fost  aon  la  air  fear  a 
bha  faotainn  dragh  uamhasach  ri 
ceud  muc  a  bha  e  ag  iomain  a  stigh 
do  bhaile  AVirtemberg.  Kuitheadh 
te  an  sud  's  te  an  so  ;  's  bha  an 
duine  bochd  'na  eigin  gu  h-ana- 
barrach.  Ghrios  Fost  air  na  mucan 
is  thug  e  air  gach  te  dhiubh  danns- 
adh air  a  casan  deiridh,  agus 
fidheal  an  greim  aon  do  na  casan 
toisich  agus  an  te  eile  a'  cluich  oirre  ; 
mar  so  dhanns  is  chluich  iad  gus  an 
d'  thainig  iad  a  steach  do  Wirtem- 
berg.  Bha  fear  na  h-iomain  a'  falbh 
rompa  agus  e  fèin  a'  dannsadh. 
'Nuair  chaidh  iad  a  steach  do'u 
bhaile  ghrios  Fost  air  falbh  na  f  idh- 
leachan.  Reic  an  duine  's  a'  mhion- 
aid  a  thairg  e  iad  na  mucan,  is 
ghlèidh  e  an  t-  airgiod.  Ach  rau'n 
deachaidh  e  as  a'  bhaile  ghrios  Fost 
air  falbh  na  mucan  as  an  àite  mhar- 
gaidh. 'Nuair  a  chunnaic  am  fear 
a  cheannaich  iad  gu'n  robh  iad  air 
falbh  stad  e  an  duine  a  reic  iad  is 
thug  e  uaithe  an  t-airgiod.  Bha  am 
fear-diithcha  bochd  'n  a  eigin,  a' 
dol  dhachaidh  gun  or  gun  mhuic. 
'Nuair  a  ràinig  e  bha  na  mucan  uile 
'nam  failean  àbhuisteach ! 

Caib  XIII. 

Fost  a'  smuaineachadh  air  a  chrich. 

Mios  no  dha  mu  'n  do  ruith  na 
ceithir  bliadhna  fichead  a  mach 
thòisich  Fost  air  breithneachadh 
cionnus  a  charadh  e  an  diabhull. 
Ach  cha  robh  innleachd  ri  faotainn. 
Thòisicheadh  e  an  sin  air  rànaich 
ris  fein,  "  Och  is  duine  truagh  mi ! 


Ceud  Mhio»  an  t-8amhraidh,  1876.       AN    GAIDHEAL. 


149 


Reic  mi  mi  fèin  ris  an  diabhull  air 
son  sòlais  beagan  bhliadliaachan, 
agus  a  nis  feumaidh  mi  paigheadh 
gu  h  iomlan !  Fhuair  mi  mo  mhiaiin  ; 
shàsuich  mi  m'  anamianna  salacli, 
is  feumaidh  mi  a  nis  fulang  gu 
siorruidh  ! " 

Bha  nàbaidh  diadhaidh  aige  a 
ghabh  truas  deth ;  's  a  thùisich  air 
guidhe  air  leis  na  deòir  'na  shùilibh 
e  dheanamh  aithreachais  is  greim 
a  dheanamh  air  gealladh  gràis  is 
tròcair  Dhè  do  pheacaich  a  ni  aith- 
reachas.  Labhair  an  nàbaidh  cho 
diirachdach,  's  gu  'n  do  gheall  Fost 
feuchainn  ri  aithreachas.  Cha  bu 
hiaithe  a  dh'  f  halbh  an  duine  diadh- 
aidh so  na  thàinig  Mephistophiles 
far  an  robh  Fost,  a  chronachadh  air 
son  mar  a  bhrist  e  a  chùmhnant 
risan  agus  r'a  thighearn  Lucifer. 
Thug  e  an  sin  sgeòchdadh  air  amh- 
aich  gus  nach  mòr  nach  do  bhrist  e 
i,  's  e  toirt  air  Fost  dolan  gu  tiamh- 
aidh.  Aig  a'  cheart  am  mhaoidh  e 
air  mur  dcanadh  e  ciimhnant  is  bòid 
as  ùr  gu  'n  tugadh  e  as  a  cheile  'na 
mhirean  e.  Rinn  Fost  cùmhnant 
eile,  bha  leithid  a  dh'  eagal  air,  'ga 
thiomnadh  fèin  do  Lucifer. 

Caib  XIV. 

A'  chrioch  a  thkinig  air  Fost. 

Thàinig  na  ceithirbliadhna  fichead 
gu  ceann.  Aig  an  am  ud  dh'  fhoill- 
feich  an  spiorad  e  fèin  do  Fhost,  a' 
nochdadh  dha  a  sgriobhaidh  fèin, 
agus  ag  innseadh  dha  gu  'n  tugadh 
an  diabhull  air  falbh  e  an  athoidhch.' 
Bha  cridhe  Fost  goirt  agus  fo  gheilt. 
A  chur  air  falbh  a  chianalais  chuir  e 
fios  air  na  h-uileimh  oga  agus  air  a 
chàirdean  fòghluimte.  'N  uair  a 
bha  iad  tacun  leis  chumaic  iad  a 
ghnhis  ag  atharrachadh.  Dh'  f  heòr- 
aich  iad  ciod  a  b'  aobhar  Ì  Fhreag- 
air  Fost,  "  'S  aithne  dhuibh  mi  nis 
na  h-uiread  do  bhliadhnachan  agus 
mar  a  i^hnathaich  mi  gach  gne  uilc. 


Rinn  mi  mòran  druidheachd  a  fhuair 
mi  o'n  diabhull.  Reic  mi  mi  fèin 
ris  re  ceithir  bliadhna  fichead  air 
chumha  gu  'n  tugadh  e  dhomh  gach 
ni  a  dh'  iarrainnn.  Bidh  an  iiine 
so  aig  a  crich  a  nochd.  Ghairm  mi 
sibhse  chum  's  gu  'm  faiceadh  sibh 
mo  chrioch  eagalach.  Biodh  mo 
bhcàs-se  'na  rabhadh  dhuibh.  Fan- 
aibh  air  falbh  o  dhruidheachd  na  h- 
ifrinn.  Ma  thòisicheas  sibh  air 
geasachd  is  air  buidseachas  cha  'n 
urrainn  dhuibh  stad  diubh  gus  an 
teid  sibh  leis  an  diabhull  mar  a  tha 
mise  dol  a  nochd  co-dhiu  is  àill  learn 
no  nach  àill." 

Thòisich  iadsan  air  airson  nach  d' 
innis  e  an  gnothuch  dhoibh  ni  bu 
traithe.  Dh'  aidich  e  gu  'n  robh 
toil  aige  sud  a  dheanamh ;  ach  gu  'n 
dubhairt  an  diabhull  ris  ma  'n  inns- 
eadh e  a'  chilis  gu  'n  tugadh  esan 
air  falbh  e  air  ball.  'N  uair  a 
smuaineachadh  e  air  e  fèin  aonadh 
ri  muinntir  dhiadhaidh,  thigeadh  an 
diabhull  is  phianadh  e  gu  teann  e. 
"  Ach  is  diomhain  labhairt  a  nis," 
tliuirt  Fost,  "  is  leisan  m'  anam  is 
mo  chorp  gu  siorruidh." 

Mu  'n  robh  am  facal  mu  dheir- 
eadh  a  beul  Foist  thàinig  tàirnean- 
aich  is  dealanaich  a  bha  oillteil. 
Chaidh  Fost  a  steach  do  thalla  mòr 
a  bha  'n  sin  agus  chaidh  a  chompan- 
ach  do  sheomar  a  bha  làimh  ris  a 
chluinntinn  agus  a  dh'  fhaicinn 
crioch  Foist.  Mu  dha  uair  dheug 
thainig  crith  eagalach  air  an  tigh ; 
bhrist  na  h-uineagan ;  agus  ri 
braidhe  tàirneanaich  le  sreun-chòrr 
gaoithe  thilgeadh  na  dorsan. 
Chaidh  fuaim  gaoith  chumhachdaich 
a '  steach  le  Seidell  nathraichean, 
gaoir  is  ran.  Chualas  esan  a' 
glaoidhich  gu  tiamhaidh  "Mort!" 
Bha  do  bhurralaich  is  do  ulfhart- 
aich  anns  an  talla  agus  ged  a  bhith- 
eadli  na  bheil  do  dhiabhlan  a  tha  an 
ifrinn  a  stigh  ! 

'N  uair  a  thainig  an  latha  bha  do 


150 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Mhios  an  t-Samhraidh,  187«. 


dhànadas  a,ig  na  h-uileimh  òga  gu  'n 
deacliaidh  iad  a  steach  do  'n  talla. 
Fhuair  iad  ann  an  sud  eanchainn 
Foist  air  a  bualadh  a  mach  's  i  'na 
sadraich  air  a'  bliala.  Bha  an  làr 
dearg  le  fnil.  Chaidh  iad  a  mach 
is  finiair  iad  a  cliorp  reubte,  srachte 
air  fhàgail  'na  mhirean  air  an 
òtraich ! 

A'  Chrioch. 


MALAIRT  ANN  AN  GAILIG. 

Thig  an  so  Ian  òig,  Carson  nach 
'eil  thusa  ag  ionnsachadli  Gàilig  a 
leughadh  Ì 

Is  nàrach  gu'm  bitheadh  mac  t' 
atliar  neo-chomasach  air  Gàilig  a 
leughadh — 

Athair,  ciod  am  feum  a  tha'n 
Gàilig  Ì  cha  deanar  malairt  sam  bith 
ann  an  Gàilig ;  cha  dean  sibh  cunn- 
tas,  na  Leabhraichean  malairt  a 
ghleidheadh ;  agus  cia  mar  a  sgriobh- 
ar  litir  a  dh'  iarraidh  bathair, 
agus  cia  mar  a  bheir  sibh  seachad 
Bill  agus  receipt.  Nach  e  a  tha  thu 
a'  ciallachadh  Bann  Geallaidh  na 
Ordugh  air  Banc  agus  Bann  aid- 
mheil  paigheidh  ]  Ro  mhath  ma  ta, 
leigidh  mise  sin  fhaicinn  duitse  gu 
soilleir,  agus  èisd  thusa  rium  gu 
faighidneach  farachail. 

Anns  a'  cheud  àite,  thoir  fainear 
gu  bheil  na  deich  samhhiidhean  a 
leanas  co-ionnan  anns  gach  àite 
deth  an  t-saoghal,  agus  gu'n  tuig  a' 
h-uile  cinneach  iad.  Mar  so  cha 
Bheurla  no  Laidionn  iad — 'se  sin  1, 
2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  0.  Tha  cur  ri 
chèile  (Addition),  agus  toirt  uaithe 
(Subtraction),  air  a  dlieanadh  ann  an 
GàiHg  mar  a  tha  e  ann  am  Beurla. 

A  nis  an  "  Clar  Fillteachaidh  "  no 
an  "Clar  Meudachaidh"  (Multiplica- 
tion), abair  mar  so,  trifillte  a  tri, 
naoidh,  3x3  =  9;  4x4  =  16;  5x5  = 
25,  agus  mar  sin  a  sios. 


Nis  a  thaobh  Litir  a  chur  a  dh' 
iarraidh  Bathair,  abair  mar  so. 

Bail'  an  Obain,  Ceud  mhios  a 
Gheamhraidh, 

An  seachdamh  làfichead,  1875. 
Mr.  Iain  Mac-Dhònuill. 

Bi  CO  math  agus  gu'n  cuir  thu  a 
m'  ionnsuidh  leis  a'  cheud  eiihear 
stoth  a  thig  do  'n  Oban  mar  a  lean- 
as, — 100  punnd  ti  aig  tri  tasdain. 

200  punnd  siticair  aig  tri  sgilin. 

100  Bolla  mine  aig  18/. 

112  punnd  ime  aig  1/. 
Agus  bi  cinnteach  gu'm  bi  iad  air 
an  deanadh  sàbhailte  o  dhosgain  aig 
Comunn  an  t-sabhalaidh,  gu  math 
saoibhir  thar  am  fiach,  agus  cuir  ri 
ciinntas  a'  Bhathair  e ;  cuir  air 
aghaidh  Ordugh  air  "Banc  Caithir 
Ghlasachaidh "  anns  an  Oban,  ri 
phàigheadh  aig  ceann  da  mhios.  Is 
mise  do  sheirbheiseach, 

Iain  Mac-na-ceardadh. 

Nis  so  an  Ciinntas: 
Baile  Ghlasachu, 

Aireamh  da  fliichead  Sràid  Earragh- 
aidheil. 

An  5  mil  la  deug, 
Ceud  mhios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1875. 

Cheannaich  Iain  Mac-na-ceardadh 
anns  an  Oban. 

0  Iain  Mac-Dhònuill— 
100  punnd  Ti  aig  3/  .  £15  0  0 
200  do.  siùcair  aig  3  sgilin  2  10  0 
100  Bolla  mine  aig  18/.  90  0  0 
112  punnd  ime  aig  Tastan  5  12  0 
Eiadh  an  t-sabhalaidh  .       12  7 


£114    4  7 


Agus  a  rèir  t'  larrtuis  air  an  dean- 
adh dionach  o  chall  airson  punnd- 
sasunnach  air  a  cheud  punnd-sasunn 
ach  agus  chuir  mi  e  ris  a  chunntas 
se  sin,  £1:2:7  sgiHn — aig  a 
cheart  am  chuir  mi  air  aghaidh  leis 
a'  phosta  an  Ciinntas  agus  Ordugh 
air  "Banc  Caithir  Ghlasachu"  ann 


Ceud  MMos  an  t-Saanhraidh,  1876.       AN    GAIDHEAL. 


151 


an    £114  :  4  :  7    sgn.,  paigbte   aig 
ceann  da  mhios. 
Le  mòran  taing. 

Is  mi  do  Sheirbheiseach, 
Iain  Mac-Dhoxuill. 

Gu  Iain  Mac-na-ceardadh, 

Marsanda, 

Anns  an  Oban. 

Nis  an  t-ordugli : 
Baile  Ghlasachaidb,  Ceud  mbios  a' 
Gheamhraidb. 

lOmhlaficbead  1875. 
£114:4:7sgilm. 

Aig  ceann  da  mliios  o'n  la  diugh 
pàigh  dliomhsa  no  do  m'  òrdugh, 
cùig  fichead  agus  ceithir  puinnd 
deug  Shasunnach,  ceithir  tasdain 
agus  seachd  sgilin,  fiach  na  fhuair 
thu. 

Iain  Mac-Dhondill, 
Iain  Mac-na-ceardadh. 

Ian  Mac-na-ceàrdadb, 

Marsanda, 

Srkid  Dbeòrsa  anns  an  Oban. 

Bann  Aidmlieil  Pàighidh. 
Baile  Gblasachaidh. 

Ceud  IVIbios  an  Earraicb 
lOmh  la  1875. 

Fhuair  mi  o  Ian  Mac-na-ceardadh 
Cùig  fichead  agus  ceithir  puinnd 
deug  Shasunnach  agus  aou  sgilin  a 
rèir  suim  a'  Chùnntais. 

£114:0:1.  Iain  Mao-Dhonuill, 


Tha  mi  an  dòchas  gu'm  bheil  thu 
tuigsinn  so  uile  ;  thug  mi  dhuit  na 
samhluidhean  cùnntais,  an  Clàr 
meudachaidh,  Litir  òrduigh  air  son 
Bathair,  Cùuntas  a'  Bhathair,  Or- 
dugli  air  a'  Bhanc,  agus  Bann  Aid- 
mheil  pàighidh. 

Argathalian. 


COMHAREAK 

Tha  e  'na  dbeadb  cbombarra  duine  f  baic- 
inn  a'  deanamb  gniomb  scire  ;  tba  e  'na 
dbrocb  combarra  a  cbluinntinn  a'  deanamh 
uaill  as. 

Tha  e  'na  dbeadb  cbombarra  duine  ionraic 
fbaicinn  a'  caitbeamb  a  sbeann  eudach  : 
tba  e  'na  dbrocb  combarra  am  faiciun  a 
lionadb  tboll  'san  uineig. 

Tba  e  'na  dbeadb  cbombarra  duine  fliaic- 
inn  a'  siabadb  an  fbalais  bhhrr  a  mbala  : 
tha  e  'na  dbrocb  combarra  duine  fbaicinn 
a'  siabadb  dbetb  a'  j^buHl  air  dba  tuiteam 
fo  mbisg. 

Tba  e  'na  dbeadb  cbombarra  bean  fbaic- 
inn 'ga  li-èideadb  ft?in  gu  glan  grinn  :  tba 
e  'na  dbrocb  combarra  a  fear  fbaicinn  aig 
na  maoir  air  son  ainmbeacb  a  riombaidb. 

Tba  e  'na  dbeadb  cbombarra  duine  fbaic- 
inn a'  cur  a  cbloinne  do  'n  sgoil  :  tba  e  'na 
dbrocb  combarra  am  faicinn  air  an  tOgail 
ann  an  sgoil  dubb  na  sraid.      ' 


SOP  AS  GACH  SEID.1 

Na  toir  bretb  a  reve  coltais.  Feudaidh 
cridbe  matb  bbi  fo  chota  coiste. 

Cba  bu  cbùir  leanabb  a  bbi  aig  a'  bbean 
mbnàoi  nacbaitbne  cbumail ;  agi;s  tba  so  cbo 
fior  mu  'n  teaniia  agus  a  tba  e  mu  leanabb. 

Tba  Seancbaidb  a'  roinn  a'  cbinne- 
dbaonna  'nan  tri  buidbnean, — a'  mbuinntir 
a  tba  smuainteacbadb  gu'm  bbeil  a'  cbùis 
mar  so,  a'  mbuinntir  a  tba  smuainteacbadb 
nacb  'eil  a'  cbùis  mar  so,  agus  an  fbeadb- 
ainn  a  tba  coma  co-dbiù  a  tba  a'  chhia  mar 
so  no  nacb  'eil. 


FACAL  DO  AR  LUCHD- 
LEUGHAIDH. 

Tha  sinn  duilich,  ged  dh'fheith 
sinu  cho  fada  rilhe,  nach  'eil  dealbh 
an  Ollaimh  Mhic  Lachlainn  deas  aig 
fear-tarruinn  nan  dealbh,  air  son  a 
cur  anns  an  Aireamh  so  mar  a 
rùnaich  sinn. 


152 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Mhios  an  tSamhraidh,  18'(5. 


lOERAM    NA    H-IMRICH    CHUAIN. 


Gleus  F. 


Chaidh  n^  rainn  dhruidhteach  so  a  chur  r'  a  ch^ile,  bho  chionn  timclnoll  air  da 
bliliadhna  dheug,  leis  an  Urramach  D.  MacEath,  an  sgireachd  Nis,  ann  an  Leòdhas, 
air  do  àireamh  mhor  de  'n  choimhthional  aige — agus  'n  am  measg  a'  chnid  a  b'  urram- 
aiche  de  na  seanairean,  d'  an  robh  mdr  spèis  aige — 'bhi  air  dol  air  imrich  do  Chanada. 


Chaidh  sinne  gu  traigh, 

A  choimheadachd  chaich : 

Cha  till  iad  gu  bràth, 

An  taobh  so! 
Long  iaruinn  fo  'm  bonn, — 
A'  sadradh  nan  tonn : 
Tha  feadbainn  am  fonn, 

'S  cuid  tursach. 

Clann  bheaga  ri  gkir' ; 
A'  mhathair  fo  phramh; 
Fir  mhor'  ann  an  sas 

'S  iad  ciurrta, 
'Fras-shileadh  nan  deur 
Gu  tosdach,  ach  geur; 
A'  sealltainn  'n  an  dèigh, 
Le  curam. 

Iad  fein  '  dol  an  iar, 
'S  an  talamh  '  dol  siar; 
Cha  'n  fhaicear  leo  sion 

Ach  Mùirneag.t 
Seall!  Mùirneag  '  dol  uap' 
'Dol  fodha  's  a'  chuan; 

Fir  a's  mnathaibh  gun  tuar, 

'G  a  h-ionndrainn. 


lonndrainn  eil'  ac'  ma  ta, 
'Toirt  cridh'  goirt  agus  cnamh, 
Luchd  an  gaoil  a's  an  dàimh, 
'Toirt  cul  doibh. 
Dh'  fhag  sud  iad  'n  an  deigh, 
Ni  nach  fagar  's  nach  treig, 
Comunn  blath  latba  Dbe 

'S  a'  chubaid. 

Mu  'n  trie  'chruinnich  an  sluagh, 
A  Shàbaid  's  a  Luain, 
Le  mor  aire  's  cluas, 

Do  'n  sgeida. 
Leigeam  seachad  an  dan; 
'S  deanam  urnuigb  a  ghnath, 
Gu'n  ruig  iad  oala  a's  fearr, 
Na  Quebec! 

Beir  an  t-soraidh  so  uam, 
Gu  America  Tuath, 

Thun  caoirich  a's  sluagh 
Mo  churam. 
'N  deadh  Bhuachaill'  e  fein, 
Biodh  rompa  's  'n  an  deigh, 
Gu  'n  dion  o  gach  baud : — 

Sin  m'  urnuieh. 


*  A  translation  will  be  found  in  our  English  Department.  The  Song,  with  an  Eng- 
lish translation,  and  pianoforte  accompaniment,  is  jjublished  by  Messrs.  Paterson  & 
Sons,  27  George  Street,  Edinburgh. 

t  A'  bheinn  a  's  àirde  an  Leddhas. 


THE     G^A^EL 


ENGLISH  DEPARTMENT. 


Vol.  V. 


MAY  1876. 


No.  53. 


THE  PRESENT  CONDITION 
OF  THE  HIGHLANDS. 

Continued  from  j;.  123. 

5.  We  now,  in  the  fifth  place, 
speak  of  the  unfortunate  circum- 
stance that  so  very  few  young 
Highlanders  learn  a  trade.  This  is 
a  matter  very  much  to  be  regretted, 
as  it  renders  our  young  countrymen 
comparatively  helpless  in  youth  and 
early  manhood,  while  in  old  age 
they  are  utterly  unprovided  for, — a 
state  of  things  which  would  not 
happen  to  provident  tradesmen. 

6.  In  the  sixth  and  last  place,  Ave 
may  trace  a  good  deal  of  the  poverty 
from  which  our  poor  countrymen 
suffer  to  the  want  of  education. 
Moderate  as  the  school  fees  have 
been  fur  generations  in  the  North, 
many  of  the  people  could  not  afford 
to  pay  them ;  and,  moreover,  thou- 
sands of  boys  and  girls  were  not 
Avithin  reach  of  schools,  even  did 
they  possess  the  funds  to  meet  the 
expense  of  attending  them.  But 
here  it  is  worth  Avhile  parentheti- 
cally to  pay  a  tribute  of  respect  and 
admiration  to  the  estimable  hard 
Avorking,  ill-requited  schoolmasters  of 
the  Highlands,  Avho,  in  receipt  of 
pay  and  emoluments  barely  sufficient 
to  keep  their  OAvn  souls  and  bodies 
together  in  the  most  humble  way, 
often  kept  boys  at  school  (ay,  and 
girls  too)  for  years,  whose  parents 
could  or  ATould  not  pay  a  farthing 
for  their  education.  Full  many  a 
prosperous  man  is  now  indebted  to 
those  noble,  disinterested,  and  often 
much   abused   men,   the   Highland 


teachers.  It  may  be  said  that  edu- 
cational advantages  Avere  not  appre- 
ciated as  they  should  have  been  of 
old  in  the  North,  and,  to  some  ex- 
tent, such  is  no  doubt  true,  but 
then  it  cannot  be  expected  that 
people  who  are  uneducated  them- 
selves (whercA^er  they  may  live),  are 
so  likely  to  value  educational  pri- 
vileges for  their  children  as  those 
people  Avho  haA'c  themselves  been 
fairly  educated.  Nowhere,  hoAv- 
ever,  can  absolute  poverty  be  so 
honestly  advanced  as  the  sole  cause 
for  want  of  education,  as  in  the 
Highlands  and  Islands.  The  fact 
that  there  is  no  stated  fairly  paid 
industry  being  carried  on  in  the 
North  and  West,  and  the  circum- 
stance of  the  very  uncertain  fisheries 
being  the  main  resource  for  income 
of  the  adult  population,  necessitates 
the  going  out  as  herds,  messengers, 
&c.,  of  the  boys  of  each  family. 
What  these  earn  generally  goes  to 
the  common  stock  of  the  household, 
and  is  often  (small  though  it  is) 
drawn  upon  for  the  Avinter  quarter's 
schooling  of  the  youngsters  them- 
selves. Any  one  Avho  knows  an}^- 
thing  of  the  Highlands,  knoAA'S  the 
exodus  that  takes  place  from  the 
schools  Avhen  the  spring  quarter 
commences,  and  that  only  the  child- 
ren of  those  Avho  are  comparatively 
Avell  to  do  remain  during  the  year. 
The  most  regular  in  their  attend- 
ance haA-^e  to  absent  themselves  Avhen 
there  is  a  big  ebb,  or  to  assist  in 
planting  the  potatoes.  The  Cas- 
chrom  is  a  very  slow  cultivator,  and 
the  youth  of  both  sexes  haA^e  to 
aid  their  parents,  so  that  the  fathers 


154 


THE  GAEL. 


May,  1876. 


and  grown-up  brothers  may  be 
ready  to  go  to  the  Lewis  or  Barra, 
Wick  or  Helmsdale,  Fraserburgh  or 
Peterhead  herring  fishing, — the  only 
stand  by  of  the  poor  people.  The 
wonder  is  not  that  our  Highlanders 
are  so  uneducated,  but  that  they 
have  as  much  book  learning  as 
is  frequently  found  among  them. 
We  have  known  boys  in  what  our 
southern  brethren  would  call  half- 
starving  condition  (and,  in  reality, 
not  far  from  it),  going  on  with 
Virgil,  doing  their  propositions  in 
mathematics,  ready  with  their  al- 
gebra, smart  with  their  arithmetic, 
good  with  the  pointer  in  geography, 
good  in  their  knowledge  of  English 
grammar,  and  all  pretty  much  to 
the  credit  of  the  loving  kindness  of 
their  excellent  teachers,  and  their 
own  unfaltering  perseverance. 

Having  indi-cated  this  much  of 
the  actual  condition  of  the  High- 
lands and  Islands  in  a  conscientious, 
frank,  and  honest  manner,  we  may 
now  proceed  to  discuss  what,  in  our 
opinion  of  the  case,  should  be  the 
remedial  measures  to  restore  the 
people  of  the  North  to  the  happy 
position,  the  comfort  which  they 
were  in  prior  to  the  Disruption  in 
1843,  in  at  least  a  good  many  dis- 
tricts. Of  course,  we  know  that 
unhappiness  arising  from  various 
causes  was  very  prevalent  before  we 
were  born,  that  Waterloo  was  not  a 
forgotten  word  when  some  landed 
proprietors,  with  more  or  less  honest 
intention,  entered  upon  a  crusade  of 
eviction  which  can  scarcely  be  jus- 
tified, even  under  the  aspect  of  the 
prosperity  attained  by  many  of  the 
exiles  in  Cauada,  Australia,  and 
New  Zealand.  We  cannot  justify, 
and  we  do  not  seek  to  revive  the 
old  story, — the  bitterness  of  those 
days  when,  in  many  cases,  to  be  a 
Highlander  meant  to  be  one  laid 
open  to  harshness  deserved  only  by 


felons ;  and  we  know  that  High- 
landers were  then, — they  are  now, 
— the  most  moral  living  people  in 
the  world. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  even  the 
true  friends  of  the  Highlanders  do 
not  always  act  in  a  way  to  conciliate 
those  who  have  it  in  tiieir  power  to 
amend  matters,  if  they  were  so  in- 
clined. The  fact  is,  however,  that 
on  many  estates  which  we  might 
name,  harshness  of  conduct  toM^ards 
the  small  tenants  has  been  carried 
to  such  an  extreme,  that,  no  matter 
with  what  calmness  writers  approach 
the  subject,  they  cannot  but  get 
irritated  as  they  write  of  a  state  of 
things  which  is  intolerable.  Any 
man  possessing  heart  and  conscience 
cannot  but  find  his  feelings  revolt, 
as  he  notes  the  squalor  and  misery 
of  the  many  poverty-stricken,  over- 
crowded villages  now  to  be  met 
with  in  the  Highlands  and  Islands. 
In  some  of  these  cases,  however,  it 
is  fair  to  say  that  what  land  there 
is  is  in  the  hands  of  the  people,  and 
that  the  absence  of  labour  is  the 
chief  cause  of  the  poverty,  and  the 
distance  and  scarcity  of  fuel  often 
the  cause  of  their  greatest  discom- 
fort. Sheep  are  preferable  to  deer, 
from  a  national  and  economical  point 
of  view ;  but,  so  far  as  the  popula- 
tion are  concerned,  there  is  little  to 
choose  between  the  two  evils  which 
robbed  them  of  the  land  which,  in 
their  possession,  would  make  them 
comparatively  comfortable.  As  the 
matter  stands,  it  is  not  even  "  Hob- 
son's  choice  "  with  them.  Much  of 
the  best  parts  of  the  islands  of  Islay, 
and  Skye,  and  Glenelg,  Loch  Carron, 
Applecross,  Lochalsh,  &c.,  on  the 
mainland,  are  devoted  to  deer  or 
sheep.  We  could  name  several 
places  where  there  are  people,  and 
point  out  several  families  without  a 
cow  or  other  useful  animal.  We  do 
not  envy  those  gentlemen  who  are 


May,  1876 


THE  GAEL. 


155 


responsible  for  a  system  ■vrhich  is 
repugnant  to  our  best  feelings.  They 
detest  those  who  hold  them  up  to 
public  opinion,  because  they  are 
justly  ashamed  of  their  own  conduct. 
Those  landed  proprietors  Avho  har- 
den their  hearts  like  Pharaoh  of  old, 
are  shut  up  to  either  giving  land  to 
small  crofters  at  a  reasonable  rent, 
or  else  help  them  (the  landless  ones) 
to  emigrate  to  countries  in  which 
they  Avill  be  received  with  open 
arms.  We  have  no  expectation, — 
at  all  events  very  little, — that  pub- 
lic opinion  will,  in  our  day,  force 
lairds  to  act  with  such  fairness  as 
would  be  implied  in  their  allotting 
the  sod  to  men  instead  of  sheep. 
The  deterioration  of  land  rapidly 
going  on  will  be  the  first  thing  to 
do  that,  ^ye,  however,  as  we  have 
said,  do  not  expect  to  see  much  im- 
provement on  the  existing  state  of 
matters  in  our  day;  and,  meantime, 
thousands  of  men,  women,  and 
children,  are  enduring  little  better 
than  semi-starvation.  Yet  we  have 
landlords  who  grudge  help  to  send 
the  people  to  Canada,  New  Zealand, 
or  Australia.  Xay,  some  of  these 
paternal  gentlemen  affect  to  dis- 
approve of  emigration  altogether ; 
yet  emigration  is  the  only  remedy 
open  to  us  as  the  speediest,  the 
easiest,  the  wisest  escape  for  our 
poverty-stricken  population  in  the 
Highlands  from  their  untoward  and 
unhappy  condition.  We  have  sym- 
pathy A\dth  those  who  write  bom- 
bastically about  the  rights  of  the 
people, — flattering  them  Avith  hopes 
that  public  opinion,  evoked  by  mere 
provincial  organs,  will  set  them 
right,  and  make  the  landlords  do 
their  duty.  We  deprecate  most 
sincerely  the  holding  of  our  most 
famous  and  flourishing  colonies  to 
odium  as  "  primeval  wastes,"  and 
terrible  regions  of  backwoods,  by 
men  who  know  nothing  personally 


on  the  subject.  We  would  .treat 
with  deserved  contempt  those  men 
here  and  there  who  think  it  not  be- 
neath them,  when  they  have  got 
possession  of  the  grumbling  com- 
plaint of  some  lazy,  unsteady  fel- 
low, to  go  about  among  the  people, 
'  and  prejudice  their  minds  against  a 
country,  the  going  to  wdiich  is  their 
only  salvation.  We  have  some  such 
selfish  fellows  now  in  view,  and 
know  full  well  that  they  care  not  a 
pin  point  what  happens  to  the  poor, 
so  long  as  they  have  them  with 
them  to  grind  still  further.  No ; 
we  say  decidedly,  and  we  are  ready 
to  argue  the  point  Avith  all  comers, 
the  fairest  chance  for  landlord  and 
people  at  this  moment  is  presented 
in  the  cry  for  an  influx  of  the  latter 
into  our  colonies.  Let  the  lairds, 
post-prandial  orators,  and  magnilo- 
quent writers  of  antique  articles,  all 
unite  in  assisting  those  Avho  are 
willing  to  go,  and  who  are  of  good 
character,  of  course,  to  sail  for 
Canada,  Australia,  or  New  Zealand, 
— the  sooner  the  better.  It  is  not 
only  execrable  landed  proprietors, — 
some  of  Avhom  we  might  name,  and 
whose  myrmidons  Ave  haA-e  oftener 
than  once  seen  pulling  doAvn  the 
houses  of  helpless  crofters,  to  Avhom 
we  Avould  recommend  to  aid  and 
encourage  emigration ;  but  some  of 
the  best  proprietors  in  the  Highlands 
(some  of  Avhom  Ave  have  already 
named),  whose  people  have  been 
increasing  and  multiplying  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  cause  them  to  be 
now  overcrowded  in  the  diff'erent 
rural  hamlets  in  Avhich  they  used 
to  be  so  happy  and  comfortable,  be- 
!  cause  they  were  themselves  not  so 
numerous,  and  the  land  Avas  sufli- 
cient  to  help  them  to  maintain  them- 
selves. 

What  we  want  is  something  prac- 
tical and  practicable.  Emigration  on 
a  large  scale  is  quite  practicable,  if 


156 


THE  GAEL. 


May,  1870. 


gone  about  rightly.  Wo  know,  we 
expect,  of  course,  that  we  will  be 
met  with  the  scarcity  and  high  price 
of  labour  in  Glasgow,  Dundee,  and 
other  great  towns,  and  we  answer 
from  personal  knowledge  of  the 
matter,  that  our  Highlanders  are 
not  adapted  to  the  kind  of  work 
those  centres  can  offer.  We  know 
that  hundreds  of  young  men  die 
yearly  from  diseases  contracted 
under  such  circumstances.  We 
know,  and  we  make  the  statement 
with  all  due  deference,  that  the  moral 
atmosphere  of  our  cities  is  not  good 
for  our  northern  people ;  and  we 
know,  also,  that  there  is  not  constant 
Avork, —  constant  work  in  the  South 
for  the  Highlanders ;  and  even  if 
there  were,  we  would  still  say  with 
the  elder  Dr.  Norman  Macleod  (than 
whom  Highlanders  never  had  a 
better  or  more  sincere  friend),  the 
only  way  to  insure  their  ultimate 
independence  is  to  allow  them  to  go 
where  they  can  Avork  for  it,  and  on 
their  own  lands.  Therefore  we  say 
we  conscientiously  advocate  emigra- 
tion. 


PROFESSOR  BLACKIE  ON 
OSSIAN. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  a 
paper  recently  read  by  Professor 
Blackie,  before  the  Royal  Society  of 
Edinburgh,  on  the  question  whether 
or  not  the  Gaelic  Ossian  is  a  trans- 
lation from  the  English. 

Professor  Blackie  said  that  the 
recent  revival  by  a  distinguished 
Celtic  scholar  of  the  theory  of  Laing, 
that  Macpherson's  Gaelic  Ossian  is  a 
translation  from  the  English,  afforded 
an  opportunity  of  examining  that 
question  in  a  more  strictly  philolog- 
ical fashion  than  it  had  hitherto  had 
the  fortune  to  enjoy.  Parts  of  the 
question  were  no  doubt  touched  by 


Mackenzie  in  the  Report  of  the 
Highland  Society,  published  in  1805, 
by  Graham  in  his  dissertation  on 
the  authenticity  of  Ossian,  by  Dr. 
Clerk  of  Kilmalie,  the  distinguished 
author  of  the  new  version  of  Ossian 
in  the  late  splendid  edition  pub- 
lished at  the  expense  of  the  Marquis 
of  Bute.  But  systematically  grappled 
with  the  question  had  never  been. 
Having  recently  gone  through  the 
whole  of  the  originals,  he  had  made 
careful  notes  of  whatever  might 
tend  to  settle  this  question,  and  he 
had  come  to  the  conclusion,  in  the 
face  of  the  statement  of  Mr.  Camp- 
bell— whose  authority,  no  doubt,  is 
one  of  the  highest  on  the  subject, 
that  the  Gaelic  is  unquestionably  the 
original.  The  tests  by  which  a 
translator's  hand  seemed  clearly 
discoverable  were  the  following 
five: — (1.)  In  the  English  version, 
awkward,  forced,  and  unidiomatic 
expressions  frequently  occur,  which 
can  be  clearly  traced  to  the  influence 
of  a  Gaelic  original.  (2.)  In  all 
poems  of  any  antiquity  handed  down 
in  manuscripts,  difficulties  will  occur, 
arising  fron;  obsolete  words,  errors 
in  transcription,  confused  connection, 
and  other  causes.  In  such  cases  it 
is  a  common  practice  with  transla- 
tors to  skip  the  difficulty,  gloss  over 
the  matter  with  some  decent  com- 
mon-place, and  sometimes  to  make 
positive  blunders,  which  it  is  not 
difficult  for  a  philologer  to  expose. 
All  these  signs  of  a  translator's  hand 
are  frequent  in  Macpherson's  English 
and  would  be  more  so  had  he  not 
indulged  in  such  a  habit  of  skipping 
generally,  that  it  is  difficult  to  say 
in  certain  cases  decidedly  that  the 
skip  was  made  because  the  writer  of 
the  English  wished  to  shirk  a 
difficulty.  (3.)  It  is  a  common 
practice  with  translators,  when  they 
find  a  passage  a  little  obscure,  to 
remove     the     obscurity     by    some 


May,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


157 


manifest  alteration  of  the  phrase,  or 
even  by  interpolating  a  line  or 
interlarding  a  commentary.  This 
also  occurs  in  Macpherson.  (4.)  It 
is  not  always  that  a  translator  writes 
under  the  same  vivid  vision,  or  the 
^same  fervid  inspiration  as  the 
original  poet ;  and  the  consequence 
is  that  he  aviII  occasionally  degrade 
poetry  into  prose,  and  specially  fail 
to  bring  out  that  individuality  of 
character  in  his  word-painting  Avhich 
Euslvin  has  so  triumphantly  insisted 
on  in  the  case  of  the  sister  art.  The 
instances  of  failure  to  seize  the  most 
striking  features  of  the  original,  and 
the  substitution  of  generic  for  specific 
epithets,  are  frequent  in  Macpherson. 
(5.)  Most  translators  yield — some- 
times, no  doubt,  wisely — to  the 
temptation  of  improving  on  their 
originals ;  and  Macpherson,  from 
what  we  know  of  him,  was  the  last 
man  in  the  world  to  think  of  resist- 
ing such  a  temptation.  How  much 
of  the  Gaelic,  as  we  now  have  it — 
that  is,  his  clean  copy  of  his  own 
originals — was  subjected  to  this  pro- 
cess of  beautification,  as  we  may  call 
it,  no  one  can  now  tell ;  but  he  (the 
Professor)  seemed  to  have  traced  in 
several  instances  departures  from 
the  simplicity  of  the  original  Gaelic, 
which  can  be  explained  most  natur- 
ally on  the  supposition  that  they 
proceed  from  a  translator  who  had 
jàelded,  without  any  just  cause,  to 
this  flattering  seduction.  After 
illustrating  each  of  these  tests  by 
example  from  Macpherson's  work, 
the  learned  gentleman  concluded  by 
stating  that  when  the  results  thus 
obtained  by  a  purely  philological 
induction  were  combined  with  the 
amount  of  external  evidence  to  be 
found  in  the  Highland  Society's 
Keport  to  the  effect  that  Macpherson 
actually  did  translate  from  Gaelic 
originals,  and  was  seen  by  various 
parties  for  weeks  and  months  em- 


ployed in  the  work  of  translation,  a 
cumulative  proof  was  produced  that 
he  was  most  anxious  to  see  by  what 
arguments  Mr.  Campbell  could  rebut. 
If  that  gentleman,  to  whom  Celtic 
literature  owes  so  much  (and  who  in 
fact  is  the  wolf  of  the  Ossianic 
question),  or  any  Galician  who  thinks 
with  him,  shall  succeed  in  leading  a 
counterproof,  he  (Professor  Blackie) 
could  not  conclude  that,  considering 
the  scrappy  and  fragmentarv  nature 
of  some  of  the  materials  in  Macpher- 
son's hands,  it  might  possibly  have 
been  the  case  that  the  translator 
filled  up  some  of  the  gaps  in  his  tale 
in  English,  with  the  intention  that 
they  might  be  done  into  Gaelic 
before  publication  by  Strathmaine, 
Captain  Morrison,  or  some  other  of 
his  Highland  coadjutors  ;  but  that 
the  English,  as  a  whole,  is  a  transla- 
tian  from  the  Gaelic,  and  not  a 
translation  of  the  best  quality  in 
many  respects,  may  be  accepted  as 
one  of  the  best  ascertained  facts  in 
the  whole  range  of  philological  in- 
vestigation. 

After  the  reading  of  Professor 
Blackie's  paper.  Professor  Sellar  put 
several  questions  generally  of  the 
authorship,  history,  and  internal 
characteristics  of  the  Gaelic  and  Mr. 
Macpherson's  English  versions  of 
Ossian,  tending  to  the  result  that 
Professor  Blackie's  labours,  notwith- 
standing the  theory  of  forgery,  was 
not  completely  displaced.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Cazenove  followed  in  the  same 
direction.  On  the  other  hand, 
Principal  Shairp,  of  St.  Andrews, 
expressed  a  distinct  and  decided 
opinion  that  Professor  Blackie,  by 
his  application  of  the  philological 
test  in  the  consideration  of  this 
question,  had  struck  upon  a  vein  of 
criticism  which  they  hoped  the 
occupant  of  his  future  Celtic  chair 
would  follow  up  to  a  successful 
result.     He  thought  also  that  Pro- 


158 


THE  GAEL. 


May,  1876. 


fessor  Blaclvie  had  hit  upon  the  true 
solution  of  this  controversy. 


-0- 


LEWSIAXA.* 

Those  of  the  public  who  take  an 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  truly 
moral,  excellent  people  who  live  in 
the  island  of  Lews  cannot  do  better 
than  read  Mr.  Anderson  Smith's 
work.  Lewsiana  is,  in  truth,  a  very 
interesting  book.  It  is  calculated 
to  open  the  eyes  even  of  people  who 
seem  to  think  that  they  know  the 
inhabitants  of  the  North  of  Scotland 
pretty  well.  The  volume  enters 
into  the  most  minute  details  of 
every-day  life,  and  gives  them  in  a 
manner  so  graphic  as  to  sustain  the 
interest  of  the  reader  to  the  end. 
It  matters  not  whether  it  is  a  High- 
lander, an  Islander,  or  a  Lowlander 
who  cons  its  pages,  if  he  care  for  the 
episodes  of  most  humble,  homely 
life,  Lewsiana  will  not  disappoint 
him.  If  the  reader  hails  from  west 
of  Inverness,  he  may  probably  think 
that  the  author  is,  by  a  good  deal, 
too  graphic  in  his  sketches.  In 
fact,  the  extreme  primitiveness  of 
the  Lews  people  is  pictured  forth  in 
a  manner  which  makes  us  almost 
doubt  that  we  are  reading  about  the 
lives  of  men  and  women  who  are 
our  contemporaries  in  the  year  of 
grace  1876.  Still  we  are  assured 
that  Mr.  Smith  is  sufficiently  ac- 
curate in  his  delineations  of  life  and 
manners  in  the  Outer  Hebrides,  and 
we  cannot  repress  a  longing  to  be- 
hold in  their  native  island  people 
whose  relatives  we  have  met  at 
home  and  abroad  performing  very 
important  functions.  It  is  gratify- 
ing to  know  that,  intimate  as  are 
the  relations  which  exist  between 


*  Lewsiana ;  or,  Life  in  the  Outer 
Hebrides.  By  J.  Anderson  Smith.  Lon- 
don :  Daldv,  Isbister,  &  Co. 


the  sexes  in  the  Hebrides,  there  is 
probably  no  part  of  Scotland  in 
which  immorality  is  less  prevalent. 
And  as  to  crime  of  a  heinous  nature, 
that  is  unknown  in  the  Lews.  We 
know  no  better  field  for  the  exer- 
tions of  the  emigration  agent,  for. 
we  are  persuaded  that,  benevolent 
although  the  proprietor  certainly  is, 
there  is  nothing  could  possibly  be 
of  so  much  advantage  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  island  as  proceeding  to 
the  colonies.  In  them  there  is  ample 
scope  for  the  industry  of  all  who 
choose  to  settle  in  them  ;  and  there 
is  nothing  required  to  ensure  suc- 
cess but  sobriety  and  steadiness, 
strong  hands  and  arms,  with  cour- 
ageous hearts ;  a  willingness  to 
work  for  a  competence.  But  what 
do  we  find  at  home,  unless  over- 
crowding in  hamlets,  through  the 
constant  marrying  of  the  young 
people,  as  described  by  our  author, 
— several  families  being  compelled 
to  share  a  small  croft,  which  was 
originally  little  enough  for  one.  We 
happen  to  know  of  one  instance  in 
which  addition  was  added  to  addi- 
tion of  the  family  residence,  as  one 
son  after  the  other  got  married, 
until  at  last  the  house  nearly  landed 
end  on  to  the  beach  ! 

We  regret  that,  owing  to  our 
space  being  so  very  limited,  we  can 
give  but  little  by  way  of  quotation, 
and,  in  doing  this,  we  are  met  with 
the  difficulty  of  selection, — selecting 
the  most  striking  parts  that  is. 
Probably  the  following  will  amuse 
as  much  as  anything  in  the  book  : — 

"  What  are  yot;  laughing  at  1 
Lift  the  creel  in  quickly,  and  take 
your  oar ;  don't  you  see  we  are 
almost  on  the  spray-girt  rocks  1  In 
comes  the  creel,  and  a  strong  eflfort 
shoots  the  heavy  boat  out  of  immedi- 
ate danger,  and  gives  us  liberty  to 
examine  the  inhabitants,  crouched 
one   in   each    corner,   with    others 


May,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


159 


clinging  absurdly  to  the  netting — 
huge  crabs  every  one  of  them,  dis- 
gusted with  life  and  with  one 
another,  looking  intolerably  stupid 
and  ashamed  of  themselves  for 
being  so  "  taken  in."  Not  one  of 
the  lot  is  small  enough  to  force 
itself  at  any  angle  through  the  hole 
it  had  entered  at.  Cork  after  cork 
comes  slowly  in  as  the  last  creel 
approaches  the  top  of  the  water. 
What  an  eager  plunge  !  "I  have 
him,"  shouts  Anish,  as  he  raises  his 
delighted  face  and  displays  a  mighty 
lobster,  his  great  nippers  hanging 
like  the  heavy  fists  of  a  ploughboy 
on  his  way  to  Church."  (?) 

AVe  commend  Lewsiana  to  the 
public,  and  beg  to  say  that  if  it  does 
not  tell  all  that  might  be  told  about 
the  island,  it  certainly  is  a  fair  in- 
stalment. It  shows  how  bravely 
and  cheerfully,  how  contentedly  and 
honestly  the  people  wear  out  their 
lives  without  a  thought  of  moving 
to  countries  in  which  they  would 
exchange  a  state  of  perpetual 
indebtedness  and  dependency  to  one 
of  freedom  from  pecuniary  liabilities 
and  prosperity.  We  say  nothing  of 
the  chapters  devoted  to  the  antiquities 
of  the  Jews  except  that  they  are 
very  interesting. 


THE  EMIGRATION  LAMENT,* 
(translated  bt  I.  G. ). 

We've  gone  to  the  shore, 
With  those  who  no  more 
Shall  see  their  own  Isle, 

For  ever. 
Th'  iron  ship  's  now  their  home. 
Through  white  curling  foam 
They  speed  some  in  joy, 

Some  weeping, 
See  childhood's  glad  eye  ; 
But  list,  woman's  sigh  ! 
Ev'u  manhood's  stout  heart 

Is  breaking ! 

*  For  the  Original,  see  the  Gaelic  De- 
partmect. 


Hot  streaming  tears  flow. 
Now  silent,  in  woe, 
They're  looking  behind 

In  sorrow. 

Still  sailing  on  west, 

From  the  land  they  love  best, 

They  gaze  upon  nought 

But  Muimeag  !  * 
See  Muimeag  depart ! 
Dear  hill  of  their  heart. 
Now  lost  to  their  view. 

For  ever ! 
'Tis  snnk  in  the  sea, 
Each  cheek  becomes  pale  ; 
Oh  !  list  yon  wild  wail 

For  Muirneag. 
Dear  friends,  loved  so  well, 
Are  left  far  behind, 
Fond  bleeding  hearts  swell 

With  anguish. 
When,  far,  far  away. 
They'll  think  of  God's  day, 
His  house,  and  the  saints'  sweet 

Communion. 
There  each  Sabbath-day, 
Besides  oft  to  pray, 
They  gathered  to  hear 

The  glad  tidings. 
Now  hushed  be  my  song. 
For  those  forced  to  roam, 
Thus  driv'n  from  their  home 

And  kindred. 
When  time  shall  have  jiassed, 
May  all  meet  at  last. 
Safe  at  yon  fair  haven. 

In  glory  ! 
Winds,  waft  my  farewell. 
To  Canada's  shore  ; 
I'll  never  see  more 

My  people ! 
That  Jesus  may  shield 
My  flock  fr&m  all  harm. 
With  His  loving  arm. 

Is  my  prayer. 


THE  STONE,   BRONZE,  AND  IRON 

AGES. 

Dr.  Arthur  Mitchell  recently  delivered 
a  lecture  on  the  above  subject  in  connection 
wth  the  Society  of  Antiquaries,  in  the 
Freemason's  Hall,  Edinburgh. 

He  set  out  by  explaining  that  the  present 
lecture  would  relate  chiefly  to  some  objects 
found  in  actual  use  in  Scotland  which  were 
still  occasionally  made  of  stone,  though 
generally  of  some  other  material,  and  which. 


Muirneag  is  the  highest  mountain  in 
the  Island  of  Lewis. 


160 


THE  GAEL. 


May,  1876. 


though  quite  modern,  might  find  a  place  on 
the  shelves  of  collections  of  antiquities,  be- 
ing in  no  radical  respect  different  from 
similar  objects  which  do  find  a  place  there, 
which  were  quite  properly  enough  believed 
to  be  of  great  age.  Classifying  antiquities 
under  the  familiar  hea  ds  of  the  stone,  bronze, 
and  iron  ages,  he  proceeded  to  show  the 
value  and  nature  of  such  a  classification  of 
antiquities,  the  respects  in  which  this 
classification  was  practically  useful,  and 
the  respects  in  which  it  led  to  error  when 
its  true  nature  was  imperfectly  understood. 
Antiquities  of  the  stone  age  were  regarded 
as  the  relics  of  men  who  were  ignorant  of 
the  use  of  metals,  and  who  depended  on 
stone,  bone,  wood,  and  other  readily  acces- 
sible natural  products  for  their  implements 
and  their  weapons  of  the  chase  or  war. 
Those  of  the  bronze  period  again  were  held 
to  be  relics  of  men  who  had  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  copper,  or  copper  alloyed  mth 
tin,  and  who  used  that  knowledge  to  make 
cutting  implements  of  a  more  serviceable 
character  than  those  which  could  be  made 
of  stone.  Those  of  the  third  age  were 
relics  of  men  who  had  discovered  the  way 
to  make  and  use  iron  and  steel,  and  were 
thus  acquainted  with  a  material  which 
superseded  both  bronze  and  stone  as  re- 
garded the  character  and  value  of  the  tools 
or  weapons  which  could  be  made  of  it. 
This,  he  remarked,  was  an  ingenious  classi- 
fication, and  it  was  one  which  had,  no 
doubt,  proved  itself  to  possess  practical 
utility.  Yet  it  might  and  did  lead  to- error 
in  various  directions,  whenever  we  treated 
it  as  applicable  to  the  whole  human  family 
and  lost  sight  of  its  inherent  imperfections 
and  weaknesses,  and  of  the  limitations  and 
uncertainties  in  its  applicability  to  all 
restions  of  the  world.  The  relics  of  the 
stone  age,  wherever  they  were  found,  in 
the  present  state  of  our  knowledge,  we  cer- 
tainly must  regard  as  revealing  the  exist- 
ence of  man  in  a  primitive  and  uncultured 
condition  at  some  time  or  other  in  that 
place  ;  but  it  by  no  means  followed  that 
the  next  stage  of  his  culture  would  invari- 1 
ably  have  for  its  chief  characteristic  a 
knowledge  of  the  usefulness  of  bronze,  and 
of  the  way  to  obtain  it.  It  was  quite  con- 
ceivable that  he  should  pass  from  the  stone 
into  the  iron  age  without  knowing  anything 
about  bronze.  With  reference  still  further 
to  the  errors  which  might  arise  from  regard- 
ing this  classification  as  indicating  neces- 
sarily successive  stages  of  civilisation,  it  was 
desirable  that  it  should  be  understood  that 
though  it  might  be  correctly  said  of  a  people 
that  they  were  in  an  iron  age,  this  would  not 
at  all  imply  that  they  were  in  an  advanced 


stage  of  civilisation.  That  might  be  true 
of  them,  while  it  was  also  true  that  they 
were  barbarians  and  savages.  We  ourselves 
were  already  in  our  ircm  age,  and  had  been 
so  for  we  could  not  tell  how  long,  when  the 
Romans  paid  us  the  first  of  those  visits 
which  exercised  such  a  happy  influence  over 
the  destinies  of  our  land.  At  this  day  the 
people  of  Central  Africa  were  in  their  iron 
age,  yet  they  were  scarcely  men  in  the 
opinion  of  some,  and  if  men,  they  were  so 
low  in  the  grade  of  civilisation  that  from 
them  the  slaves  of  the  world  were  drawn. 
They  were,  nevertheless,  in  their  iron  age. 
Yet  there  was  no  evidence  of  their  ha-ving 
ever  been  in  a  stone  age,  and  no  evidence 
had  been  obtained  at  all,  so  far  as  we  knew, 
of  their  having  passed  through  a  bronze  age. 
He  would  like  to  go  even  further  still  in 
showing  the  defects  of  this  classification, 
and  he  would  ask  why  a  man  who  used 
bronze  weapons  should  be  inferior  to  a  man 
who  uses  iron  weapons  ?  There  was  a  very 
considerable  leap  from  stone  to  bronze,  but 
the  leap  from  bronze  to  iron  was  compara- 
tively simple,  and  certainly  it  was  a  step 
which  need  not  of  necessity  be  taken  at  all, 
since  among  some  people  the  appearance  of 
bronze,  for  whatever  purpose  used,  must 
follow  instead  of  preceding  iron.  From  his 
argument  the  lecturer  inferred  four  things — 
(1)  that  the  classification  of  antiquities  into 
those  belonging  to  the  stone,  bronze,  or  iron 
ages  has  no  absolute  or  definite  chronological 
significance  ;  (2)  that  it  equally  fails  to  in- 
dicate stages  of  civilisation  in  the  sense  of 
being  invariable  gradations  of  progress  to- 
wards existing  civilisation,  necessarily  con- 
secutive and  universally  applicable  to  all 
the  varieties  of  the  human  race  ;  (3)  that 
the  three  periods,  even  though  they  may 
successively  present  themselves  in  two  coun- 
tries lying  close  to  each  other,  still  need  not 
synchronise — that  is,  the  one  country  may 
still  be  in  its  stone  age,  while  the  other  has 
passed  into  the  bronze  age  ;  and  (4)  that 
the  antiquities  of  each  country  must  be 
separately  studied  with  reference  to  the  fit- 
ness to  it  of  such  a  classification.  The  lec- 
turer next  touched  upon  several  other  points 
affecting  the  value  of  the  classification  he 
had  criticised,  and  went  on  to  describe  and 
exhibit  a  number  of  stone  objects  which  he 
had  found  in  the  north-west  of  Scotland, 
and  which  were  used  as  implements  at  the 
present  time.  These  objects,  which  had  na- 
turally been  classed  with  the  relics  of  the 
stone  period,  were  of  recent  manufacture. 
Many  of  them  might  be  spoken  of  as  sur- 
vivals of  the  stone  period,  and  they  would 
all  be  regarded  as  of  great  age  if  they  pre- 
sented themselves  without  a  history. 


g-^^iidh:e.a.l. 


"  Mar  ffhat.h  solu'ts  do  m'  anam  fein 
Tha  sgeiila  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fludhh.  " — Oisean. 


V.  Leabh.]  DARA  MIOS  AN  -T-SAMHEAIDH. 


[55  Air. 


TURUS  MARA. 

Bha  a'  gliaoth  ag  ealadh  bog  blatli 
o'n  deas  ;  agiis  tlas  greiue  a'  platbadh 
gu  tlusail  air  gacb  taobb.  Cbith- 
teadh  a  gbaoir-tbeas  a'  ruitb  'ua 
deana  cbritbeaiiuach  tbar  giiirme 
nam  blar  is  thar  uacbdar  gbis  nan 
loch  air  bearnaibb  ceatbach  faiie 
nam  beann,  Blia  loch  a'  Bbogha 
Mboir  le  a  bbroilleacb  seamh  boidb- 
eacb  'na  sbineadh  gii  faoil  farsninn 
fa'r  combair.  Tha  a'  cbnith  agus  a 
shnuadb  ag  eiridh  an  drasd  mu 
(?hoinneamh  sgathan  mo  mbac- 
meamna.  Tha  mi  faiciini  a  chinu 
aosda  le  chearcal  ban  mu  cbnin  a' 
foiseacbadh  gu  tosdach  ri  buinne 
fbiorgiilaQ  Bbeul-an-Atb  cuiriiiclile 
gu  diombair  fasgacb  le  tiugb  mbean- 
glan  nan  craobh.  Ag'us  nach  luracb 
a  sheallas  riomball  geal  Tliraigb- 
Laiiga  mar  sgriob  oir  air  a  tarruing 
sios  cul  a  cbinn '  Agus  Bealach  Dearg 
'na  eideadb  scar! aid  rioghail  a'  fiad- 
bachadh  anfbir-tburuis  gu  criochaibh 
buidiieach  Cliille-Chumain.  Tha 
thusa  a  loch  tbaine  cbaoiuib  fhasgaich 
gun  cbaocbladb  ad  mbaise ;  sgiaui- 
bacli  agus  taitneacb  do  sbuil  a'  mha- 
raiche  mar  a  bhatbu  ann  au  laitbibh 
ciau  na  Feiniie.  Mar  tha  Daii  an 
Deirg  ag  innseadh  : — 

"  Ciod  am  fath  bhi  'g  udal  cuain, 
Is  Eilean  fuar  nan  geotha  crom, 
A'  sgaoileadh  a  sgiath  'nar  coinneamb, 
Gu'r  dion  o  dhoineann  na  h-oidhche  ? 
Tha  e  ciom  mar  bliogh'  air  ghleus, 
Tha  e  seamh  mar  uchd  mo  ghaoil, 
Oaitheamaid  an  oidhche  'na  sgeith, 
lonad  eibhinn  nan  aisling  caoin." 

No  mar  a  sbeinneadh  ann  am  Beurla 


le  aou  do  uaistnicli  bhardail  au  eilein 

fein  : — 

"  The  Loch  seemed  anxious  to  extend 

Its  hoary  head  to  fair  Bridgend, 

To  kiss  the  fairy  home  of  Islay, 

Where  the  green  woodlands  brghtly  smile 

aye; 
And  thus  we  viewed  the  sweet  array 
Of  barks  that  on  its  bosom  lay, 
The  welkin  distance  of  its  shore. 
And  heard  its  music  evermore." 
Mu    dbeireadb    cbimnaic   sinn   gob 
bioracb    ua    Birliuu    a'    tigbinn   am 
fradbarc  fo  ghualainn  ghlais  Chnoc- 
na-faire;  agus  cha  b'  fhada  gus  an 
robh  a  sron  an  taice  na  lann-aig  bbig 
sbios  fo'n  Fiiardaich  Fhroinich.    An 
tiotadh    bha    siuu    sbios  ;    agus    bu 
cheutach  an  surd  a  bha  air  a'  Pbap- 
annacb    Cholacb  agus   air   Ishmael 
Ileacb,  mu'n  robh  au  seaufliocal  gun 
teagamli  fior — "Nach  toir  uuiir  no 
monadh  au  cuid  o  dhaoine  sona." 

Eadar  ramh  is  seol  cha  b'fhada 
gus  an  robh  siuu  fein  agus  a'Bbirliu 
a  mach  air  druim  ghuirm  an  Loch  ; 
Ardlaracb,  Gartbreac,  Crotliacb,  is 
Cul  an  Lagain  ann  an  ordiigb  boid- 
heacb  au  deigh  a  cbeile  air  taobh 
sear  an  Loch,  agus  Brutbach-a'- 
Chladaich  geal,  ur,  aitreambach  mu'r 
coiiineamb  air  an  taobh  siar.  Ag 
ealadh  mar  so  a  sios  gu  seamh  socair 
air  broilleach  fuarghlan  an  uisge 
fhuair  Ishmael  cothrom  speilearitacbd 
a  theanga  a  bhi  'ga  chur  au  cleach- 
dadb.  Mar  naistnich  Ileach  bha 
earbs'  aig  Isbuiael  asainn  nach 
bratliteadb  e  mu  na  sgeoil  thait- 
neach  Ian  do  fbein-gbloir  a  bha  e  a' 
taouiadh  a  mach.  Cairdeau  is  eolaich 
CO  cbluinneadh  uainn  ei  Agus 
cha'n'eil  an  so  ach  cagar  beul-fo- 
11 


162 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Dara  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


fliraocli  air  a'  chuis  nach  niig  cluas 
ciiirt  no  Goill.  'Sanii  aig  Ishiuael 
fein  a  bha  'n  t-innseadh  blasda  air 
treubliantas  nan  diulnacb  a  bh'  ai.u 
deth  fein  agns  do'ri  Cholach  :  Na 
bi-ic  shnrdagach  agus  na  gealagan 
mear  boidLeach  a  thug  iad  a  linntean 
doiin  diomhair  na  b-ambunn  ;  agus 
iia  l)iadain  tbai'agljeal  airgiodacb  a 
thug  iad  's  a'  nihochthrath  a  oirean 
seauib  an  Locb.  Uba  robb  Fear  an 
Tigb  Bbaiu  a'  faotainn  idir  a  leitbid 
do  I'usgadb  's  a  bha  na  Goill,  o'n  is  e 
an  Gaidheal  a  bh'ann.  Nach  e  na 
daoine  mora  fein  le'n  laghan  a  leon 
cridhe  naibhreach  nan  (iaidheal  ! 
Dh'  fhalbh  an  abhaisd  thiachdnihor 
a  bh'  anil  o  shean,  'nuair  a  dh' 
fhendadh  fear  dol  a  mach  's  tigbiun 
dachaidh  le  a  cboinean,  no  ghearr, 
no  fhiadh.  Tha  iasg  a'  chnain  siar 
fein  a  uis  fo  chis  !  nach  ann  air  an 
t-saoghal  a  thaiiiig  an  da  latha ! 
Nach  e  na  cismhaoir  fein  a  thng 
an  dile  ruadh  a  ris  air  a'  Ghaidheal- 
tacbd  1  eoin  nan  speur,  is  eisg  na 
niara,  is  maghaich  an  t-sleibh  tha  iad 
a  cur  fo  ghlais  nihi-madurra  o  lamb 
an  duine  bhochd  !  Ach  tha  duil 
aig  Ishmael-  is  aig  a'  Cholach  ri  la 
ail  aigh  aims  an  teid  a'  ghlas  mhi- 
naomh  ud  a  chur  'na  smal.  Agus 
aims  na  huthibb  dorcha  ansbocrach 
a  tb'  anil  tha  iad  a'  briseadb  agus  a' 
bioranachd  ris  a'  ghlais  gun  taing  do 
chuirt,  's  do  shiorram,  Nach  'eil  e 
cho  nadnrra  do  dhuiue  teothadh  ris 
na  bradain  cheutach  luachmhor 'nuair 
a  chi  e  na  uasail  ghlana  'gam  falcadh 
fein  ann  an  ioinaLiibh  an  loch  far 
am  bi  iad  ri  cleasachd  gbasda  anus 
an  tachdar  do  fhioruisge  a  thainig  o 
bhun  na  b-anihuiin.  Tha  ain  buai- 
readli  ro  laidir  air  son  full  is  feoil 
choitcheann  : — co  a  b'  urrainn  fui- 
reach  bhuacha"?  Tha  na  leabagan 
bochda  gle  laghach  le  am  bodaich 
bhog  ruadha  is  leis  na  lauganna 
seang  glasa  ;  ach  co  a  cboimeasadh 
iad  ris   a'  bhradan  nasal       Nach  e 


an  Cruithfhear  a  chuir  'sa  mhuir  e 
agus  cha  'n  iad  daoine  ?  'Nuair  a 
bha  Ishmael  a'  reusonachadh  mar  so 
tacun  le  fileantachd  chomharraicbte, 
bha  .suilean  a'  Cholaich  a'  beotha- 
chadb.  Bha  iargain  turns  creich  na 
b-oidhche  raoir  a'  falbh  ;  is  chnireadh 
e  aoiita  a  nis  agus  a  rithis  ri  reuson- 
achadh teanga  theallsauaich  Ishmaeil. 

Bha  sinn  a  uis  sios  seacbad  slios 
glaschreagach  an  Ocbda-Fada.  Bha 
am  bata  laghach  a'  gluasad  gu  gasda 
a  sios  air  nachdar  trom  nan  lunu  a 
bha  'gau  caradh  fein  a  steach  a 
doimhneachd  bolg  na  li-Atlantic. 
'Scha  robh  sinn  fada  gns  an  robh 
sinn  a  steach  ann  am  Port  Mor 
Aoileastaidh. 

Cliaith  sinn  an  latha  san  Roinn — 
cearii  ainraeil  Mhic-Aoidh.  Roimh 
chiaradh  an  fheasgair  dh'  fhag  sinn 
am  port  a  thilleadh  do  'n  cbala  dh' 
ftiag  sinn.  Cha  robh  deo  gaoith  ann 
agus  cha  robh  ach  na  rairah  sblis- 
neach  a  shineadh  a  mach.  Ceanu- 
rnisgte  casrnisgte  b'e  Ishmael  is  am 
Balach  Ban  Colach  na  suinn  threun 
nach  sgithicheadh  ramh.  Cha  b' 
fliada  gus  an  robh  gualaiun  Gob  na 
Banna  gle  fhada  'nar  deigb ;  agus 
Maol  na  h-Oighe  ghuirm  'g  a  falach 
fein  ann  an  dubhradh  an  llieasgair. 
Bha  Ishmael  le  theanga  fhonuoir  a' 
cur  surd  oirnn  air  fad ;  'nuair  a 
gblaodliadh  e  nis  agus  a  rithis, 
"  Sgriob  leat  i,  a  Bhalaich  Bhain  !" 
shaoileadh  tu  gu'n  robh  am  bata 
fein  a'  gabhail  misnich,  blieireadh  i 
a  leitbid  do  shurdagan  beo  aisde  a 
steach  linne  dhuirche  an  Loch. 
Thugadh  an  sinn  treis  a'  cagnadh 
nan  coimheach  a  tha  gabhail  seilbh 
air  fearann  torach  lie.  Bha  mi 
toiMcht'  thuigsinn  nach  robh  dad  do 
dh'eud  salach  anns  a'  Bhalach  Bhan 
no  ann  an  Ishmael  mu'n  chnis  so. 
Cha  robh  dhith  orrasan,  na  balaich 
bliochda,  ach  saorsa  fhaorainn  dol 
an  deigh  gearrfhiadb,  gealaig,  no 
bradain  mar  a  bu  mhath  leotha,  agus 


Kara  Ifios  an  t-Samhvaidli,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


168 


gloiiie  do  mliac-na-bracha  a  iiis  's  a 
rithis  a  clinamli  an  t-siotliainu ; 
faigheadh  iadsan  so  agiis  cha  robh 
a!i  corr  adhitli  orra  ;  cha  sbalaiclieadh 
iar  an  lauihaii  ri  uir  uo  li  fearaun  ; 
dh'  fhagadh  iad  e  aig  Gall  no  Gaid- 
heal  'sam  bith  a  bbeireadb  bavr  d'a 
nachdar.  Bba  iogbnadh  orra  mar  a 
bha  mise  ag  innseadh  dhoibh  gu'n 
robli  fior  fhiiil  nan  Gaidheal  aun  an 
cnid  do  ua  Gaill  a  bha  'sail  eilean. 
Gu'n  robh  bantighearna  oirdhearc 
Bhruthacha'-Chladaich  do  chlann 
aimneil  nam  jNIathonach,  do'u  teagh- 
lach  airidh  iid  dheth  'm  bheil  Sir 
Seumas  Mathonach,  nacharan  Leodh- 
ais.  Agus  g'u  dearbh  fein  clia  'ii 
'eil  cliu  no  buadh,  no  fialachd  a 
bbuineadh  do  iia  baintighearnan 
Gaidhealach  o  sheaii  nach  'eil  air  an 
riochdacliadh  inntese.  Gu  ma  fada 
sona  bhios  i  fein  agus  a  fear  agns  a 
teaghlach  ag'us  a  cnid  :, — 

"  Bana-Ghaidbeal,  oirdhearc,  statail, 
Fialaidh.  cairdeil  an  rua  san  cri  ; 
So  dliuit  failte  am  measg  nan  Gaidheal, 
Gu'n  robh  thu  aghmhor  ad  thigh  's  ad  ni. " 

Ach  tha  sinu  a  nis  a'  tarruing  gu 
port ;  is  g-ed  is  iomadh  mile  a  dh' 
fhag  siiui  'nar  deigh  tha  na  h-iom- 
raichean  cho  ealamh  iasgaidb  air 
cul  nan  ramh  agns  a  bhios  na  h-eoin 
bheaga  cho  mear  a  dhol  a  sheinn 
aig"  eiridh  ua  greine.  Anns  au 
dealachadh  tha  mi  dol  a  dh'  fhagail 
am  dheigh  airduilleagaibh  neo-bhasm- 
hor  A'  Ghaidheil  brigh  cridhe  naist- 
ueach  bardail  a  fhuair  mi  auu  au 
cainnt  charrach  nan  Gall  : — 

' '  Isle,  once  famed  in  song  and  storj^, 
Joj-^ed  I  tread  thj^  earth  once  more  ! 
Proud  I  view  thj'  shreds  of  glory. 
Shading  stream  and  loch  and  shore. 
"  Still  to  me  thy  broken  splendour 
Is  not  all  that  makes  thee  dear  : 
There  are  chords  of  love  more  tender 
Sealed  by  holy  friendshij^'s  tear. 
"  Islay  dear  I  I  love  thee  ever  ! 
All  thy  scenes  and  deep -blue  skies  ; 
All  thy  kindly  hearts  that  never 
Virtue,  Love,  and  Truth  despise  !" 


LITIR. 

Dear  Mr.  Editor, — That  the 
Bai'ds  who  sang  aforetime,  and  who 
are  now  dead  and  gone,  should  be 
held  in  lionour  and  be  frequently 
quored,  and  were  quoted,  but  with 
p'ide  a:id  respect,,  is  all  very  right 
and  proper.  But  does  it  not  strike 
you,  as  it  has  frequently  struck  me, 
that  we  are  rather  apt  to  be  in- 
different to,  and  regardless  of  the 
works  of  our  living  contemporary 
Gaelic  song  writers  ?  We  have  it  on 
classical  authority  that  there  were 
brave  men  before  Agamemnon  ever 
wielded  mace  in  single  combat  or  ia 
the  mad  bruilgie  of  a  general  engage- 
ment. We  would  say,  if  we  dared 
to  meddle  with  the  dictum  of  a 
classic,  that  not  only  were  there 
brave  men  before  Agamemnon,  biit 
equally  brave,  or  braver  men  after 
him,  after  he  had  long  slept  with 
his  fathers,  and  being  resolved  to 
dust  and  ashes.  We,  too,  have  had 
our  Bards,  aye,  and  we  have  our 
Bards  still,  and  it  is  neither  wise 
nor  well  for  us  to  neglect  and  ignore 
our  contemporaries,  as  is  too  often 
done.  As  a  single  step  in  the  right 
direction,  I  beg  to  send  you  for 
insertion  in  the  "  Gael,"  a  song  com- 
posed on  the  marriage  of  Lochiel, 
I  in  December  last.  The  author  is 
!  Duncan  Maclntyre,  North  Ballachu- 
lish,  in  my  immediate  neighbourhood. 
t  I  think  you  Will  confess  that  in 
every  respect  it  has  great  merit. 
The  historical  allusion  in  the  ninth 
stanza  is  to  the  origin  and  name  of 
the  great  house  of  Buccleugh,  for  it 
is  needless  to  inform  you  really  that 
Lochiel's  wife  is  uo  less  a  person 
than  Lad}'^  Margaret  Scott  of  Buc- 
cleugh. 

With  every  good  wish  for  the 
continued  success  of  so  admirable  a 
monthly  as  the  "Gael,"  I  am,  ti^c, 

Nether  Lochaber. 


164 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Dara  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


ORAN  AlIl  POSADH   LOCHIA!^ 

CkaN-CiNNIDH      NAN'     Gamhsronach, 
Mac-Dhomhnuill  Duibh! 

I. 

Seinnidh  mise  dhnibh  briatliran 

Tha  ro-chiatach  as  taitneach, 

Mil  dheigbiim  Lochial 

A  bh'  ai^ain  riamh  na  cbiiil  taice; 

Cba'n'eil  duine  anus  an  riogbaohd 

Nacb  ciial'  ^'ach  ni  miir  a  thachair, 

Neo  tha  bnidbre  nan  eluasan 

'S  botbar-fbuaim  'stigb  uau  claiginn! 

11. 

Chualas  sgeula  air  a  gbaisgeacb 

Tha  ro-tbaitneach  ri  innse: 

Geug  da'n  darrach  gun  mheang 

A  bb'  againn  ann  bbo  cbionn  linntean, 

Tha  e  'm  bliadbna  n  deigh  posadh 

Ki  ban-diuc  og  ard  na  riogbacbd 

Le  daingeautas  laidir 

Agu3  cairdeas  gun  chrioch  air. 

III. 

Sid  an  oidbche  bba  soillse 
'S  gum  b'  ro-aoihinn  Lochaber; 
Eadar  Caolas-Ic-Pbadruic 
Agus  braidbe  Locb-Areaig; 
Teiiie  mor  air  na  beanntan 
Air  gach  meall  agus  bacach; 
Lasair  dbearg  'dol  'sna  speuran, 
'S  '(^ann  bu  leir  dbuinn  an  t'atbar  ! 

IV. 

'S  ioma  maigbdean  bba  truagli  dheth 
'S'an  taobh  tuath  so,  fo  smallan, 
An  duil  gvui  deanadh  i'  bhuanachd 
Le  suairc  'sle   cul-taicc: 
Agus  ban-tighearna  uasal 
'Bha  'n  duil  gur  bruadar  a  bli'  aca; 
'S  tha  nise  'n  deigh  dusgadh 
Bbo  thursa  Ian  airsneul. 


Sid  an  dream  a  bha  uasal 
'On  a  ghluais  iad  fo'n  ascaid; 
Sheas  an  riogbacbd,  'sbu  dual  dhoibh 
Le  faobbar  tuaitb  agus  claidheamh: 
Craobh  dbearg  do'n  darrach  le  rusg, 
'Si  gun  lub  a's  gun  ghaiseadh. 
An  dailleag  ghorm  'si  cho  curaidh 
Leis  an  driucbd  'si  Ian  mealla. 

VI. 

Bha  iad  baigbeil  a's  truacant, 
Ei  a  cuid  tuath  air  an  fhearan 
'S  gach  linn  dh'eiricli  uapa 
Gun  bu  dual  dhoibh  a  leannachd, 
Gridhe  fialaidh  a's  jjairteil 
Agus  liaigbeil  mar  charaid: 
'S  gheibb  iad  ur.-am  gu  brath 
Mar  a  sbabhail  iad  Glaschu ! 


VII. 

'Stba  sinn  toilichte  am  bliadbna 
Deagh  Lochial  bhi  tighin  dachaidh, 
Le  bean  og  a  chul  dualaicb 
An  leadainn   chuachaich,   chuil-chleacli- 

daich, 
Tha  a  sios  mar  an  fhaolan 
'S  a  gruaidh  mar  chaoran  air  mheangan 
Da  shuil  mbeallacb,  ghorm,  blioidbeach, 
Is  mbealla  chomhnard  na  anuir. 

VIII. 

'S  0  cha'n  ioghna  mar  tha  thu 

'8  thu  tbigbin  an  aird  o'  na  Scotaicb, 

Bha  iad  fogbuinnteach,  dileas, 

Fo  an  sinnsireachd  an  toiseach; 

Bha  iad  measail  an  Albaiu 

Am  measg  gach  ainm  a's  gach  cogadh, 

'S'  dhaindeoin  Shasuinn  'si  stri  ris 

Ghleidh  e  chriochan  ge  b'oil  leo. 

IX. 

Sid  na  doinne  tha  ainmeil 
Bho  a  linn  aig  Righ  Seumas 
'Nuair  a  chaidh  iad  do'n  mhunadh 
A  db'iaraidb  sithinn  le  eibbneas, 
Chuir  Righ  Seumas  an  fsaighead 
Anns  a  bboc  's  cha  do  gheil  e 
Rinn  an  Scotacb  a  chasgairt', 
An  curaidh  gasda  's  an  treuu-fhear! 

X. 

Tha  sinn  a  rise  Ian  solais 

A  bhan-duic  og  'bhi  tigh'n  dachaidh, 

Mar  ri  oigbre  Mhic-Lhomhnuill 

l''ar  'm  bell  gash  seorsa  dbi  pailt  ann. 

Alarbhar  fiadh  a's  a  mhunadh, 

A  uineig  mullaich  a  Gbaisteil, 

'S  air  bradan  lannach,  geal,  ciatach 

A  seomar  iochdar  an  tighe. 

XL 

'S  gu'n  robh  sonas  a"s  buaidh 

Leis  a  charaid  uasal  so  'thachair, 

'S  gun  bi'n  t'  Ard-Righ  mun  cuairt  doibh'. 

Gach  taobh  an  gluais  iad  's  angabh  iad; 

Tha  sinn  a  nis  air  Ian  docbas 

Mu  's  e  'n  t-ordugh  e  thachairt 

Gun  tig  oirnne  oighre  og 

A  ghleidheas  corachan  athar. 

Let  us  not  then,  Mr.  Editor,  be 
forgetful  of  our  Bards,  a  little  kindly- 
recognition  of  their  occasional  effu- 
sions, may  incite  them  to  a  richer, 
freer,  nobler  hnrst  of  song  than  they 
should  ever  think  of  even  attempting 
unless  under  sense  of  the  strength  of 
heart  and  buoyancy  of  spirit  im- 
parted by  a  friendly  pat  on  tlie 
shoulder. 


Dara  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


16^ 


TAiBHSE  A'  MEANSE. 

Mu  cheud  bliadhna  seacliad, 
blia  moran  sgeulachdaa  uainhas- 
ach,  air  an  'n  iimseadh  do  chloimi. 
Thainig  leabhar  macli  ma  'n  tim 
sin,  da  b'ain.in.  "  Saobhal  do- 
fhaicsinneach  a  'n  aibhisdear  air 
a  I'hoillseachadh."  Leabhar  Ian 
do  sgeiilachdan,  air  taiisagan, 
mortaireachd,  buidseachin,  clra- 
oidhean  agus  sitiiicliean.  Bha 
an  leabhar  so,  air'  a  leiigh  le 
cloinn,  agus  air  'n  leanachd,  le 
sgeuiachdan  eaj;lach  eile,  gus  'n 
robh  oigridh,  clio  eaglach  agus 
nach  sealladh,  iad  air  'n  culaubh, 
air  eagal  'a  "'n  sean-ghille  bhi 
ann;  bha  iad  creidsin  cho  raor, 
agus  nach  raehadh  sean  daoine, 
do  sheomar  dorch  an  deigh 
dorchoiche. 

Bha  taihhse  mhanse,  air  a 
roghainneach  gu  trie,  o  'n  bha  e 
oillteil,  uamhasach,  saobb-chra- 
bhach,  fiadhaich  rolaisteach,  mar 
bha  'a  'm  beul-aithris  ga  chuir  'a 
'n  ceill,  gu  'n  robh  fear  gabliail  'a 
'n  rathaid,  air  a  spuinn,  agus  gu 
an-iocbdrnhor,  air  'a  mhortadh, 
agus  a  chorj)  air  fhalacli  sa 
cboille  aig  Bochal]ie,a  mi-shealbh 
na  tubaist,  'a  bbitb  air  spuinn 
agus  mhurtadh,  'a  fhaodadh 
striochdadh  leis,  ach  e  bhi  air  'a 
sgaracbduinn,  bho  adhlacadh 
criosduidh,  ni  robh  an  comas, 
taibhse  cubhaidh  teo-chridheach 
's  an  bi  'a  ghiulain  ;  mar  sin  air 
fuireach,  do  'n  taibhse  gus  an 
robh  fhoighdinn  air  ruith  amach; 
chaidh  e  gu  foirfich  diadhaidh, 
ro-naomh  'a  bhuineadh  do  'n 
eaglais,  agus  dh-innis  e  dha  mar 
a  thachair,  agus  dh-aslaich  e  'm 
foirfich,  gu  dol  agus  na  cnamhan, 
thogail,  agus  an  cuir  ann  'n  cladh 


coisrigte.  Bha  an  t-eildeir  ga- 
bhail  eagail,  gu  biodh  iad  sgeig 
as  flinaid  air,  ni  chum  car  tiom  e 
bho  innsea'lh,  na  fearo  'a  thoirt 
do  n  orda.o-h  fhuair  e.  Ach  air 
gach  oidhche,bha  a'm  fear-ceilidh 
neo-shaoglialta,  tachairt  ris,  gus 
'n  robh  e  air  chomh-eiguach,  gus 
an  sgeul  chuir  air  beulaobh'an 
t-seisean,  agus  e  'a'g  athchuingich 
an  comhaiiie. 

Nuair  chomh-choird  iad,  gu 
geill  'a  thoirt  do  'n  iarrtas  tamh- 
aidh,  ach  nuair  bha  iad  coimh- 
lionadh,  na  riaghailt-chrabhaidh, 
dhearmaid  iad  an  claigionn.  gus 
'n  robh  an  t-iomlan  de  'n  riagh- 
ailte,  chrabhaidh,  ri  oibreachadh 
thairis  rithist,  mas  b-urrainn  an 
taibshe  mi-shona,  fois  fhaotinn 
san  uaigh.  Bha  an  sgeulachd  so, 
re  moran  bliliadhnachan,  ag 
cuir  moran  oillt  agus  uamhas,  air 
an  oigridh,  bha  comhnuidh  ma 
'n  aite  sin.  San  dli'  eirich  an 
sgeul  gu  ro  shimplidh,  nifu*  tha 
'n  sgeul  'a  leanas  toirt  cuniitas 
dearbhaidh,  mar  bhaairinnseadh, 
le  litir  naigheachd  siorrachd 
Pheirt,  air  'n  treas  latha  de  cheud 
nihios  'n  earrich,  sa  bhliadhna 
1831. 

An  'n  uaire  bha  mise  og,  bha 
mi  'm  bhuachail  bho,  ann  an 
coille  Rochallie,  agus  bu  trie 
chriothnaich  mi,  a  'n  uaire  a 
bhiodh  agam  ri  dol  seachad,  air 
an  aite  ionu'aideach,  far  na  thog 
iad  na  cnaimhan,  mar  dh-nithne 
an  taibhse  do  'n  eildeir,  bha  mi 
air  'm  chondi-eignich,gu  dol  seach 
an  aite  ai)'  oidhche  dhorch,  air  mo 
rathad  dhachaidh,  agus  fhuair 
mi  eagal  dolasach,  bha'n  oidhche 
ro  dhorcha,  is  nach  robh  ni  ri 
fhaicin,mar  robh  cuidhe  sneachd, 


166 


AN  GAIDHEÀL. 


Daia  ^Mi>.s  an  t-Samhraidh, 


an  SO  's  'n  sucl,  naeh  d'thug  geill 
do  dh-aiteanih  'a  mliairt. 

Blia  ghaoth  ro  ard,  agus  bha 
coille     Rocliallie,     li      cumliadli 
caoidh  ris  an  anradh,  is  comli- 
oibracli    gus   'a    cliuis-eagaill   'a 
nilieudaicha,  tlmirt  mi  rium  fein, 
is    deistinneacli     tiamliaidh    an 
t-aite  so,  agus  oh !  is  oillteil  an 
oidhclie  so,  ma  thig  an  taibhse 
am    choir,    is    cinn  teach    ga    'm 
basaichinn  air  an  ionad.     Nuair 
labhair  mi  na  facail  sin,  ga  'n 
cualas  starbhainach,  'a  measg  na 
crionaeh,  air  ma  chulthaibh,  thug 
orm    mo     cheann,    a    tharruing 
eadar   mo    ghualainu,  agus    dh- 
eirich  'm  fhalt,  na  sheasamh  air 
mo  cheann,  an  uair  dhuraig  mi 
sealltuinn    air    an    aite.        Oh ! 
uamhasach  ;    uamh  -  bheist    cos- 
mhal  ri  cu,  agus  e  deas  gu  leum 
air  mo  dhruim,  thug  orm  gu  'n 
ran    mi,    le   sgreuch    mor    ard- 
fhuaimneach.     Trocair!  Trocair! 
leum  mi  le  cabhag  ach  ma  leum 
's  ma  ruith  mi,  lean  'm  uamhas 
gu    dluth,   ri   mo    shall    gus    'n 
thainig,  mi  gu  tigh  'm  Athair ; 
agus  gu  'n  choinnit  h  mo  phiuthar 
mi,  le  gobaireachd  neo-chio]itach 
agus  ghlaodh  i.       Oh !    Sheorsa 
caite  an  'd  fhuair  thu  collie,  bha 
e  air  falbh   re  &d  'n  latha,  air 
eigin   a   theasrig   mi,    bho    dhol 
ann   a  paisean.      An  nuair  leth 
dhearbhadh  e  dhomh,  an  ni  chur 
na  h-urad,  eagal  orm,  nach  robh 
ann    ach,   'n    sean    chu   aige    'm 
athair;    chaidh  do  'n  choillc  an 
latha      sin,     deigh      maiglicach. 
'C-aite  'a  bheil    'm    athair;    dh' 
flieorich  mi  le  cabhag,  iomluasg- 
ach,  "  fhreagar  iad  gu  'n  robh  e 
sa    'n   t-seomar,  maile    ri    duine 
coiorich,  'n  uair  chaidh  mi  da  u 


ionnsuidh,  agus  chunaic  'm  athair 
mi,   cho    luasganach,  fheorich    e 
ciod  a  'b  aobhar,  agus  mar  Albau- 
ach    eile,   a   fhreagar   e    fein   'a 
clioist.      0  ho,  bha  thu  gabhail 
eagall,  tighinn  troimh  na  choille. 
"  Ciod  chuir  eagall  ort  mo  ghille," 
arsa    an    coigreach.      "Cha    do 
chuir  dad,"  arsa  mise,  le  gnuis- 
naire.     "  O,  bha  e  gabhail  eagal, 
as  an  taibhse,"  arsa   'm    athair. 
"Ciod  an  taibhse  ?"  arsa  an  coig- 
reach.      "  Oho,    taibhse    mhans, 
tha  mi  cuimhneaehadh  nis,  is  ro- 
mhaith  chaidh,  a  chleas-abhachd- 
ach  sin  chluich,  am   bheil  faoin 
sgeul  air  'a  chreidsin  fathast  fior." 
"  Fior,"  arsa  'm   athair,    "  riomli 
cho  fior  is  tha  mi  creidsin,  gur 
t-usa,     Tearlach     Mac-an-tosich, 
agus  gu  'm  bheil  mise,  gabhail 
bheag  eagal  as  mi  fein;  tha  mi 
creidsin  gu  bheil  e  hor,"     "  Ceart 
direach  na  thaibhse  cho  mor  is 
tha  mise    thuirt  Tearlach ;    is  e 
toirt  dearbhadh,  nach  bu  spiorad 
e;   le  gloine  de  dhruchd  na  'm 
beann  a  shlugadh,  an  deigh  togail 
de  'n  bhord,  far  'n  robh  e  cuir 
urram,  air  truinnseir  fiodh,  Ian 
da  dh-aran  is  case,  innsidh  mise 
an  sgeul  lior  dhuibh."      Lean  e 
an  uair  leag  e  sios  'a  ghloine : — 
"  Bha  sean  Tighearu  'a  Rochallie, 
ro  mhireagach,  agus   na  chleas- 
aiche,suigeartach,mar  tha  deadh- 
f  hios  agad,  bha  aon  de  na  ban- 
oglaich  aig,  rug  paist  dha,  agus 
bha  e  ro-bheadarach,  is  deothas- 
ach  as  an  leanabh,  agus    bha  e 
mar  an    ceudna,  fodh   iomaguin, 
ga  'm  biodh  e  air  a  bhaisteadh, 
ged  bha  'm  paiste  diolan,  bha  e 
cho  mion-eoiaeh,  agus  na  chom- 
panach  cho  mor,  aig  a  mhinisteir 
(M.  L.),  as  mÌDÌg  gloine  dhol  iad 


ì)ara  Mios  an  t-Samluaidh,  1876.        -^.N    GAIDHEAL. 


167 


comhla,  agus  guu  robli  e  saoilsinn 
naeh  robh,  ach  beag  cnnnart  aim 
ail  gnothuchan  a  riaghailt^ach, 
mar  tìiuirt  e  fein  ris  ;  acb  dheir- 
ich  eas-ordugli,  agns  mealladb, 
mearacbdacb,  tubaistoacb,  le 
Uilleam  Griasaicb,  na  (Willcam 
Soutai)  duine  a  bba  na  bball 
fogbainteacb  do  'n  eaglais,  a 
sbeas  na  n  agbaidh,  agus  mbionn- 
aicb  as  bboidich  e,  gu  'n  aitbris- 
eadb,  e  cbiiis  da  'n  combail- 
cbleireacb,  na  racbaidb  an 
naoidbean  a  bbaist ;  db-oibrich 
so  air  'a  mbinisteir,  agus  na 
eildeiran  eile,  is  cbaidb  innseadb 
da  'n  duine-uasal,  mar  tabhair- 
eodb  e  Ian  diol  da  'n  t-seisean, 
nacb  robb  e  comasacb  am  paisd 
bbaist ;  agus  'n  iiair  cbaidb  a 
ministeir,  le  gutb  an  t-sesean  da 
ionnsuidb,  db  innis  e  dba  sa  'n 
am  cbeudna,  gur  e  an  t-eildeir 
Soutai",  tbug  in  buille  sa  cbeann 
da  'n  cbuise ;  cbiiir  e  corruicb. 
air  an  duin-uasal,  am  tìosracbadb 
so ;  (cbion  goirid  roir.ibe  sin, 
tbainig  e  eadar  am  foiriicb  lìrias- 
aicb  agus  leirsgrios,  le  gbabbail 
air  laimb,  'n  uair  bba  e  gu  bbiodb 
air  a  ruag  maeb  le  fiaclian.)  bbo 
'n  am  so  bba  a  run,  suidbicbte 
gu  campar  cbuir  air,  bba  fear  ro 
cbaracb,  cbuibbeartacb,  aig  an 
tigbearn;  agui  cbaidb  an  sgeul 
innseadb  dba,  agus  tbairg  e,  gu 
'n  cuireadb  e  eagal  air  Soutar.  an 
atb  uair  blia  Uilleam  Greusaicb, 
ann  an  Blar-gbobbrie,  aig  an 
t-seisean,  cbaidb  'm  fearmuintear, 
agus  rinn  e  feall-fbolacb,  aig  aite 
diombair,  os  ceann  Drocbaid 
Lorntie,  air  dba  e  fein  uidbeam- 
acb,  le  dba  na  tri,  detb  cbraice- 
anan  cbaoracb  cbuir  uime,  agus 
cbaidb  e  air  'a  mbagauan,  letb- 


cbar  coslacb  ri  cu,  agus  le  bbi 
tabbannaicb,  donnalaicb  agus  'a 
I  'g  uifbartaicb,  cbaidb  aig  air 
I  eagal  oillteal,  cbuir  air  an  eildeir 
bboclid,  cbuir  go  robb  bbeag  bbo 
cbiall  e;  an  atb-Iatba  bba  'n 
sgeul,  air  sgaoileadb  's  gacb  aite, 
sail  dutbaicb,  gu  'n  tbacbair 
tannasg,  air  Uilleam  Griasaicb, 
air  cumacbd  cu  agus  gu  'n  tba- 
bbuinn,  agus  Jabbair  e  ris,  agus 
mbaoidb  e,  tachairt  air  a  ritbist, 
cbaidb  coinneamb  urnuigb,  cbuir 
suas  ann  an  tigb  Uilleam,  agus 
na  b-uile  'a  meadhan  a  b-urrainn 
iad  smuaineacb  cbuir  n  cleacbd, 
cbuir  stad  air  an  tannasg,  acb 
bba  gille  na  car,  gun  stad  toirt 
ceiiidb  dba ;  gus  an  robh  e  air 
fas  sgitb,  de  'n  turus-oidbcbe  cbo 
trie,  agus  tbubhairt  e  ri  mbais- 
tear,  gu  'ra  bitheadb  e  feumal,  an 
obair,  tlioirt  gucricbe;  agus  air 
dba  cbuimbueacli,  air  aite  anns  'n 
robb  laogb  marbb  air  adblacadb, 
moran  bbliadbnacban  roimlie  sin, 
an  deigb  an  ceann  a  tboirt  dbeth, 
cbuir  e  eagal  air  scan  cbailleach 
leis,  rin  e  tionnsgainu  gu  'n  toir 
e  chreidsinn  air  Soutar,  gu'iii  b  e 
cnaimhau  duine,  bha  air  a  mhortadh 
bh'  ann,  agus  gu  'n  toir  e  air  an 
togail,  agus  an  adhlac,  ann  an  cladli; 
bha  'n  duine  uasal  toilichte,  leis  au 
tionusgain  ;  agus  an  ath  choiniieamh, 
tliug  au  tannasg  da  'n  eildeir, 
"dhinnis  e  dba  gn  'm  'b  esan 
taiblise,  duine  'a  mhortadh  le  duine 
eile ;  agus  ga  'm  feumadh  esan 
tighirin,  maille  ris,  agus  gu  'm 
feuchadh  e  dha,  an  t-aite  ann  's  'n  'd 
f  halaich  e  an  corp,  agus  dh'  aslaich 
e  air,  na  cnamban  thogail,  agus  an 
adhlac,  aun  an  talamh  coisrigte,  an 
deigli  sin  coiiiihlion,  nach  cuireadh 
e  dragh,  tiiilieadh  air  ;  dhiult  Soutar 
an  toiseach,  ach  an  deigh  do  'a 
tannasg,   iomadh    coinueamh    thoirt 


168 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Daia  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


dlia,   agus   niaoiilh    dioghaltas ;    dh' 

aoutaich  e  niu  dheireadh,  gu  e  bhi 

air  'a  threorachadh,  aig  uiarbh  iiair 

meadhoii  oidhche,gu  uaigli  an  laoigh; 

agus   an   uair  thug  an    fcaib'iise,    an 

atli-ordngh  dba,  na  cnamhau  tliogail ; 

tliug  e  vaoichd  diieisthiueach;  agus 

leutu    e    le    surdag,    ami    am.   pveas 

Calltuinn,  agus  fhuair  Soutar  bocbd, 

aiib,    rathad    smeuracUadh,    mm"   'b 

fliearr   'b    urrainn    dha,   as   an    aite 

oillteil,  air  au  atb-latha,  cbaidh  am 

ministear,    na    eildeiran    iiile,    agus 

chuid  bu  mbor  do  sluagh  na  duthcha, 

agus    an    diiiue    uasal,    's  a    gbille 

maille   ri  each,   agus  chual    iad  na 

cbaidh    labhairt,    bha   na    cnamhan 

uille  air  caidh,  ach  na  lurginean,  no 

na    cnamhain-smeur,    le    iad    a    bhi 

adldaicte    deich     bliadhna    fichead ; 

thubliairt,  am  ministeir,   "bha  e  nf) 

dhuine   laidir,"    ach    am    barrachd, 

"faodaidh  duine  is  treis,  bhi  air  a 

cheannsach,"    is   iongantach,    "  arsa 

fear  deth  na  eildeiiaii,  nach  eile  an 

claigioun  ri  fhaicsinn,  is  cleachd  leis 

a  chlaigeann  a  bhi  lathair,  ged  uach 

biodh  ciiamh  eile  ri  f  haicsinn ;   "is 

ciuuteach  chaidh  an  ceann,  chuir  as 

an     rathad."        "  Ni     h-eadh,"     ars' 

Uilleam,   dh-iunis   au  taibhse,   gu'n 

robh  e  air  'a  thoirt  sios,  le  comhnadh 

cu,    is    an    t-sin   air    'a    mhurta   le 

maide ;  bha  monmhor  measg  an  t- 

sluaigh,    air    son    'a    chhiigion ;    ui 

chuir   luasgan,    ami    an    iiintitinean 

luchd  na  prat,  air  eagal  gu  'm  biodh 

am  fealltairachd,air  fhautain  amach; 

chuir  stad  air  sin,  sholaraich  iad  as 

a  chladh  'a  b'  fhaisg  claigean,   agus 

thild  iad  sios  e,  fagus  do  'n  aite,  as 

an  deach  cnamhan  an  laoigh  thogail. 

Thug  au  taibhse  coinneamh,  da  'u 

eildeir  an  oighche  sin,  agus  dh-innis 

e  da.  gnu  t-fhag  e  cnaimh,  agus  gun 

imireadh,  e  dol  air  ais  agus  fhaotinn, 

air  ueo  nach  faigh  e  fois ;   da  reir 

sin,    air    an    ath-latha,     chaidh    an 

claigionn   fhaotinn,  agus    an    deigh 

esan,   is  na  cnamhan   eile,  a  chuir 


cruinn;.  agus  feill  choisrigte,  chumail 
air  son  fois  doibh  (ni  cliaidh  dheau- 
eamh  leis  gacli  rogh-fheill).  "  Bha 
iad  air  an  giulain,  gu  cladh  Bhla.r- 
na-gobhi'ie,  far  an  lobh  gu  beag, 
sluagh  na  sgireachd,  gu  leir  cruinu- 
ichte,  a  thuirt  fianuis  agu.s  urram, 
air  adhlacadh  an  laoigh." 

"A  nuair  chroichauaich  Tearlach," 
arsa  'm  athair,  "  au  deigh  sin,  ma 
tha  e  fior,  fhuair  iomadh  neach, 
eagal  gun  abhar."  '  Cha 'n  eagal 
nach  eil  e  fior,"  arsa  Tearlach'  "air 
son  dh-innis  Alasdah*  Ruairidh,  gille 
an  duiue  uasail,  da  bhrathair  'm 
athair  e,  agus  dh-iimis  brathar  'm 
athar  dhomhs  e,  mu  's  an  deach  mi 
do  'n  Ghermailt,  maile  ris  an  da 
fhichead  's  dha,  agus  c'aite  'm  'b 
fliearr  an  cluinnteadh  e,  na  bho  an 
Taibhse  fein,"  is  e  sin  an  cunntas 
thug  Tearlach  Mac-an-toisich  air  'a 
chuise.  Air  dha  bhi  ga  inniseadh, 
dhomhs  rithiste,  dh-innis  e  domh, 
gu'n  d-innis  brathar  athar,  dha  mar 
«u  ceudna,  gu  'n  robh  drobhair 
briste,  ma  'n  am  sin,  rinn  cruinn- 
eachadh  air  na  dh-fliaodadh  e,  da 
mhaoin,  agus  rinn  e  falbh,  gun  fhios 
c!aite,  agus  cha  d-fhuair  iad  iomradh, 
gu  brath  air,  agus  bha  e  air  'a 
fhuaimneachadh,  gu  'n  robh  e  air  'a 
mhurtadh,  agus  gu  'ni  b'  e  na 
cnamhan  aig,  chaidh  fhaoitinn,  biodh 
sin  mar  a'  d  fhaodaidh  e  ;  faodaidh 
mi  dearbh  fliianuis,  thoirt  air  fireaiit- 
achd  Thearlich,  na  bheir  an  duthaich 
uile  teisteas,  gu  'n  robh  e  na  dhuine 
malda  beusacb,  agus  na  sheann- 
Saighdear-saor-dhuais,  agus  fear  'a 
churaaidh  ris  an  fhirinn.  Aii-  thoirt 
bho  hheul-aithris  Pheirt^  agus  eadar- 
theangachadh 

Le  W.  D. 

[We  give  the  above  much  as  written 
by  the  author,  to  represent  the 
dialect  of  the  district.] 


Dara  Mios  an  t-Samhi-aidh,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


169 


BEINN  AN  EOLAIS. 

Anns  an  aiiiisiv  sin  de'n  bbliadlina 
uiiaiv  a  ni  soilleireaclid  ag'us  ciuine- 
acbd  nan  speur,  na  measan  eagsa- 
mliuil  a  tba  cuirneachadh  an  biir, 
duilleacb  eas-datbacb  nan  ciaobb, 
agus  gach  adb  railis,  acb  seargacb, 
a  ta  air  an  fbogbaradb  sbuniidacb, 
ail  inntinu  fbosgladb  gu  deagb  rnii, 
agns  a  cbuireas  iad  i  ann  an  suidb- 
eacbadb  air  son  meombracbaidb  blia 
mi  a'  farsanaicb  ann  an  dntbaicli 
bboidbicb,  ard  bbeannaicb,  gus  an 
do  tboisicb  ni'  annos  air  geilleadb 
roimb  sgios,  agus  sbuidb  mi  sios  air 
sgor  creige  a  bba  air  a  combdacbadb 
le  coinich,  far  aa  d'  riim  fuaim 
nan  duilleag  a'  tuiteam,  tormanaicb 
nan  eas,  aguà  borbbanaicb  nam 
bailtean  fas  as  m'  iniitiuu  a  tbaladb 
gu  sambcbair  iomlan,  agus  db' 
ealuigb  an  codal  gun  nibotbacbadb  a 
steacb  orui,  am  feadb  a  blia  mi  leigeil 
ruitb  leis  gach  I'aoin  bbeacbd  tait- 
neacb  a  riun  na  cuspairean  m'un 
cnairt  orra  a  dbusgdb  a'  m'  inutinn 
gu  nadurra. 

Fhuair  mi  mi  fein  air  ball  aim  an 
conard  reidb,  farsuimi,  sinteacb,  aig 
an  robb  beiiin  mbor  ag  eirigh  snas 
as  a  rabeadbon  na  b'  aiide  na  bba 
beacbd  agam  roimbe  air  i  bbi.  Bba 
sluagh  mor  air  a'  bbeiuii,  gu  b-araid 
origridb  ;  bba  moran  diulib  a'  dian- 
ruitb  air  an  adhart  agus  an  gnuis  a' 
taisbeanadb  combaran  i-o  bbeotbail 
air  deineas  an  inntinn,  ged  a  bba 
an  t-sligbe  ann  an  ioniad  aite  caa, 
docracb,  agus  ro  gbarbb.  Tbug  mi 
fainear  gu'n  robb  an  dream,  nacb  d' 
rinn  acb  toiseacbadb  ris  a'  bbeinn  a 
streap,  an  dull  nacb  robb  iad  air  an 
agbaidh  bba  beanntan  ura  ag  eirigb 
daonnan  'nan  sealladb;  agus  cba 
robb  aim  am  fireacb  na  te  a  b'airde 
a  bbeacbdaicbeadh  iad  roimbe  acb 
bonu  te  eile,  g'us  an  robb  a'  bbeinn 
fadbeoidb  cosuibuil  ri  i  fein  a  cball 
anns  na  neoil.  Am  feadh  a  bba  mi 
a'  geui'-ambarc  air  na  nitbibb  so  le 


b-iogbnadb  cliunncas  feai-teagaisg 
cairdeil  laimb  rium  gu  b-obann  agus 
labbair  e  mar  so.  'A'  bbeinn  sin  a 
ta  far  do  ebombair,"  ars'  esan,  "  is  i 
beinn  an  Eolais,  Air  a  mullacb  tba 
teampull  na  Eirinn,  aig  am  bbeil  a 
ceanu  os  cionn  nan  neul,  agus  tba 
brat  de  sbolus  fior-gblan  a'  falacb 
a  gnnis.  Beacbdaicb  air  triall  a 
lucbd-leanndiuin;  bi  tbusa  tosdacb, 
agus  furacbail." 

An  deigb  dbomb  nitbean  eag- 
sambuil  a  tboirt  fainear  tliionndaidh 
mi  mo  sbuil  ris  a'  mbor-sblnagb  a 
bba  direadb  a'  bbrutbaicb  cbais ; 
agus  libeacbdaicb  mi  'nam  measg 
oganacb  aig  an  robb  sealladb  beotbail 
suil  bbioracb,  agus  a  bba  rud-eigin 
teineil,  agns  mi-riagbailteacb 'na  uile 
gbluasadaibb.  Se  a  b'aiiim  dha 
ciallmbor  (genius).  Tbug  e  saigh- 
deadh  as  mar.iolair  anaird  a'  bbeinn 
agus  db'  fbag  e  a  cbompanaicb  ag 
genr-ambarc  'na  dbeigh  le  faimad 
agus  le  b-iogbnadb  ;  acb  bba  a  tbriall 
mi-cbombnard,  agus  bbacadb  a  sbiu- 
bbal  le  mile  breathal.  Nuair  a 
sbeinneadb  Saimb  a  ceileir  binn. 
anns  a'  gbleann  racbadb  esan  am 
measg  a  cuideacbd.  Nuair  a  smeid- 
eadb  uabbar  ris  teacbd  a  db-ionn- 
suidb  biie  na  creige  gbabbadb  e 
misneacb  dol  ann,  ged  a  bba  am 
bile  a'  critb  fo  a  cbasaibb ;  bba 
e  a'gabbaii  mor  tboileacbais  ann  an 
ceumannaibb  taoibb  as  an  t-sligbe 
nacb  d'  fbencbadli  riabb  roimbe; 
agus  rinn  e  cbo  liugba  leum  bbarr 
an  ratbaid  as  gur  trie  a  db'  fbag  a 
cbompanaicb  a  b'  anf baiuue  e  air 
dbeireadb.  Cbunnaic  mi  gu'u  robb 
a'  cbeolraidb  (tite  Muses)  ag  ambarc 
air  le  letb-bbietb,  acb  db'  ambairc 
an  Fbrinn  air  gu  minic  le  muig, 
agus  tbionudaidh  i  a  gnuis  a  letb- 
taobb. 

Am  feadb  's  a  bba  Ciallmbor  mar 
so  a'  caitbeamh  a  spionnaidb  le 
leumannaidb  taoibb  o'n  fbior 
gbuotbacb,  cbunnaic  mi  neacb  eile 


170 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1870. 


air  an  robh  coltas  calg-dhireach  au 
aghaidh  so,  d'  am  b'ainm  Dur-aire 
(Applicatlo7i).  Slinaig  esaii  air 
adhart  le  ceum  mall  giui  stad,  's  a 
shuU  suidhicbte  air  miiUacIi  na 
beiniie,  se  gu  foighidaeach  a'  caracb- 
adb  gacli  cloicbe  a  cbuir  grabadh  air 
a  cbeum,  gus  au  d'  fbag  e  as  a 
dbeigb  morau  diubb-san  a  rinn  air 
tus  tair  air  a  thriall  mall  saotbaireil. 
Gu  fii-inneacb  bu  tearc  iad  a  dbiricb 
a'  bbeinn  le  seasmbacbd  clionaird 
agus  iieo-bbi'isticli ;  oir  a  bbarr  air 
dorradas  na  slighe,  bba  iad  daoiinan 
air  an  taladb  gu  tioundadh  a  tboabb 
le  buidliitin  lionmboir  de  Cbiocras- 
aibli  (Appetite)  de  Aignidbibh  (Pas- 
sions) agus  de  Sbaimbean  (Plea- 
sures), a  bba  cbo  liosda  's  nan 
aoiitaicbeadb  iad  aou  uair  leotha 
bhiodb  an  comas  a'  fas  na  bu  higb 
's  na  bu  lugba  gu  cur  'nan  agbaidli ; 
agus  ged  is  miiiic  a  dh'  ath  pbill  iad 
a  clium  na  sligbe,  bba  gairbbead  an 
rathaid  air  f  baireacbdainn  leo  na  bu 
gbaiibbe ;  ua  mcasau  a  bba  roimbe 
fallain  agus  urail,  dh'  fbas  iad  searbb 
agus  drocb-bblasda,  db'  fhas  an 
sealladb  dorcha;  agns  tbuislicbeadb 
an  casan  aig  gacb  grabadh  bu  lugba. 
Chunnaic  mi  le  mor-ioghnadh 
gun  robb  a'  Cbeolraidh,  d'  am  bu 
gbnotbacb  misneach  agus  sunnd  a 
cbur  air  an  dream  a  bba  'gan 
saruchadb  a'  direadh  a'  bbrutbaicli, 
gu  trie  a'  seinn  ann  an  doireachan 
badaaacb  na  saimb,  agus  a'  toirt 
coimbeadachd  dboibh-san  a  bba  air 
an  taladh  air  falbh  leis  na  h-Aig- 
nidbibh ;  gidheadb  cha  d'tbug  iad 
coimbeadachd  dhoibb  acb  uigbe 
gboirid;  agus  threig  siad  iad  daonnan 
nuair  a  chailleadh  iad  sealladb  air 
a'  bbeinn.  Dbublaicheadh  na  h-ain- 
tigbearnan  an  sin  an  slabbruidhean 
air  na  ciomaich  mhi-sbona ;  agus 
threoiricbeadh  siad  air  falbh  iad 
gun  bhacadb  gu  cuiltibh  an  Ai:i- 
eolais  agus  gu  ionadaibh-combuuidb 
ua  Truaighe. 


Am  nieasg  an  Lucbd-meallaidh  do- 
aireamb  a  bha  ag  oidhirpeachadb  ri 
lucb-leanmhuinu  na  Firinn  a  tharuinn 
air  falbh  o  cbeum  an  Eolais  bha  aon 
a  bha  cbo  neo-eagallach  'ua  colta.s, 
agus  cho  foil  us  fanu  ua  b-ionusuidb- 
ibh  as  gur  ganu  a  bheiriun  au  aire 
dhi,  uiur  bhith  au  airearab  mbor  a 
riuu  i  a  luchdacbadb  le  a  slabhraidb- 
ean  gun  mhothachadh  aca  air  sin. 
Se  an  Leisg  a  b'ainm  dhi,  agus  bba 
i  fada  bbo  eirigh  air  cogadh  riutha 
as  an  aodun  ;  cha  d'tbug  i  ionusuidb 
air  an  cosau  a  thioundadb  as  au 
t  slighe  ;  acb  thoilich  si  i  fein  le  bhi 
cur  maille  air  au  triall ;  agus  an  run 
sin  uacb  b'  urraiuu  di  a  thort  orra  a 
threigsinn,  cbuir  e  impidb  orra  dail 
a  cbur  ann.  Bha  cumhachd  aig  a 
buille  cosmbuil  li  cumhachd  a' 
Chraimb  -  eisg  (Torpedo)  uuair  a 
bheanas  se  ri  neacb  sam  bith,  oir 
bbair  e  an  lus  as  na  h-uile  neach  ris 
am  beau  e.  Bha  a  braighdeau  mi- 
shoua  fatbast  a'  tioundadh  an 
aghaidhean  ris  au  teampull,  agus 
daonnan  an  docbas  gu'n  ruigeadh 
iad  sin,  acb  bha  an  talamh  mar  gu'm 
b'auu  a'  sleaudmachadh  fo'n  cosaibb, 
agus  fhuair  siad  iad  fein  aig  au  io- 
chdar  mu'n  d'tbug  iad  faiuear  gun 
do  charaich  iad  as  au  laraich.  A' 
chinineacbd  sheimh  si  a  a  bha  air 
tus  ri  fhaicinu  'uan  gnuis  cbaochail 
i  uigh  air  n-uigh  gu  aivsneal  grua- 
mach  agus  marbhautas  duilbhear, 
air  an  robb  dreacli  an  dubh-bhroin 
a'  sior  dbol  nas  truiuie  a  reir  's  mar 
a  bha  iad  a'  sleambnachadb  gu 
sarahach  sios  air  sruth  ua  Mi- 
speadharachd,  uisge  dubh  mall  nach 
eil  air  a  phreasadh  le  aou  oiteig, 
uoair  a  bblothachadh  le  aon  tormau, 
gus  am  bheil  e  a'  tuiteam  a  stigb 
ann  am  Miur-mbarbh  far  am  bheil 
au  lucbd-turuis  a'  clisgeadb  's  a' 
mosgladb  leis  a'  chratbadh  a  gheibh 
iad,  agus  air  an  ath  mbiouaid  theid 
iad  fodha  anu  an  Doimhue  ua  Dio- 
chuimhne  (Gulf  of  Oblivion). 


Uara  Mios  aii  t-Samhraidli .  1370. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


171 


Am  measg  nan  daoine  ini-sliona  a 
threig  ceumaiman  an  Eolais  clia 
robli  neach  saui  bith  aig'  an  robli  na 
bu  Ingba  de  cbomas  gu  pilltinn  air 
ais  na  Incbd-leanmhuiun  na  Leisge. 
Gblacadb  braigbdeau  nan  Ciocras 
ag'us  nan  Aignidhean  an  cothrom, 
nuair  a  bbiodh  na  b-aintigbe<vi"iian 
so  'nail  cadal  no  fo  airsneal,  gu  dol 
as  bbo  'ii  geasaibb  ;  acb  bba 
tigbearnas  na  Leisge  seasmbacb 
agus  buaii  -  mhaireaiiuacb  agus  is 
ainmic  a  cbuireadb  iad  'na  agbaidb 
gus  am  bn  dionibain  teannadb  ris. 

An  deigb  dbomb  bbi  beacbdacbadh 
iiir  na  nitbibb  so  tbionndaidli  mi  ro 
slniilean  ri  munacb  na  beinne  far  an 
robb  an  t-athar  daonnau  fior-g'blan 
agus  bnn  snilbbireacbd,  ag"us  na 
ratbaidean  air  an  dubracbadb  le 
Inaidln-ealaibb  agns  preasau  eile  a 
blia  urar  do  gbuatb,  agus  an  driU- 
eanachd  a  bba  boilsgeadb  'ua 
gathannaibli  o  gbnuis  an  Eolais  mar 
gnm  b'  ann  a'  dortadb  a  macli  gloire 
mu'n  cnairt  air  a  bicbd-leamnbuiim. 
"Issona  an  dream,"  arsa  mise,  "a 
gbeibb  cead  a'  Bbeinn  a  dbireadb." 
Ach  am  feadh  a  bba  mi  'g  eigbeacb 
so  le  deineacbd  neo-gbnatbaicbte. 
cbunnaic  mi 'na  seasamb  lainib  rinm 
neach  aig  an  robb  aogus  neambaidb 
ngus  deab-adb  grasmbor.  "  Tba 
iadsan  uas  Soua,"  ars'  ise,  "  a  tba 
air  an  treoracbadb  le  subbailc  a  db- 
i<'>nnsnidb  ionada  -  combnuidb  an 
toileacbais-inntinn."  "  Ciod,"  arsa 
mise,  "  am  l)beil  Subbailc  ma  ta  a' 
gabhail  combnuidb  anns  a'  gbleann  ?" 
"  Gheibhear  mi,"  ars  ise  ;"  "  anns  a' 
gbleann,  agus  tba  mi  a'  soillseachadb 
na  Beinne.  Tba  mi  cur  sunnd  air 
a  choitear,  nuaiv  a  bbios  e  aig  obair, 
agus  tba  mi  deacbdadh  do  'n  Fheall- 
saanach  nuair  a  bbios  e  a  beacbd- 
smuaineachadb.  Tiia  mi  dol  am 
measg  mor-sbluagb  nam  bailtean 
mora,  agus  a'  beannacbadb  a  mhan- 
aicb  'na  cbuil  naignich.  Tba 
teampull   agam  anns  gacb  cridhe  a 


db'  aidicbeas  mo  cbumbacbd;  agus 
dlia-san  a  gbuidbeas  air  mo  sbon  tba 
n\i  cbeana  latbair.  Faodaidli  Eolas 
do  tbogail  gu  Ard-inbbe  agus  mor 
cbUu,  ach  is  mise  a  inbain  a  threo- 
raicheas  tliu  gu  sonas  agus  agb- 
mhoireachd,"  Am  feadb  a  bba 
Subbailc  a'  labhairt  mar  so,  shin  mi 
mach  mo  lauiban  d'  a  h-ionnsuidb  le 
deineas  a  rinn  mo  dhusgadb  as  mo 
cbadal.  Bha  an  driuchd  fuar  a 
tuiteam  mu  m'  tbimcbioll,  agus  bba 
dul,)bar  an  f  heasgair  a'  siueadh  air 
aghaidh  an  fhuinn.  Dbeifrich  mi 
dhacbaidb ;  agus  cbaith  mi  an 
oidbche  gti  tosdach  aim  am  beacbd- 
smiiaineacbadli.  D.  B.  B. 


CO  MHEUD  CARAID  A 
BU  CHOIR  A  BHI  AIG  DUTNE. 

All  dean  sinn,  ma  ta,  uiread  agus 
is  urrainu  dhuinu  'nan  cairdean 
duinn,  no,  mar  a  chaidh  a  radh  gu 
h-iomchuidb  a  tbaobb  fialacbd  : — 

"  Ka  biodh  agad  moran  aoidhean, 
Is  iii  mo  bliios  tliu  gun  gliin." 
Mar  so  tba  an  riaghailt  a  tbaobb 
cairdeis  ;  nach  biodbmaid  aou  cbuid 
gun  cbairdean,  no  moran  againn. 
Tba  an  radii  so  freagarracli  uile  air 
son  nam  feadhainn  a  tlia  'nan  caii'dean 
do  cbach  a  cheile  air  son  cbriochan 
feumail  ;  oir  tba  e  dragbail  a  bhi 
paidbeadh  air  ais  deadbghean  do 
mboran,  agus  cba'n'eil  ar  beatha  fada 
gu  leoir  a  dbeanamb  so.  Uime  sin 
tba  barrachd  air  na  bbios  a  dhith  air 
duine  'n  a  cheum  sonruicbte  beatha 
gun  fbeura,  agus  'n  a  ghrabadh  'na 
tbighinn  beo  gu  math,  agus  uime  sin 
cba'n'eil  feum  orra.  Agus  tba  beagan 
cbairdean  air  son  solais  gu  leoir ; 
dire  acb  mar  a  tba  bbi  a'  dean  am  h 
ar  liidh  milis.  Ach  a  tbaobb  dhaoine 
matba  nach  bu  choir  dbuinn  uiread 
agus  a  b'nrrainn  dbuinn  a  bhi  againn  1 

*  *  *  Ach  tba  esoillear  nach 
u^rraiii  aou  J  nine  a  bhi  'na  chompan- 


172 


AN    G  AID  HEAL.        Dara  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876 


acli  agus  'na  cliaraid  do  mliorau.  A 
bliarr  air  so,  feitinaidli  am  moi-an  so 
a  blii  'nan  cairdeaii  do  chach  a  clieile, 
ma  chaitheas  iad  an  nine  le  clieile  ; 
agus  tlia  so  duilich  a  thaol)h  aiieauih 
mlioir.  Tha  e  mar  an  ceudiia  duihcli 
co-fhaireachduin  altrumas  ri  moran 
'nan  solais  agus  'nam  piantan  ;  oir 
feudaidh  e  tacbairt  gu'm  bi  e  mar 
sin  a'  deanamh  gairdeacbais  le  aon 
cbaraid,  agus  a'  bron  le  aoii  eile. 

Theagarab,  ma  ta,  nacb  'ail  e  cbo 
mhath  dbuinn  iiiread  chairdean  agus 
is  urrainn  dbuiiin  iarraidb,  acb  dire- 
acb  uiread  agus  a  tha  feumail  air  sou 
cuideacbd ;  oir  tha  e  ag  ambarc  eu- 
comasacb  a  bbi  aim  an  cairdeas 
laidir  ri  moran.  Uime  sin,  tba  e 
mar  an  ceudna  eu-comasacb  a  bbi 
ann  an  gaol  air  moran  ;  oir  cba'n 
'eil  ann  an  gaol  acb  ro  lanacbd  cair- 
dis ;  agus  tha  e  air  fbaireacbdain 
a  tbaobb  aon  cbuspair  ;  agus  cba'n 
urrainn  ro  lanacbd  dhetb,  uime  sin, 
a  bhi  air  fhaireachduin  ach  a  tbaobb 
beagain.  Ma)-  so  tba  a'  cbuis  ri 
faicinn  ann  am  fior  cbleacbdadb  : 
oir  ann  an  cairdeas  eadar  companaicb 
cba'n  'eil  moran  a'  fas  'nan  cairdean  ; 
agus  is  aim  eadar  ditbis  a  tba  na 
ceangail  cbairdeis  is  ainmeile.  Cba'n 
'eil  na  feadbaiun  aig  am  bbeil  moran 
cbairdean  agus  a  tba  caidreach  ris  a' 
b-buile  aon,  air  am  meas  le  aon  's  am 
bitb  'nan  cairdean  acb  ann  an  seadb 
siobbalta  ;  agus  tbeirear  lucbd-toil- 
eacbaidhdbaoine  riu.  Anns  an  t-seadh 
roimh-radbte,  ma  ta,  feudaidb  duine 
bbi  'na  cbaraid  do  mborau,  eadbon 
gun  a  bbi  'na  fhear-toileachaidb 
dbacnne,  acb  mar  dbinne  math  :  acb 
air  sgatb  subhailc  agus  nam  muinn- 
tir  iad  fein  tha  e  eu-comasacb  a  bbi 
aim  an  cairdeas  ri  moran  ;  feumaidh 
neacb  a  bhi  toilicbte  gu  dearbb  le 
beagan  diubh  fbaotaiun. — Aristotle. 


Am  fear  nacb   cleachd   a    cblaid- 
heamb  fogaidb  e  air  a  thom  e. 


NAIGIIEACriD  FHIRINN- 
EACH. 

Tba  an  sgeula  a  leaiias  na  ni  ro- 
iongantach,  ri  bhi  air  a  cliraobb- 
sgaoileadb  am  measg  Saobb-cbreidrn- 
bicb,  a  tba  creidsiun  gu'm  bbeil 
Sithicbean,  uilebbeistean  agus  riocb- 
dan  mbi-gbnathaicte  a'  gabhail 
tuiunidh  dlutb  air  ar  n-ionadaibh 
comlmuidh  aun  an  ceauna  tuatb  na 
Halba.  Tba  e  fior  chiiuiteacb  ri 
linn  cogadh  Bhonapart  1822,  gu'n 
robh  loingeisibh  cogaidh  air  am 
faiciim  le  suilibh  corporra  na 
muinntir  a  blia  'g  eisdeacbd  an  Urr 
am  aich  Dr.  Ross  aim  an  Giuinard 
air  latha  Sabaid.  Bba  na  bataichean 
fada  caola  r'am  faiciau  'g  an  sadadb 
a'  bbarr  buird  na  lougaibb  fa  cboin- 
bah-  Rutba  na  cloich  uaiue,  ni  a 
cbuir  mor  iogbnadh  agus  feagail  air 
gach  neacb  a  chunnaic  agus  a  cbuala 
an  sgeul  cuniiartacb  so.  Bba  a 
leitheid  bhuaidb  aig  an  t  sealladb 
uambasacli  so  air  inntinnibb  an  t-slu- 
aigh,  air  cbor's  cbo  luatb's  fhuair  iad 
na  bataichean  as  ceann  tiura  na 
mara,  gu'n  tug  gacb  neacb  gu  cabba- 
gach  gu  mullach  gacb  cnuic  "agus 
'm  fear  nacb  beii'eadb  air  a'  bbogba, 
bbeireadh  e  air  a  cblaimheamb," 
cuid  eile  fohicb  an  eudaich  agus  an 
cisteacbau  airgioid  am  measg  an 
arbhair,  cuid  ri  folucb  fead  acb  c'aite 
an  gabbadh  na  saigbdearain  frangacb. 
tir.  'S  e  barail  dbaoinne  creidoasach 
gur  eigin  do  na  seallansa  tacbairt 
ag'us  gach  ni  a  bhi  air  a  choindilion- 
adh.  Tba  na  a  cbaidh  aitbris  car 
iongantacb,  acb  eisd  ris  na  leanas 
agus  beacbd  smuainicb  air  ni  do- 
cbumanta  a  bba  's  a  tba  ri  fhaicinn 
ann's  a  cboimbearsnacbd  so  bho 
cbionn  iomadb  bliadbna  air  Locban 
an  Uilltean  fbarsuinn  lis  an  abrair 
"  Loch  na  beisde"  a  tba  fuidbe  an 
rathaid  a  tba  treorachadb  gu  meal- 
bban  Udrigle.  Bba  biasd  anabarrach 
mor  air  a  faicinn  caochladb  uairean 


Dara  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


173 


air  a  cheud  mhios  do'n  gheamhradh 
so  air  an  loch,  agus  do  bhrigh  nacli 
eil  i  bitheanta  teachd  air  uachdar  an 
uisge,  tlia  luclid  aitichidii  na  tire  a 
co-diiuiiadh  gur  miiclid  Sheilcheig  a 
tba  ann.  Tha  i  anabarrach  fada 
agns  dorabail,  mu  tbimcbioU  se 
troidhe  deiig  tbar  fhichead  agus  a 
doinbladas  mar  au  ceudna  co-cbordte 
ri  fad.  Thog'  an  sealladh  moran 
fiamb  am  nieas^  lucbd  gabbail  an 
ratbaid,  air  cbor  as  an  nair  a  cbiaras 
am  feasgar  gn  'm  bi  feagal  air  iieacb 
an  t-sligbe  ghabbail  ua  aoiiar.  Bba 
iomadb  ui  miglmatbaichte  roimbe  so, 
coinneacbadb  ri  hicbid  gabbail  an 
ratbaid,  a  bba  tabbairt  mor  an 
deucliaia  agns  ciurraidb  dhoibb.  Air 
do  ua  seanacbasaibb  so  a  bbi  air  an 
craobb-sgaoileadb  ag'us  air  an  aitbris 
do  Tbriatb  na  tire,  smnaiuicb  e 
gu'n  tngadb  e  oidbearp  air  aulocb  a 
tbraogbadb,  agus  air  gacb  aon  cbor 
gun  glacadb'  e  an  Uile-bhiasd 
eagallacb  so,  a  bbagacumail  fein  cbo 
diombair  anns  an  nisg'e  agus  na 
leomlian  anns  an  t-sligbe  air  na  lag 
cbreidmbicb.  Bha  moran  cosguis 
air  a  cbur  a  macb  aun  an  cumail 
freiceadain,  tarruing  pbumpaicbeau 
agus  aoil  gu  marbbadb  ua  bei«de, 
acb  a  reir  gacb  coslais  gu'n  d'l'bag  i 
oigbre  na  deigb. 

Tha  e  nise  tur  fbirinneacb,  gu'm 
bbeil  a  bliiasd  a  ritbist  air  teacbd 
beo,  agus  air  a  faicinn  re  an  latba, 
bbo  cbionn  gboirid  le  duine  creidea- 
sacb  agus  beagan  laitbean  na  dbeigb 
sin,  (mu  dbeicb  uairean  ann's  a 
mbaduinn,)  bha  i  air  a  faicinn  tri 
uairean  le  boirionnacb  calma  fiirin- 
neach,  a  db'eigb  ri  Cuilcean  cabbag 
dbeanamb  chum's  gu'm  faiceadb  e 
bbiasd ;  acb  gu  mi-fbortaiiacb  bba 
i  air  a  siuladh  's  an  uisge,  mun 
d'raning  au  seann  laoeb.  Cba  'u  eil 
a  bbiasd  so,  an  am  dhol  fuidhetil 
carucbadh  an  uisge,  nis  n>o  a  cuir 
dragb  air  neacb  sam  bitb.  Bba  mor- 
an do  sbaobh  cbreideamb  a  righe- 


acbadh  am  measg  seann  daoinne  na 
b'airda  tuatb,  aim  a  bbi  creidsinn 
agus  a  dearbbadh  gu'm  biodb  iad  a 
faicinn  na  cuuic  fosgailte,  a  cluinn- 
tinn  na  piobaireachd,  agus  a  faicinn 
na  sitichinn  a'  dannsa.  Cuid  eadhou, 
gus  an  latba  an  diugb  ag  radb,  gur 
iad  na  h-aingle  tuiteamacb  na 
dannsairean  a  bba  ra'm  faicinn,  ann 
am  fosgladb  nan  cnoc.  Tha  mi  'n 
docbas  gu  'm  bbeil  cuid  do  lucbd 
leugbaidb  a'  Ghaidheil,  a  bbios 
comasach  an  solus  a  cbuir  air  na 
loing-eisibh  agiis  innse  clod  a  ghne 
beisde  a  db'fbeudadh  a  bbi  cborab- 
nuidb  air  an  Locb  agus  mar  an 
ceudna,  ma  tba  e  comasach  do 
shuilibb  corporra  ainglibb  tuitea- 
macb fbaicinu. 

CAMUS  A'  CHARRA. 


NIGHEAX  BHAX  ACHADHLUACH- 
EACH. 

FoNN.— "  The  Girl  I  Left  Behind  Me." 

0  gach  taobh  gan  seid  a'  ghaoth, 
'S  ro  chaomli  leam  fhin  o'n  tuath  i, 
Oir  sann  tha  fuireach  reul  ino  ghraidh, 
A  dfhag  mo  shaoghal  luaineach. 

j  Ged  tha  an  diugh  mo  storas  gann, 
t  Gun  chrobh,  gun  chrann  air  cbiaintibh, 
i  Le.ubhain  fhin  duit  iomadh  cainnt, 
j  A's  b'eol  domh  peann  a  ghluasad. 

1  'Sann  air  coinneamh  'san  tigh  Mhaol, 
j  A  rinn  do  ghaol  mo  bhuaireadh, 
I  Do  dha  shuil  chorrach,  mheallach,  chaoin, 
'S  an  aodan  's  nach  'eil  gruaimein. 

Bhuail  mo  chridhe  uair  no  dha, 
Aig  meud  mo  ghraidh  do'n  ghruaigich, 
Oir  'si  sud  reul  mo  ghraidh, 
Nighean  aluinn  Achadhluachrach. 

Ged  do  bhitheans'  air  an  fheill, 
Am  measg  nan  ceudan  gruagach. 
Nam  faicinn  ann  mo  Slieonaid  bhan, 
Cha  chuirinn  each  ach  suarach. 

Ged  a  rachainse  gun  dail, 
Gu  'Stralia  thar  chuautibh 
Cha  leig  mi  as  mo  chri'  gu  brath, 
Xighean  Aluinn  Achaluachrach . 

A. 
Obak,  1876. 


174  AN    GAIDHEAL.         Dara  Mìos  an  t  Samhraidh,  1S7 

TEACHDAIPvEACHD  BAIS  DHAIBHIDH  MHIC-ILLEIN. 

0  eun  oil-  teaclid  bho  dnthaich  cbein, 

Aig-  eisdeachd  riiit  tha  mi  fo'u  chraobb  ; 

Oil-  's  ealamb  tbilg-  tbu  orinsa  seun 

Led'  cbeilleav  dbiau  tha  'g  iadb  gum'  tliaobb  : 

'S  mi  sealltainu  ortsa'n  siu  leat  fbeiu, 

Gun  cbompauacb  bbi  dlutb  do  d'  gblaodb. 

Ar  Jeam  an  smuain  gum  faic  mi  tbu 

A  cbeobiicb  ur  is  somble'  dealbb, 

Aig  itealaicb  troimb  ueula  dlutb, 

Teacbd  oiruii  bbo  dbutb'cb  tba  fad  air  falbb  ; 

Gun  toirm,  gad  cboir,  acb  sg'iatban  lutb'r. 

A  briste  ciuiiieas  atbar  balbb. 

Acb  gi-ad  ged  rinn  tbu  triall  fo'n  speur, 
Nis  luaitb  gu  leir  tba  mis  an  smuain ; 
Oir  nuair  a  sbeall  mi  oit  gu  geur 
Mar  dbealau  leum  mi  thair  a  cbuan 
Gu  tir  nan  coigreacb,  lir  na  gi-ein ; 
Far  bbeil  fear  dutbcba  treun  air  cbuairt. 

Am  faca  tu  e'n  sud  a  stritb 
Ra  fbosgladh,  dorus  sitb  is  saors  : 
Gacb  ceum  a  bbeireadb  e  bba  cbridb 
A  bualadb  buille-bais  iia  daors  : 
Nam  facas  let  fo'n  oidbcbe  mliin, 
An  curaidb  sgitb,  se  sint  air  raou. 

O's  diombain  mi'  iarituis  sin  gu  leir, 
Cba  toir  tbu  eisdeacbd  dbomb  ua  suim  ; 
Cba  cbhiian  tbu  acb  do  cbeillear  fbein 
'S  tbu  niacb  air  bavr  na  geuga  luim  : 
Nam  bbeil  tbu  seirm  gun  d'  cbuir  an  t-eug 
Seid  air  crklbe  treun  au  t-suinn. 

Mo  tbruaigb  gur  fior,  tba  fuaira  sa  gbaotb, 
Mar  sbrann  na  b-aoidb  nacb  gabhar  cletb, 
Fos  bbo  g-acb  gbnuis  tba  gean  air  traogb, 
'S  coinneambain  tball  sa  bbos  fa  letli, 
Dol  tbairis  : — mar  is  trie  ni'u  t-aosd. 
Air  doig'b  a  bhais,  is  aite  bretb. 

"  Togaibb  dbomb  butb  's  gu'm  faigli  mi  bas :" 

Sud  tbuirt  an  gaisgeacb  ard  'se  sgitb  : 

"  Togaibb  dbomb  butb  's  g-um  faigb  mi  bas  :" 

Tba  cbombrag  seacbad  is  an  stiitb  ; 

Acb  torradb  t-oibi'e  mor  bitb'db  fas 

'S  fad  ioma  linn  cba  teid  a  dbitb. 


Dara  ilios  an  t-Samhniidh.  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL 


175 


Mo  dhutbaicli  flieiii,  be  sucl  do  mhac  ; 
B'fhear-saothreach  e  do'n  cbinne-daoiu, 
Ge  so  do  ghloir  blii  cur  am  mach 
Na  fuarain  nibisueacbail  iiach  clann 
Troimh  eagal  iiamh  ;  ach  ghabhas  tlachd 
Bbi  strith  chnm  mathas  mor  an  t-saogh'l. 

Tha  e  air  teachd  gini  aite  tanih, 
Ara  ineasg  iiau  sar  tha  ioiiad  siiain ; 
Bha  thus  mar  alltan  faoin  sa  bliraigh, 
A  chrioch  mar  làn-sbrutJi  dol  gu  cuan  : 
Bitb'db  ainm  cbo  buan  ri  cliii  nan  sair 
A  dh'ainmich  Oisian  fbein  na  dbiiaia. 


Mac-Oidhche. 


ri  0  C  H  A  S. 

JNIu'u  cbagailt  lorn'  'niiair  sbuidbeas  mi  leam  fein, 

Is  smaointean  searbb  cnir  m'anam  truagb  fo  cbradb, 

Gun  aisling  cbaoin  a  tbilgeas  orm  a  seun, 

Is  aonacb  fbuar  na  beatba  db'easbbuidh  blath ; 

An  3ÌU  o  Dbocbas  neambaidb  tnrhiing  leam, 

'S  mar  sbolus  dealracb,  aomsa  diutb  mu'm  cbeann. 

(Keats)  Ead.  le  Mac-Oidhche. 

English. 

When  by  my  solitary  beartb  I  sit, 
And  batefiil  tbougbts  enwrap  my  soul  in  gloom, 
When  no  fair  dream  before  my  mind's  eye  flit, 
And  the  bare  beatli  of  life  presents  no  bloom ; 
Tben  Hope,  etbereal  Hope,  around  me  sbed 
And  wave  their  silver  pinions  o'er  my  bead. 


SEUMAS  DAUSON. 
'Nuair  a  bha  Prionns'  Tearlacb  a' 
tilleadb  air  ais  an  deigh  eagal  a 
bbualadh  leis  na  Gaidbeil  troimh 
cbridhe  mbeamnacb  Sbasuinn  db'- 
fbag  e  air  an  ratbad  ann  an  Carlisle, 
tri  cheud  do  'n  Reiseamaid  a  thog- 
agh  ann  am  Manchester  gu  bbi  'nan 
gearastan  anns  a'  bliaile  criche  ud. 
Am  measg  nam  feadhainn  so  bha 
Seumas  Dauson  mac  duine  bheair- 
tich.  Bbae  aig  an  am  'na  oileanacli 
aig  aon  do  Oiltbigliean  Shasninn 
Ach  ghabh  e  taubb  a'  Phrionnsa. 
An  ceann  da  latba  tbainig  Dine 
Chumberland  fa  cb^mbaM"  hK^le  Car- 


lisle le  a  armailt.  Db'  iarr  e  air  a* 
gbeai-astan  toirt  suas  ach  dbinlt  iad. 
Mbair  an  t-seisd  a  cbuireadb  ris  a' 
bbaile  fad  deich  laithean ;  ach  fa- 
dheoidii  tboisich  ballacban  grod  a' 
bbaile  air  falbb,  agns  cba  robh  aig 
a'  ghearastan  ach  toirt  suas  no  bhi 
air  an  losgadb.  Cbuii-eadb  bratach 
gbeal  a  suas  air  an  aouamb  la  deug 
a  db'  inuseadli  gu'n  robh  iad  a'  toirt 
snas. 

Chaidb  Seumas  Dauson  agus 
seachd  deug  eile  a  thoirt  'nam  prios- 
anaich  do  Lnnnuinn.  Cba  robh  fios 
aig  parantan  Sheumais  gus  a  nis  gu'n 
d'  eirich  e  leis  a'  Phrionnsa,  ged  a 


176 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


chuuV  iacl  Q;nn  do  theich  e  o'n 
Oilthigh.  Bha  aon  eile  ann  a  bha 
clio  bronacli  r'a  cliairdean — ^Fanny 
Lester  a  bha  fo  ghealladh  posaidh 
aige.  Bha  iad  eolach  air  a  cheile 
o'n  a  blia  iad  'nan  leanabau ;  agus 
chaidh  i  nis  i-fein  a  Lunnuiun  a 
ghnidhe  air  an  righ  mathanas  a 
thoirt  da.  Fhuair  i  steach  far  an 
robh  Seumas  'sa'  phriosan  ;  a^ns  bha 
a  chridhe-san  Ian  gairdeachais  gu'u 
d'  thaiuig  i  a  thoirt  comhfhurtachd 
dha.  Bha  i  faotainn  for  an  robh  e 
a'  h-uile  la ;  is  bhiodh  iad  a'  bruidh- 
inn  le  cheile  air  mar  gheibheadh  e 
mu  sgaoil  's  a'  misaeachadh  a  clieile. 

Bha  muinntir  a  hatharsa  agn.s 
athai-sau  'nan  daoine  aig  an  robh 
tomhas  do  uglidarras  ;  agns  bha  iad 
gach  la  an  crochadli  I'i  naisleau  mora 
na  riogliachd  a  dh'  fhaotainn  math- 
anas  do  Sheumas ;  acli,  ged  bha 
geallanna  fabharrach  air  an  toirt  a 
nis  agns  a  rithist,  cha  robh  math- 
anas  ri  fhaotainn. 

Chaidh  se  miosan  seachad  agns 
an  dnil  fadheoidh  gu'n  leigteadh 
Seumas  mu  sgaoil  chaidh  a  shuidh- 
eachadh  gu'ra  posadh  e  fein  is  Fanny 
an  la  a  leigteadh  a  raach  e.  Ach  's 
ann  a  cliaidh  a  thoirt  giis  a'  chuirt 
comhla  ri  each.  Bha  Fanny  agus 
na  parantan  agns  an  cairdean  a 
lathair ;  mu  dheireadh  chuala  i  am 
facal  "ciontach"  air  a  radh ;  's 
thugadh  na  priosanaich  air  fallth  a 
dli'  fheitheamh  la  a'  chrochaidh. 
Bha  leth  dhochas  fathast  gu  'm 
feudadh  an  righ  aig  a'  mhionaid  mu 
dheireadh  mathanas  a  thoirt  seachad. 
Ach  chain  Fanny  a  dnil  ris  a  so ; 
stad  i  a  bhi  cainnt  mu  shaorsa  no  mu 
phosadh ;  is  ann  a  bha  labhairt  a 
nis  mu  'n  t-siorruidheachd  agus  mu 
iad  a  bhi  comhla  ann  an  sud  a 
chaoidh.  Cha  'n  fhaicteadh  a  nis 
deur  air  a  suil  no  glnasad  air  a 
h-iomhaigh.  Bha  i  seamh  le  a 
ciidhe  runaichte  air  na  bha  roimpe. 
Mu'u  d'thugadh  air  falbh  e  a  chroch- 


adh  fhuair  i  a  fhaiciun.  Ghlac  e 
gn  teann  r'a  chridhe  i,  agus  thuirt  e, 
"Shin  leat,  slan  leat,  O  Ghaoil — 
beannaehd  beanuachd  shiorruidh 
leat  !" 

"  Cha'n  ann  gu  siorruidh,"  thuirt 
ise,  "  coinnichidh  sinn  a  ris.  Cha 
bhi  an  ach  beannaehd  ghoirid — slan 
leat,  a  ghaoil.  Coinnich  am  has  gu 
duineil.  Bidh  sinn  le  cheile  gu 
goirid." 

An  latha  bha  iad  ris  a'  cheann  a 
thoirt  deth,  bha  ise  an  lathair  aig 
taobh  a  mach  chaich.  Bha  i  ann 
an  coidse  comhla  ri  da  bhana- 
charaid.  Chunnaic  i  aon  an  aeigh 
aoin  a'  tighinn  gu  bhi  air  a  chroch- 
adh  ;  b'  e  Seumas  am  fear  mu  dhe"r- 
eadh.  'N  uair  a  chunnaic  i  esan  dh' 
fhas  i  dall — cha  chuala  i  toirm  an 
t-slnaigh  mu'n  cnairt— tharruiug'  i  a 
ceann  air  ais  do  'n  choidse — thuit  e 
air  gualainn  a  bana-chompanach,  's 
i  ag  radh,  "A  ghaoil !  tha  mi  falbh 
leat!  tha  mi  falbh  leat!"  a' cur  a 
da  lamh  comhla, — "losa  chaoimh, 
gabh  ri  ar  n-anaman  !"  Thng  iad 
larnh  air  a  ceann  a  thogail,  agus  a 
cumail  suas  'nan  gairdeanan,  ach 
thuit  i  air  a  h-ais  gun  chli  gun 
bheatha;  chompanaich  a  spiorad 
esan  aims  an  robh  a  cridhe  a  sas;  is 
thng  i  snas  an  deo  a  cridhe  briste. 

SOP  AS  GACII  SEID. 

Direach  mar  is  e  an  teas  a  tha 
teachd  o  thaobh  a  stigh  a'  chuirp  is 
mo  comhfhurtachd,  is  ann  o  na  bheil 
a  steach  a  tha  sinn  air  ar  deanamh 
son  a,  is  cha'n  ann  o'n  taobh  a  mach. 

Fasaidh  daoine,  mar  a  ni  lusan, 
ban  agus  beag  ma  tha  a'  ghrian  air  a 
cumail  uatha.  'Si  deadh  shlainte 
solus-greiiie  a'  chuirp ;  '.si  inntinn 
aoibhneach  solns-greine  an  anama. 

Cha  d'  rainig  clatlan  sneachd  riamh 
an  talamh  gnn  sal  a  thrusadh  o  'a 
aile  troimh  an  do  thuit  e ;  mar  so 
tha  an  nadur  is  gloine  air  a  sha'lach- 
adh  'na  ghluasad  anus  an  t-saoghal. 


Dara  .Mio*  an  t  riamliraidh,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


177 


NA  BANA-BHAIRD. 

Cha'ii'eil  run  oii-an  cuontas  far- 
suiua  a  thoirt  air  ua  Bana-Bhaird 
Ghaidhealach  an  drasd;  is  leor  leinn 
ainmean  nam  fea'lhainn  a's  mo  a  tha 
air  an  aideachadli  a  chur  sios  aun 
an  ordngh.  an  deigli  a  cheile.  Is  e 
ar  n-iarrtu3  a  leigeadh.  fhaician 
gu'ra  bheil  mnathan  am  measg  nan 
Craidheal  clio  mliath  i-i  fir  air  an  do 
bhuilicheadh  spiora  1  na  bàrdachd,— 
ni  a  dh'  fheudas  a  nochdadli  dhuinn 
gu'  n  robh  o  cheann  fliada  air  ais 
tinealtas  agus  grinneas  a'  cliuthach- 
adh  sliochd  nan  Gaidheal. 

Tha  Oisean  a'  toirt  far  comhair  'na 
bbardachd  fein  b  )irionnaich  bhoid- 
heacb  mar  lucbd-deanamh  agus  mar 
lucbd-seiuix  ciuii  is  bàrdachd  ;  ach 
cha  'u  urrainii  dhuinn  gu  h-achdaidh 
òighe  's  am  bith  a  chomhaiTachadh 
a  mach  a  bha  'na  bana-bhard  auns 
na  làithibh  sgaileach  ud.  Tha 
moran  bran  againn  a  ris,  a  tha 
iomadh  linn  a  dh'aois,  cnid  diubh 
gun  teagamh  a  chaidh  a  dheaiiamh 
agus  a  sheinn  le  mnathan  ;  ach  aou 
chuid  air  an  ainm  no  air  an  tuineach- 
adh  cha'u  fhaighear  sgeul.  Tha  e 
air  a  ràdh  gur  li-anus  an  treas  linn 
deng  a  dheanadh  "  Aii  Gi/le  Dubh 
Ciar  Dubh/'  le  bana-bhard  air  nach 
'eil  ainm  againn.  A  reir  coslais  is 
ann  le  te  a  I'iuneadh  "  Fear  a'  Bhata  " 
mar  an  ceudua ;  agus  cha'u  e  cainnt 
no  guth  fi'"  a  tha  ag'ainn  ann  an 
''  Fhir  a  nleadain  thlaith."  Is  saoilidh 
mi  gun  teagamh  gur  h-i  cainnt  cridhe 
mna  a  tha  amis  an  oran  ghasda  ud, 
"  An  Nochd  gur  faoln  mo  chadal 
domh."  Tha  moran  eile  a  dh'  fheu- 
dadh  a  bhi  air  an  ainmeachadh — 
Grain  a  chaill  sgeul  air  am  parantan 
ach  a  tha  air  an  seinn  agus  air  an 
altrum  gu  caidreach  am  measg  clann 
nan  Gaidheal. 

Ainmicheam  a  nis  na  bana-bhaird 
air  am  bheil  tomhas  do  eolas  againn, 
agus  aig  am  bheil  an  ainmean  an 
oibrichean  nam  bard  : 


Ban-Iarla  EarraghaidliPÀl :  ìòmh 
linn  deug.  Gheibhear  cuid  d'  a  h- 
obair-sa  anns  an  leabhar  luachmhor 
ud  a  chuireadh  a  mach  o  cheann 
ceithir  bliadhn'  deug — The  Book  of 
the  Dean  of  Lismore,  far  am  faighear 
mar  an  ceudna  moran  do  bhardachd 
eile.  Bha  bàrdachd  is  litreachas 
measail  am  measg  nan  Gaidheal 
anns  an  la  ar.ns  an  robh  mic  righ- 
rean  cosmhuil  ri  Oisean,  agus  ban- 
iarlachan  cosmhuil  ri  te  Earraghaid- 
heil  a  gabhail  tlachd  aunta. 

Mairi  Nic  Leoid  :  16mh  linn 
deug  Cha'n'eil  a'  blieag  nach  cuala 
iomradh  air  Mairi  Nighean  Alastair 
Ruaidh  agus  air  a  bardachd.  Rinn 
i  aireamh  oran,  a'  chuid  is  mo  dhiubh 
mu  Chlan-Leoid  anns  an  Eilein 
Sgiatbanach  agus  anns  na  Hearadh, 
Gheibhear  na  dh'  iarrtadh  d'a  cuid 
bardachd  anns  an  t-  "  Sar-Obaii\" 

Diorbhail  Nic  a-Bhriuthainn:  17mh 
linn  deug.  Cha  'n  eil  moran  do  oran 
Ni-a-Bhriutbainn  air  an  gleidheadh, 
ach  "  Oran  do  dK  Alasdair  Mac 
Collar  Rugadh  i  aun  an  Lunga, 
eilean  Earraghaidhealach.  'Na  gne 
bardachd  agus  'na  doigh  seinn  tha 
i  fein  agus  Mairi  Nic- Leoid  gle  chos- 
mhuil  r'a  cheile. 

Silis  Nic  Dhonuill:  17inh  linn 
deug.  Kugadh  Silis  Nighean  Mhic 
Raonaill,  mar  theirteadh  rithe  gu 
cumauta,  ann  an  Lochabei*.  Mur  'eil 
i  air  thoiseach  cha  'u  'eil  i  air  deir- 
eadh  air  na  bana-bhaird  a  dh'ainmich 
sum.  Tha  a  roinn  ni 's  misle  agus 
ni  's  sleamhuinne  na  am  feadhaiun- 
san.  Chuir  i  ri  cheile  aireamh 
mhath  do  dhan  is  oran.  An  deigh 
bas  a  fir  chleachd  i  a  talant  a' 
deanamh  laoidhean. 

Caimbeul  Bar:  18mh  linn  deug 
B'e  Donnacha  Caimbeul  a  b'ainm  do 
athair  Mhrs.  Caimbeul  Bar  ;  bha  i 
riamh  eadar  a'  Mhorairne  agus  Craig- 
nish  an  Earraghaidheal.  Bha  ise 
cosmhuil  ris  na  Caimbeulaich  air  fad 
air  taobh  righ  Deorsa,  mar  a  bha 
12 


178 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Miss  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


?    "^' 


Nic  a  Bliriutbaian  is  Nic  Raomiill 
air  an  laimh  eile  airtaobla  nau  Seuma- 
sach.  Rinn  i  oran  foghainnteach 
aon  uair  an  aghaidh  a'  Phrionnsa, 
dh'an  do  rinn  Mac  Mhaighstir 
Alastir  freagairt,  mar  bu  dngh  dha 
ann  an  caiunt  cho  salacli  's  nach 
cualas  diog  bardail  as  a  ceann  air  a' 
chuspairud  riamh  tuilleadh.  Cha'n- 
'eil  i  cail  air  deireadli  air  Mairi  Seud 
no  air  Nighean  Lacliuinn  ann  an 
comas  bardachd. 

Ann  an  aon  seadh  cha'n'eil  coimeas 
idir  eadar  i  fein  agus  iadsan  ;  tha 
farsuinneachd  breitbneachaidh,  do 
bbonn  agus  do  thuigse  mhodhannail 
innte  nach  'eil  idir  r'am  faicinn 
mu'm  bardachdsan.  Nam  biodh  na 
laoidhean  a  sgriobh  i  air  fuinn  a  bu 
tbaitniclie  bhiodh  barrachd  deigb 
oi-ra  gu  coitcheann  am  measg  nau 
Gaidheal. 

Cairistina  Nic  Fherguis ;  18mh 
linn  deug.  Rugadh  a'  bh ana-bard 
so  ann  an  Contuiun,  an  Siorracbd 
■  Rois,  far  an  robh  a  b-atbair  'ua 
gbobba.  Cha  'n  'eil  aon  do  orain 
nam  bana-bhard  a  dh'  ainmich  sinn  a 
tha  cbo  aiumeil  is  cho  taitueach  ris 
au  aon  oran  a  rinn  ise  d'  a  fear  a 
thuit  latha  Chuil-fhodair.  'Se  doimh- 
neachd  a  faireachduinu  agus  am 
meas  ard-anamadail  a  bba  aice  air  a 
:  fear  a  gheibhear  'na  h-orau  o  thoise- 
ach  gu  deireadh.  Tha  ua  facail  a 
tha  i  ag  aithris  aig  deireadh  gach 
roinn — "  Mo  run  geal  og" — a'  giulan 
leotha  moran  brigh,  agus  a'  nochdadh 
nan  cuspairean  clinmbor  air  an  robh 
inntinn  agus  cridhe  briste  na  bana- 
bhaird  a'  foiseachadh.  'S  e  so  an 
t-aon  oran  is  aithne  dhuinn  a  rinn 
i ;  ach  gleidhidh  am  fear  so  fein 
cuimhne  oirre  mar  bhean  Uilleam 
Siseal,  aonarachd  chianail  a  baiitra- 
chais  a'  dusgadh  truais  is  comh- 
fhaireachduinu  anns  gach  cridhe  a 
thuigeas  clod  e  bron  uasal  mna  air 
son  fear  a  graidh  a  thug  am  bas 
uaipe. 


Maireard  Nic  Illeathain ;  18mh 
linn  deug.  Rugadh  Nic  Illeathain 
am  Muile  ;  agus  theirteadh  gu  coit- 
chean  rithe  Mairearad  Ni'  n  Lachu- 
inu.  Tha  Nigheau  Ailein  air  a  radh 
I'ithe  cuideachd ;  aeh  tha  sinn  a' 
smuainteachadh  gur  h-  e  a'  cheud 
tiodal  am  fear  ceart.  Rinn  i  so 
moran  do  dh'  orain  agus  do  dhain, 
suas  ri  deich  thar  fhichead.  Ach  a 
mach  o  "  Ghaoir  nam  Bern  Muileach" 
cha  'n  'eil  iad  ro  ainmeil.  Bha  na 
fuinn  agus  an  tomhas  rauntachd  a 
ghabh  i  duilich  a  thogailnoleantuinn. 
Anns  an  ratbad  so  cha  'n  'eil  i  fein 
agus  Nic  a  Bhriuthainn  agus  Mairi 
Seud  neo-chosmhuil  ri  cheile.  Math 
no  dona  agus  mar  dh'  fheudadh  am 
bardachd  a  bhi  tha  i  cho  duilich  a 
sheinn,  cho  mi-shimplidh,  agus  gu'n 
robh  i  ullamh  dol  a'  fasan  leis  a' 
ghinealach  a  thigeadh  an  deigh  nam 
bana-bhard. 

Catrine  Nic  Illeathain  :  lOmh  linn 
deug.  Rugadh  a'  bhana-bhard  so 
ann  an  eilein  Chola  ;  agus  is  ann  air 
son  Tighearna  Chola  a  rinn  i  na  h- 
orain  a  chviuuaic  sinn  d'  a  cuid, 
Tha  a  bardachd  ni 's  taitniche  air 
doigh  na  te  na  bana  Mhuilich  ;  ach 
cha  'n  'eil  sinn  ag  radh  air  a  shon 
sin  gu  'n  robh  bardachd  do  spiorad 
na  bardachd  innte.  Duisgidh  a  h- 
orain  duilichinn  ann  an  inntinn 
Ghaidhealaich  'sam  bith  a  smuainti- 
cheas  air  ua  mi-fhortain  a  chuir 
Claun-Illeathain  a  Cola,  agus  a  dh' 
fhàg  iad  gun  ainm  gun  oighreachd 
aou  chuid  am  Muile  no  an  Cola. 
Cha  'n  'eil  ioghnadh  ged  a  bhriseadh 
cridhe  nan  Gaidheal  an  diugh  a  mach 
ann  am  bardachd,  agus  seanuf  hear- 
anu  na  Feinne  'ga  spionadh  as  an 
laimh. 

Nic  a  Chleirich  :  19mh  linn  deug. 
Fhuair  Mrs.  Clare  aite  air  nach  'eil 
i  neo-airidh  am  measg  baird  dhiad- 
haidh  au  Taobh  Tuath.  Bha  na 
leugh  siun  d'a  cuid  gle  thaitneach; 
ni  b'  usa  a  sheinn  na  bardachd  Mhrs. 


Dara  Mios  an  t-Samlu-aidh,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


179 


Caimbeul  Bar.  Tha  iad  le  cheile 
soisgeulach  'nan  laoidhean  agus  a' 
gabhail  tlachd  anns  na  h-aon  fliiria- 
nean  ;  ach  'nuair  a  tha  Mrs.  Caim- 
beul Bar  a'  seinii  mu'n  fhiriun  lorn 
tha  Mrs.  Chirc  a'  toirt  dhuinn  bar- 
rachd  do  shugh  an  fhein  fhiosrach- 
aidh  Chrio.sduidh.  Tha  an  dara  te 
a'  riochdachadh  faireachduinn  shois- 
geulaich  na  Gaidhealtachd  mu 
Thiiath  'nuair  a  tha  an  te  eile  a' 
riochdachadh  teagaisg  hiirn  soisgeu- 
laich  na  Gaidhealtachd  mu  Dheas. 

Main  Nic  Ealair :  lOmh  linn 
chug.  Cha'n'eil  sinu  dol  a  dheanamh 
moran  iomraidh  air  Mrs.  Mackellar 
is  i  feiu  beo,  agus  gu  ma  fada  air 
falbh  an  latha  anns  am  bi  iomradh 
oil-re  an  deigh  a  bais  !  Tha  siun 
direach  a  toirt  air  aghaidh  a  h-ainm 
a  ràdh  mu  deibhinn  gu'm  bheiliann 
an  eolas,  aun  an  aireach  inntinn 
agus  aun  an  cumhachd  bardachd  air 
thoiseach  air  na  h-uile  do  na  bana- 
bhaird  eile  a  dh'  ainmich  sinu. 

Dh'  ainmich  sinn  a  nis  ann  an 
ordugh  na  bana-bhaird  is  aithue 
dhuinn  a  tha  airidh  air  an  ainm. 
Ma  tha  feadhaian  'sam  bith  ann  air 
an  d'rinn  sinn  dearmad,  agus  is 
aithne  do  mhuinntir  eile  bhitheam- 
aid  ro  thoilichte  iad  a  bhi  air  an 
toirt  far  comhair. 

Tha  iomadh  eile  ann  a  dh'  fheu- 
dadh  sinn  a  thoirt  fainear  ach 
cha'n'eil  àite  againn  dhaibh  an  drasd. 
'S  iomadh  oran  a  tha  againn  le  teg' a 
leannoM.  Tha  orain  againn  mar  an 
ceudna  ann  an  clo  le  Piuthar  Fear 
ScaljKi ;  le  Nighean  Fhir  na  Eeilig ; 
le  Baintighearna  Ille  Chalum  Rasa  ; 
agus  o  cheann  ghoii'id  le  Baintigh- 
earna UOyly. 

Saoilidh  sinn  gu  bheil  e  ro  chlium- 
hor  .  do  "  shliochd  a'  Ghaidheil 
ghlais,"  agus  gu  sonruichte  do 
thuigse  agus  gu  do  chiall  nam  ban 
Gaidhealach,  gu'n  robh  na  h-uiread 
'nam  measg,  a  dheanadh  bardachd 
cho  glic  agus  a  sheinueadh  ceol  cho' 


griain.  Nam  biodh  na  Gaidheil  anus 
na  linnibh  a  dh'  f  halbh  cho  fad  air 
deireadh  agus  a  bu  mhiann  le  cuid 
a  chumail  a  mach  cha  b'  urrainu 
oighean  is  muai  ciallach,  seadhail, 
fir-ghnethach  togail  is  arach  fhaot- 
ainn  am  measg  nan  gleaun,  nam 
beann  agus  nan  eilean.  Cha'n 
fhaighear  call  do  leithid  so  do  aiteach 
inntinn  am  measg  mhnathan  cliinn- 
each  bhorba  uach  d'  thaiuig  fo  rian 
laghan  cneasda  riamh.  Cha'n'eil  siun 
ag  radh  gu'm  bheil  bardachd  dhom- 
hain  no  fharsuiuu  ann  an  orain  no 
ann  an  dain  nam  mnathan  a  dh' 
ainmich  sinu  ;  ach  their  sinn  gu'm 
bheil  spiorad  dian  gleusda  na  bar- 
dachd air  a  thaisbeanadh  leo  ann  an 
tomhaS;  agus  gur  h-ann  a  tha  na 
rinn  iad  ro  iongantach  'nuair  a  bheir. 
sinn  fainear  na  suidheachaidhean 
mi-fhabharach  anus  an  robh  iad. 

Cuiream  sios  an  so  mu  dheireadh 
rann  no  dha  Le  te  ga  Leannan  a 
leigeas  fhaicinn  dhuinn  an  doigh 
anns  an  seinueadh  na  maighdeaun- 
an  Gaidhealach  mu  ghaol : 

"  'Sann  a  thug  mi  mo  ghealladli 

Do  dh'  fhear  a'  chùil  oir, 
Siiil  is  miogaiche  sealladh, 

Gruaidh  tliana  mar  ros  ; 
Do  bheul  briodalach  meachaii*, 

Deud  mar  chalice  gun  spors, 
'Stu's  modhaire  sealladh, 

'Sis  blasd  o'n  tig  pog. 

"  Pog  is  millse  na'n  siucar, 

Aig  an  fhiuran  ur  og  ; 
Nail'e  chunnaic  mi  uair  thu 

'Sann  leat  nach  b'  fhuathach  bhi  mchou-; 
Aig  a  mheud  's  thug  mi  ghaol  duit 

Oha'n  fhaod  mi  bhi  beo  ; 
A  nis  o'n  threig  thu  do  ghealladh 

Gur  h-e'm  fabhar  dhomh  fold." 


An  nine  ghoirid  brisidh  am  bron  a 
dhunar  a  steach  an  cridhe,  agus 
caithidh  e  an  corp  a  'n  uaigh. 

Tha  gach  bas  a'  filleadh  ann  ochd 
latha  fichead  tinnis ;  'se  sin,  air  sou 
gach  duine  a  tha  basachadh  tha  ochd 
ah'  fhichead  tinii  aon  latha. 


180 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  187  6 


CUMHA. 

Leis  an  Lighiche  Mac-Lachainn  kach  maireann 


Gletts  B  Flat. 
Gu  tiamhaidh. 


^^^S^^i^ifeS 


;  Ti  . ,  ti  li  :  fi  :  SI      I  ti  .,  li ':  li  :  Si  .  si      r  :  m  :  s    I  f  . ,  m  :  r  :  S  . ,  m 


Ì^^^S=ÌÌÈ^Ì^=E^^^ 


ti  . ,  :  li  :  ti  :  R .  r 


Thaing  sgeula  mo  cliruadail, 

Gu  n'  do  chuir  iad  's  an  uiagh  thu  ; 

'S  goirt  mo  chridhe  o  'n  chuala, 

Ged  nach  d'  fhuasgail  mo  dheoir. 

Tha  do  leaba  lom,  fuaraidh  ; 
'S  trom  do  chadal,  's  ro  bbuan  e  ; 
Chaoidh  cha  n'  eisd  thxi  ri  m'  luaidh-sa, 
'S  eta  ghluaia  thu  ri  m'  clieol. 

Bha  do  ghluasad  gun  eucoir, 
Gun  uireasbhuidh  ceille  ; 
Leam  bu  taitneach  bbi  'g  eisdeachd 
Ei  seisde  do  bheoil  ! 

Tha  do  bheul  a  nis  duinte  ; 
Cha  'n  'eil  leirsinn  ad  shuilean  ; 
'S  fuar  an  cridhe  'bha  muirneach — 
Anns  an  uir,  's  e  gun  dec. 

Bho  'n  bhuannaich  am  bas  thu 
Seach  na  dillsean  'tha  lathair, 
Cinnidh  feanntag  's  a'  gharadh, 
'N  uair  'thig  failinn  's  an  ros. 


m  , ,  r  :  ti  :  li 


i 


Sud  an  ros  a  bha  cubhraidh, 
Air  geug  nan  dos  urail  ; 
B'  og  's  a'  mhadainn  e  'bruchdadh — 
Sheac  a's  shuigh  e  trath-noin  ! 

Chuir  thu  mise  gu  smaointean 
Nach  innis  mi  'dhaoine  ; 
'tS  mairg  chuir  uigh  anns  an  t-saoghal, 
'S  iomadh  caochladh  'teachd  oirnn. 

Ged  tha  cairdean  gu  deurach 
'S  faoin  an  cumha  leam  fhein  e  ; 
Theid  gu  cuirm  a's  cuirt  eibhnis, 
Giulan  eideadh  a  bhroin. 

Ged  tha  m'  eideadh  gun  mhuthadh, 
'S  mi  gun  deur  air  mo  shuilean, 
Gus  an  cuir  iad  's  an  uir  mi, 

Bidh  mi  'd  iunndrainn  ri  m'  bheo. 

Chionn  bu  toigh  leam  an  nigh'nag  ; 
Bu  ro  thoigh  leam  an  nigh'nag  ; 
Mo  sgeul  dubhach  'g  a  innseadh, 
Thu  bhi  'd  shineadh  fo'n  fhoid  ! 


Tha  aisliug  iiar  u=anam,  is  briatlira  nar  beul 

Mu  la  's  fearr  is  ni  's  bòich'  'nar  coir; 
'S  tha  ar  làithean  a'  caitheamh  's  a'  riiith  le  chèil' 

Gus  an  am  ud  ceann-uigbe  an  oir. 
A  nis  sean  tha  an  saogh'l,  a  nis  og  tha  e  vifi, 

Ach  dùil  ris  an  "Am  Mhath"  tha  'g  èiridh  gun  sgis. 

— Schiller. 


T  la:  E     Gf-  JL  E  L, 


ENGLISH   DEPARTMENT, 


Vol.  V. 


JUNE,  1876, 


No,  54. 


CARRIC-THURA :  A  Dramatic  Poem.    (From  Gaelic.) 


DKAMATIS 
Finn,  or  Fingal,  the  King  of  Morven. 
CuHAL,  the  father  of  Finn. 
Cathul  07"  Cahdl,  the  King  of  Carric-thura. 
Sarno,  the  father  o/Cahul. 
Frohal,  the  King  of  Sora. 
Annir,  the  father  of  YrouaJj. 
Tdbar,  chief  warrior  of  Frohal, 
Ullin,  a  Bard. 

Caovalo,  daughter  of  Sarno,  and  sitter  to 
Cahul. 


PERSOX^. 

Uha,  daughter  of  Hermione,  one  of  Fro- 
hal's  chiefs  She  foUoioed  Frohal  in 
disguise  to  battle.  Both  are  spared  by 
Fingal  when  he  discovers  their  love. 

Binvela,  Crijiora.  Siiric,  and  Connal 
are  feigned  names,  occurring  in  the  songs 
vjith  tohich  Cronan  and  V'lia'S  favoured 
tie  ioarriors  at  the  Royal  Feast  of  Shells, 


Sunset. 
Hast  left  the  azure  distance  of  the  skies, 
0  thou  unsullied  son  of  yellowest  tress? 
To  hail  thee  open  lie  the  doors  of  night, 
And   thy  grand  tent  of  slumber  in  the 

west ; 
The  hesitating  billows  nigh  approach, 
Thy  shining  brows  of  beauty  to  behold; 
Awe  struck  they  raise  their  heads  as  they 

admire 
Thee  h'ing  lovely  in  thy  sleep,  and  pale 
They  shrink  back  from  thy  side.     Sleep 

in  thy  cave, 
0  Sun,  and  from  thy  rest  return  with  joy! 
Morven's  Hall— The  King's   IIeturn. 
' '  Xow  let  a  thousand  lights  be  raised 

on  high  [harps; 

At  the  sweet  sounds  that  flow  from  tender 
Wake  pleasure  in  the  many  towered  hall; 
The   King  of  Yict'ries  has  regained  his 

land. 
The  strife  of  Carron,  far  from  us  away. 
Is  like  a  sound  that  shall  be  heard  no 

more ;  [songs, 

Xow  let  the  bards  of  music  raise  their 
The  Prince  of  Vict'ries  has  returned  with 

fame."  [when 

Such  were  the  words  of  gentle  Ullin, 

The  King  returned  from  the  heroic  field. 

With  weighty  locks   in  folds  of  fairest 

tress.  [head. 

The  blue-hued  helm  was  round  the  hero's 
Like  a  light  cloud  round  the  sun's  coun-  \ 

tenance 
When  he  advances  in  his  garments  brown. 
Presenting  but  a  radiant  half  in  heaven. 
His  stalwart  heroes   moved  behind  the 

King; 
The  feast  of  hospitable  shells  was  spread; 


And  Finn  turned  to  the  race  of  melody, 
And  sought  a  measure  from  the  chief  of 

bards. 

Tho  Bard's  Address, 

"  0  voices  of  resounding  Cona  !  bards 

That  hj'mn  her  age,  to  whom  rise  on  our 

souls  [chiefs; 

The   mighty   hosts    of    the    blue  bladed 
Pleasant  to  me  is  the  delight  of  grief ; 
'Tis  like  the  pattering  shower  of  gentle 

spring,  [high. 

Under  which  bends  the  branch  of  oak  on 
And  the  young  foliage  is  becoming  green; 
Raise  j^e,  my  bards,   the  song.      A  sail 

shall  leave 
To-morrow;  my  dark  path  shall  be  among 
The  greenish  glens  of  waves  toward  the 

shore  [walls 

Of  heroes  and  of  men,  — the  grey-tinged 
Of  generous  Sarno,  where  thy  dwelling 

stands, 
0  Caovala  of  many  tresses,  where 
Cathul  spreads  forth  with  princely  pride 

the  feast 
Of  shells  upon  the  hill;  and  numerous 
The  dusky  boars  that  roam  his  forests 

through.  [hunt. 

Hoar  woods  may  hear  the  clamour  of  the 
"Cronan,  son  of  the  gentle  breathing  airs! 
Minona,  light  and  graceful  at  the  harp! 
Renew  the  tale  of  Siiric  brave,  to  please 
The  King  of  Lofty  Bens  and  desert  vales. 
Binvela,  thou  most  beautiful!  come  forth, 
Like  rainbow  in  the  shower,  as  from  the 
glen  [sun 

It  rears  its  arch  on  high,  and  the  bright 
Descends  behind  the  hiUs.      0  King  of 

Blades!  [voice." 

She  comes,  in  sadness  and  with  tender 


182 


THE  GAEL. 


June,  187 


BiNVELA. 

"  My  love  is  of  the  fathers  of  the  hills: 
He  the  best  hunter  of  the  dusky  heights. 
His  greyhounds  follow  panting  at  his  side, 
His  slender  bow-string  sounding  in  the 

gale. 
Restest  thou  by  the  fountain  of  the  cairns. 
Or  by  the  swelling  stream  high  on  the 

steep  ?  [breeze, 

•The  rushes  yield  beneath   the   blinking 
While   o'er  the   hill    the   vapours    slow 

awake. 
I  will  approach  mv  love  in  mist  unseen, 
And  will  behold  the  hero  from  the  height. 
\Vheu  gazed  I  on  the  youths  at  th'  aged 

oak 
Of  torrent-sounding  Branno,  and  I  saw 
Thee  when  wert  tall  returning  from  the 

hill. 
The  fairest  of  thy  peeple  all  thou  wert." 

SiLRIC. 

"  Whose  is  the  voice  so  tender  to  my 

ear,  — 
That  voice  as  tender  as  the  summer  air  ? 
I  sit  not  by  the  rushes  on  the  height. 
Nor   by  the  cool-aired  fountain   of   the 

caii-ns. 
Far,  0  Binvela,  far  away  with  Finn 
I  go  to  war.     My  dogs  attend  my  side 
No  more,  nor  roams  my  step  the  heathy 

glen. 
No  more  I  see  her,  fair,  of  loveliest  tress. 
As  she  descends  the  mountain  brows,  and 

bends  [bow 

Along  with  her  the  streams,  bright  as  a 
Spanning  the  sky,  or  like  the  moon  above 
The  western  billow." 

Binvela. 

' '  Silric  gone !  art  gone  ? 

And  I  am  solitary  on  the  hill!       [height, 

The   deer   shall   be    observed   upon    the 

And  no  man  from  his  grazing  hunting 

him. 
Now  in  the   breezes  there  is  dread  no 

more. 
Nor  breaks  the  woodland  carol  on  his  ear. 
The  hunter  is  removed  far  from  the  wood. 
And   now   he   slumbers    in   the  field   of 

graves.  [spare  ye 

A^e   strangers,    offspring    of    the   waves, 
The  warrior  in  battle!" 
Silric. 
'•If  I  fall,  0  Binvela,  in  the  field. 
Then  raise  thou  faithfully  on  high  my 

tomb:  [mark  thy  love. 

Grey  stones  and   heaped-up  earth  shall 
Binvela.     When  the  hunter  shall  sit  by 
My  mound,  his  food  held  idly  in  his  hand, 
•A   warrior,'    he  will  say,    'lies   in   the 

heath, — 
A  man  of  fame,  who  was  not  slack  in  war. 
Remember  him,  Binvela,  thy  brave  love, 


Who  slumbers  in  the   narrow  house  of 
death!" 

Binvela. 
' '  Remembered  thou,   in  sooth,    shalt 
ever  be; 
My  hero,  Silric,  in  the  strife  shall  fall. 
Where  in  the  Ben   shall  I  be  found,  0. 
love,  [death  ? 

Since  thou  must  not  eschew  the  stroke  of 
My  course  shall  be  among  the  glens  and 

heights. 
When  far  on  high  the  sun  descendeth  low; 
My  steps  be  distant  from  the  people's 

path, 
In  secret  shades  and  paleness  on  the  hill. 
And  I  shall  see  the  place  of  thy  repose 
When  I  return  from  following  the  chase. 
Silric,  in  sooth,  shall  in  the  battle  fall. 
But  I  shall  not  forget  the  noble  one." 
'  ■  Full  well  do  I    remember   still   the 
chief,"  [hills. 

Then  said  the  King  of  lofty  woods  and 
"The  combat  in  his  fury  he  devoured; 
He  follows  not  the  hunt  beneath  my  eye. 
Once  was  he  seen  engaging  in  the  strife, 
Clouded  and  hueless  was  the  hero's  face; 
Dark  was  his  brow;  the  heaving  of  his 
chest  [heights. 

Was  rapid,  and  his  step  was  to  the 
Now  he  will  not  be  seen  among  the  chiefs. 
When  on  the  shield  awakes  the  clashing 

sound. 
Slumbers  he  in  the  narrow  dusky  house. 
The   noble   mountain    chief    of    darkest 
frown  ?"  [said, 

"Oronon,"  the  bard,  the  aged  Ullin 
"For  Silric  do  thou  raise  a  worthy  song. 
When  he  returned  in  triumph  from  the 

field. 
After  his  love,  Binvela,  was  laid  low. 
He  leant  against  the  grey  stone  of  his 

love; 
Binvela  was,  in  his  rapt  thoughts,  alive. 
He  saw  the  maiden  through  transparently 
In  the  lone  glen,  and  lovely  was  her  form; 
But  like  the  mist,  her  semblance  vanished, 
And  from  the  plain  the  sunshine  disap- 
peared. 
Her  airy  form  shaU  reappear  no  more." 
Silric. 
"  I  rest  me  by  the  cold,  pellucid  spring. 
High  on  the  crested  heights,  in  the  cool 
gale;  [blast. 

One  tree  makes  music  in  the  blinking 
And  waves  of  shadow  roll  across  the 
Tumult  arises  yonder  on  the  lake;  [heath. 
The  deer  descend  from  mountain  to  the 

plain ; 
The  hunter's  wary  step  may  not  be  seen; 
And  there  is  silence  in  the  idle  glen. 
Sad   is  the   sigh,    and  sadder  still    the 
thought. 


THE  GAEL. 


183 


Were  I  to  see  my  love  among  the  hills, 
Meandering  along  the  heathy  range, 
Her  -svaving  tresses  floating  in  the  wind. 
Her  blue  eye  dim  and  tearful   for   her 

friends, 
Deep  hidden  in  the  vapours  of  the  cairns; 
0  love !  I  would  embrace  thee  in  my  arms, 
And  bear  thee  to  the  dwelling  of  thy  sire. 

"0,  is  it  she  that  I  behold  afar, 
Like  brightness  on  the  cairn  among  the 
heath;  [is  full; 

Like  harvest  moonshine  when  the  moon 
Like  sunshine  smiling  through  a  summer- 
storm  ?  [come 

0  maid  of  loveliest  tresses,  wilt  thou 
Over  the  rocks  and  mountains  to  my  side? 
Faint  is  thy  voice,   0  daughter  fair   of 

chiefs, 
Like  desert  grass  when  breezes  bend  its 
head. " 

BiNVELA . 

"Hast  back  returned,  my  brave  one, 

from  the  fight  ?  [my  love  ? 

Where  hast  thou  parted  from  thy  friends. 

Thy  death  I  heard  of  on  the  mountain 

toj)S, — 

1  heard  it,  and  my  soul  was  sorrowful." 

SlLRIC. 

"I  have  returned,  maid  of  the  eyelids 

meek, — 
I,  of  the  chiefs,  alone  am  back  returned; 
Hence  they  shall  not  be  seen  uiaon  the 

hill.  [field. 

By  me  their  tomb  was  raised  high  on  the 
Why  art  thou  solitary  on  the  heights, 
Wand'ring  alone  the  edges  of  the  hills?" 

BlXVELA. 

' '  Solitary  I  am,  O !  Sili'ic,  love. 
Alone,  and  lonely  in  the  winter  house. 
With  sorrow  for  my  love,  I  fading,  fell — 
0  !  Snric,  fading,  fell  into  the  grave  !" 
She  passed  then  like  a  shadow  in  the 
wind, 
Like   vapours   passing  darkly    o'er    the 
heath. 

SiLKIC. 

"Binvcla!  wilt  thou  not  remain,  tho' 

dim  ? 
Stay  and  behold  my  tears  while  desolate ! 
Beautiful  in  the  vapours  shines  thy  form, 
When  living  thou,  Binvela  wert  full  fair  ! 
"I'll  not  sit  by  the  cold,  pellucid  spring, 
Far  on  the  crowned  summit  in  the  wind. 
At  noon   of    day,    when  noise   is   none 

around,  [love! 

0  speak  thou  to  me  on  the  heath,  my 
Come  thou,  Biavela,  on  the  light-winged 

breeze —  [cairns ! 

Come  on  a  breath  nigh  through  the  copsy 
Let  me  list  to  thy  voice  while  thou  art 

near, 
At  noon  of  day  as  silence  holds  around." 


The  Voyage  to  Inkistore. 
Amid  high  tra,nsport.s  in  the  hall  of 

men,  [the  east 

Thus  Cronan  raised  the  song.  Mom  from 
Awoke  in  brightness,   blue  the  billows 

rolled.  [rise, 

The  King  bade  to  the  masts  his  sails  to 
A  wind  came  over  from  the  mountaia-top; 
And  Carric-Thura,  landmarkof  the  waves. 
An  evil  omen  was  observed  on  high, 
A  rayless  fire  nigh  hidin  wreaths  of  smoke. 
At  which  on  sudden  smote  the  king  hia 

breast; 
He  drew  his  spear  enormous  from  his  back 
At  once;  he  felt  the  -wind  of  \agour  void; 
His  tresses  were  in  conflict  on  his  back; — 
Vaiu  was  not  the  dark  silence  of  the  king. 
The  night  then  fell  on  Rotha  of  the 

waves;  [ship. 

The  mountain-circled  bay  received  the 
There  was  a  rock  nigh  to  the  ocean's  edge, 
A  wood  bent  hanging  o'er  the  sounding 

waves. 
Cru-Lodin's  circle  on  its  summit  stood, 
And  the  gigantic  stones  of  many  powers; 
Beneath  lay  there  a  modest,  narrow  plain, 
Covered  with  grass  and  trees  by  ocean's 

sid.e,  — 
Trees  which  the  wrathful  blast  when  high 

had  reaped  [plain. 

Down  from  the  mountain  ledges  to  the 
Beyond   was   the    blue    gliding    of    the 

streams;  [came. 

And  a  slow  breeze  faint  from  the  ocean 
A  beam  proceeded  from  a  hoary  oak; 
And  on  the  heath  the  feast  of  chiefs  was 

spread;  [shields 

Grief  touched  the  spirit  of  the  king  of 
For  the  dark  Carrick  of  the  heroes'  Chief. 

Slowly  the  moon  arose  in  feebleness; 
While   plenteous    sleep    fell    round   the 

warriors'  head;  [the  light; 

Their  helmets  gleaming  sheen  against  the 
The  fire  was  losing  brightness  on  the  hUl; 
No  slumber  closed  the  eyelids  of  the  king; 
He  rose  amid  the  clangour  of  his  steel; 
His  vision  bent  on  Carrick  of  the  waves. 
Lodik's  Ghost. 
A  fire  descended  in  the  dark  beyond; 
The  moon  was  red  and  languid  in  the  east; 
A  blast  came  down  in  sadness  from  the 

plain;  man; — 

And   on   its   wings  the   semblance  of   a 
Cru-Lodin  standing  pale  upon  the  plain — 
He  nigh  approached  unto  his  own  abode. 
Holding  his  dark  spear  useless  in  his  hand; 
His  red  eye  like  the  blazing  of  the  skies; 
His  speaking  like  the  thunder  on  the  hill 
In  shadowy  darkness  distant  far  away; 
Finn  lifted  up  his  spear  amid  the  night; 
And  on  the  meadow  was  his   shouting 

heard. 


184 


THE  GAEL. 


June,  1876 


Finn. 
"  Sou  of  the  Night,  begone  thou  from 
my  side. 
Betake  thee  to  thy  wind  and  be  away  ! 
Why  comest  thou  to  my  presence,  sha- 
dowy one  ? 
Thy  semblance  is  unreal  as  thine  arms. 
Can  thy  brown  form  be  terrible  to  me, 
Thou  Phantom  of  the  Circles  Lodin  owns? 
Frail  is  thy  shield,  and  weak  thy  vapoury 

cloud; 
Thy  bare  sword  like  a  flame  across  the 

surge ; 
Which  shall  be  cleft  asunder  by  the  blast, 
And  scattered  thou  thyself  without  delay, 
Begone,    thou   Dismal   Oifspring   of   the 

skies! 
Recall  thy  blast  to  take  bhee  and  begone!" 
The  Ghost. 
"Wouldst  thou  from  my  own  circle 
me  coerce  ? " 
Spoke  the  deep  voice  of  hoUowest  refrain. 
"It  is  to  me  that  hosts  of  heroes  yield; 
I  glance  but  on  the  peoplefrom  the  height, 
They  are  dispersed  like  ashes  'neath  my 
gaze.  [death. 

Out  of  my  breath  proceeds  the  blast  of 
I  jonruey  loftily  upon  the  wind;  [high 
And  tempests  hurry  forth  themselves  on 
Around  ray  brow,  cold,  melancholy,  pale; 
But  calm  is  my  abode  beyond  the  clouds. 
And  pleasant  the  broad  fields  of  my 
repose." 

Finn. 

' '  Go,  and  abide  then  on  thy  pleasant 

plains,'" 

Replied  the  mighty  king  with  hand  on  hilt, 

"  Else,  Cuhal'sSon,  forget  not  in  the  field, 

Weak  is  thy  spectre— and  my  strength  is 

great. 
Did  I  direct  my  footsteps  from  the  hill 
Toward  thy  hall,   high  on  the  peaceful 

plain  ? 
Or  did  my  pow'rful  spear  e'er  clash  amid 
The  garments  of  the  skies  against  the  voice 
Of  the    black   Ghost   Cru-Lodin's   circle 

keeps  ? 
Why  hast  thou  lifted  with  a  scowl  thy 

brow  ? 
Or  wherefore  shakest  thou  aloft  thy  spear? 
Little  I  dread  thy  words,  thou  Shadowy 

One! 
I  fled  not  from  an  army  in  the  field, 
Why  flee  before  the  Offspring  of  the  Winds? 
The  Valiant   Brave,   the  King  of  Lofty 
Bens,  [has  not 

He  shall  not  flee!     He  knows,  though  he 
Been  there,  the  frailty  of  thine  arm  in 
war. " 

The  Ghost. 
"  Begone!  flee  to  thy  land,"  replied  the 
Form, 


"  Flee  on  the  dismal  tempest,  flee,  begone! 
The  blast  is  in  the  hollow  of  my  hand; 
Mine  are  the  conflict  and  the  speed  of 

storms; 
The  King  of  Sora  is  a  son  of  mine;  [form; 
He  kneels  down  in  the  mountain  to  my 
At  Ptock  of  Hundreds   he   upholds   the 

strife. 
And  scatheless  he  shall  gain  the  victory. 
Begone  to  thine  own  land,  thou  Cuhal'a 

son, 
Or  to  thy  grief  experience  my  wrath. " 
The  Combat. 
He  lifted  up  his  threatening  spear  on 
high, 
And  fiercely  forward  bent  his  lofty  head. 
Then   Finn  advanced,    opposing   him  in 
wrath,  [hand, — 

Wielding  his  blue  transparent  sword  in 
The  sword — the  Son  of  Luinn  of  duskiest 
cheek, —  [through. 

The  steely  lustre  pierced  the  Phantom 
The  Evil  Wraith  of  death  assumed  afrown; 
Be  fell  devoid  of  shape,  far,  far  beyond, 
Riding  the  winds  of  the  dark  cairns,  like 

smoke 
A  sapling  raises  with  a  stick  in  hand, 
About  a  hearth  of  discord  and  of  gloom. 
The  Wraith  of  Lodiu's  Form  shrieked 
on  the  Ben, 
Collecting  his  essentials  in  the  wind; 
The  Innis  of  the  boars  the  tumult  heard; 
The   trembling  waves  stopped  action  in 

their  course. 
The  heroes  of  great  Cuhal's  son  arose. 
And  in  each  hand  a  spear  was  held  aloft; 
"  Where  is  he  ? "' — and  their  fury  gather- 
ing gloom,  [chief. 
And  every  mail  loud  clanking  round  its 
The  morn  came  orient  forth  in  heaven; 
The  Leader  of  the  brave  returned; 
Joy  kindled  in  the  bosom  of  his  youth; 
Their  souls  grew  calm  like  billows  after 
storm;  [song. 
And  UUin  raised  with  cheerfulness  the 
His  music  in  the  isle  of  cairns  was  heard; 
The  flame  arising  from  the  oak  burned 
full;  [told. 
When  tales  about  the  sons  of  chiefs  were 

Frohal  of  Sora  rested,  in  his  wrath. 
Beside  a  tree  trunk  on  the  forest's  slope; 
His  army  round  the  carrick  of  the  deer. 
His  gaze  he  cast  around  was  purposeless, 
His  fierce  mind  broods  on  Cuhal  and  his 

blood, 
Who  overthrew  him  in  the  heroes'  strife. 
To  Annir  who  of  Sora  was  the  Prince, 
Father  of  Frohal  of  the  dusky  waves. 
At  sea  woke  tempests  of  the  elements, 
Frohal  arrived  the  lofty  ocean  isle. 
Three  days  endured  the  copious  feast 
In  house  of  frownlesa  Sarno  of  the  blades, 


THE  GAEL. 


185 


While  there  he  saw  the  Branch  of  Eyelids 

meeii, 
The  peerless  Caovala  of  lovely  tress; 
His  love  for  her  was  as  the  love  of  youth, 
Like  heat  of  fire  it  travelled  toAvards  her; 
'Tween  Frohal  and  this   White-Hand  of 

the  brave, 
Cahul  arose,  a  mighty  prince  was  he; 
Contention  kindled  all  the  crowd  among; 
The  matchless  Frohal  was  made  fast  in 

thong. 
Three  days  he  had  been  solitary  all 
Fastened  in  fetter  hard  beneath  a  cloud. 
But  in  the  fourth  sent  Sarno  of  the  ships, 
The  leader  of  the  brave  back  to  his  laud. 
There  jealousy  made  dark  the  hero's  soul; 
'Gainst  Cahul  flamed  thefury  of  his  wi-ath, 
When  Annir's  gravestone  of  renown  was 

raised,  [might; 

Frohal   arrived,    dark   frowning,    in    his 
They  fought  around  the  smoke-involved 

rock, 
The  wall  of  Sarno,  where  the  army  yields. 
The  morning  brightened  on  the  isle  of 

waves,  [shield; 

Frohal  with  blade  of  steel  struck  hard  his 
Heroes    advanced    at    breaking    of    the 


Their  vision  travelled  rapidly  before 
Towards  the  hoary  sea  of  many  waves; 
Before  them  Fingal  in  his  might  they  saw; 
Then  spoke  thus  Tubar  of  the  hosts  the 

chief: — 

Tubar. 
"Who  yonder  comes,  like  red  deer  on 

the  steeps,  [near  ? 

With   all   his  antlered  herd  behind  him 
Frohal  it  is,  a  foe  devoid  of  fear,      [edge: 
His  spear  before  him  on  the  mountain 
It  is  the  hero,  King  of  Lofty  Bens, 
The  Son  of  Cuhal  of  the  blades  and  chiefs. 
1/2  Lochlin  many  are  his  hardy  deeds; 
Far  to  the  East,  in  ocean's  lofty  hall. 
The  brisk  blood  of  the   mighty  ones  he 

shed.  [brave  ? 

Shall   I   ask   peace   from   leader   of   the 
His  sword  gleams  like  the  lightning  of 

the  skies." 

Feohal. 
"Thou  offspring  of  disgrace,  of  feeblest 

hand," 
Loud  answered  Frohal  of  the  Blades  in 

wrath, 
' '  Shall  my  youth  enter  'neath  a  gloomy 

cloud  ? 
Shall  I  yield  on  the  field  before  my  time  ? 
Shall  I  yield  ere  I  have  the  tribute  got. 
Thou  chief   from  Tora    without   pith  or 

nervu  [claim — 

Why  sho  Id  the  throng  in  Sora  thus  ex- 
'  Frohal  advanced  like  lightning  in  the 

skies, 


But  darkness  fell  full  swiftly  on  his  fire; 
No  song  shall  hear  of  him  in  after-time.' 
Tubar,  I  shall  not  yield  me  while  I  live! 
Itenown,    like   dazzling   light,    shall   me 

surround.  [shade. 

I  shall  not   yield  till   fall  1  'neath   the 
Thou  Prince  of  Tora,  of  the  rivers  cold!" 
The  Battle, 
The  hero  with  his  host  of  power  ad- 
vanced, 
But  they  experienced  a  rock  before; 
Firmly  stood  Finn,  King  of  the  victories; 
Broken  they  fled  back  from  the  hero's 

steel,  [hand, 

And  they  escaped  not  scatheless  from  his 
His  spear  pursuing  them  full  speedily. 
The  field  was  covered  by  the  fall  of  chiefs, 
The  hill  of  elements  received  the  rest. 
Defeat  of  Frohal. 
Frohal  beheld  in  silence  the  defeat; 
His  soul  swelled  high  beneath  the  scowl 

of  wrath : 
He  bent  his  energetic  eyes  in  gloom. 
Tubar  he  called,  who  was  not  vain  in  need. 
"Tubar,  my  hosts  have  in  the  battle  fled; 
I  am  bereft  of  power  and  of  fame; 
0  let  me  in  the  conflict  strike  the  King: 
My  soul  is  kindled  with  a  vigour  bright. 
Send  thou  a  bard  to  call  him  forth  to 

combat; 
And  utter  not  against  my  high  resolve. 
"My  soul  rests  on  a  maiden  without 

pride, 
0  Tubar — full  on  her — the  tender  branch. 
Her   dwelling    stands    by   Tana    of    the 

streams;  form; 

Daughter   of    Hermin, — she    of    whitest 
The  lovely  LTha  of  the  eyelids  meek. 
She  feared  the  love  of  Caovala  now  cold; 
Melancholy  her  sigh  in  secret  rose. 
When  raised  I  to  the  masts  my  sails  aloft. 
Relate  to  Uha  of  the  tender  harp 
How  of  her  smooth  white  form  my  soul 

was  full. " 

Frohal  and  Uha. 
— Such  were  the  hero's  words 
As  he  was  fitting  to  his  side  his  shield. 
The  sigh  of  Uha  mild  was  on  the  hill; 
She  had  pursued  the  hero  from  afar. 
Disguised  in  helm  and  armour  of  a  youth. 
Her  eye  was  on  the  brave  one  secretly. 
In  sadness,   looking  'neath   her  helm  of 

steel, 
She  saw  the  bard  advancing  on  his  way. 
Her  spear  fell  in  the  mountain  from  her 

hand, 
Her  tresses  waving  in  the  stormy  wind; 
Her  snow-white  bosom  rose  up  with  a  sigh, 
She.  gazing  upwards  to  the  King  of  ships, 
Began,  and  ceased  three  times.  [bard; 
Finn  heard  the  voice  in  challenge  of  the 
Fast  came  he  to  the  combat  in  his  mail, 


186 


THE  GAEL. 


June,  1876. 


With  spear  that  rests  not  harmless  when 

in  peril;  [around. 

And  lightning  of  his  sword  ilashed  bright 
From  Finn  there  fell  a  stroke  of  energy; 
Frohal,  the  hero,  lost  his  dusky  shield. 
When,  without  mail,  his  side  had  been 

made  bare. 
Death  stole  across  the  musing  of  the  chief. 
Melancholy  surrounded  all  at  once 
The  soul  of  Uha  of  the  eyelids  meek; 
The  tears  moved  rain-like  o'er  her  placid 

cheek. 
She  sprang  up  to  the  hero  with  her  shield; 
An  oak  tree  caught  her  footsteps  as  she 

went,  [arm; 

She  tumbled  down  upon  her  snow-white 
Her  helm  leaped  on  the  hill,  her  white 

breast  rose,  [she! 

Her  many  curls  on  earth — and  wretched 
Spared  by  Fingal. 
Sad  softness  moved  the  bosom  of  the 

King 
For  the  mild  maiden  of  the  snowy  hand; 
And   in   the   conflict   he   restrained    his 

sword;  [blades. 

The  mightless  tears  fell  from  the  King  of 
"0  Chief  of  Sora  of  the  sounding  stream," 
(As  he  raised  up  his  voice  with  energy,) 
"  My  steel 's  no  cause  of  fear  to  thee  to- 
day; [blood 
My  blade  has  never  been  besmeared  Avith 
After  the  foe  would  in  the  combat  yield. 
Lat   raptures  move   the   bosoms   of  thy 

people  [land; 

By  the  o'erflowing  streams  of  thine  own 
Let  raptures  move  thee,  maiden,  peerless, 

fair!  strife, 

Why  should  the  youth  fall  on  the  [hill  of 
0  King  of  Sora  of  the  swelling  floods  ?" 

Frohal  the  speaking  of  the  hero  heard, 
Beheld  the  maid  of  gentlest  mien  arise; 
They   in  their  beauty  on   the    heather 

stood, 
In  deep  expressive  silence,  side  by  side. 
Like  two   young  trees   when    they   are 

under  bloom. 
Green  on  the  margin  of  the  forest  wild, 
The  vernal  dew  down-dropping  from  the 

boughs,  height. 

And  when  the  breezes  slumber  on  the 
Frohal. 
"Daughter  of  Hermin,  from  the  land 

of  waves. 
The  stalwai't  Frohal  spoke  without  delay, 
"  Why  in  thy  beauty  camest  thou  o'er 

the  sea,  mail? 

To  see   me   on  the  ground  without  my 
'Tis  by  a  hero  I  am  stripped  of  arms. 
Maid  blameless,  of  the  eyelids  meek  and 

slow;  [branch! 

It  was  not  weakness  that  prevailed,  0 
O'ei-  Annir's  son  of  the  heroic  arm. 


Full  terrible  and  great  art  thou,  0  King, 
When  in  the  conflict  and  the  strife  of 

spears. 
But  mild  art  thou,  0  warrior,  in  peace. 
Like  sun  upon  the  meadow's  tender  dew, 
When  the  fresh  daisy  raises  up  its  head, 
And  when  the  downy  gales  their  pinions 

shake. 
0  it  were  well  that  thou  thyself  wouldat  be 
In  Sora  of  the  harps  and  of  the  feasts, 
That  the  brave  ones  of  Sora  might  behold, 
Like  me,  thine  arms  when  joy  woke  in 

the  field;  [fathers'  fame, 

Sons    would    feel    transports   for    their 
Who  saw   in   strife   the  King  of   Lofty 

Bens." 

Finn.  [King, 

"  Thou  son  of  Annir,"  then  reiilied  the 

'  •  Time's  caverns  shall  re-echo  hence  our 

fame,  [brave; 

When  in  the  conflict  steadfast  stand  the 
Joyous  the  energy  of  song  shall  wake. 
If  they  direct  against  the  weak  their  steel, 
The    blood   of    wretches    sullying    their 

blades,  [raised. 

For  them  no  song  shall  by  the  bards  be 
Nor   shall    their   gravestones    nor    their 

cairns  be  seen:  [tower, 

The  stranger  shall  come  there  to  iDuild  a 
And  shall  remove   the   raised-up   earth 

aside. 
A  rusty  sword  shall  be  disclosed  in  dust; 
And  some  one,  bending  over  it,  shall  say, 
'  These  arms  belonged  to  warriors  that 

are  cold,  [heard.' 

But  in  the  songs  their  praise  has  not  been 
Come  thou,   O  Frohal,   o'er  the  moun- 
tain to 
The  feast  of  heroes  in  the  Isle  of  Waves; 
Come  thou,  O  maiden  of  the  dark-brown 

locks. 
Love  of  the  northern  hero  of  the  shield; 
0  come  ye  to  the  feast  of  warriors, 
And  pleasure  will  make  bright  our  coun- 
tenance." 

Feast  in  Tura. 
Holding  his  spear  in  hand,  with  mighty 

step 
King  Finn  betook  him  to  the  mountain 

height, —  [doors 

The  Carrick   of    a   hundred  guests;    its 
Opened;  the  feast  of  generous  shells  was 

spread. 
The  tender  voice  of  melodies  arose. 
And  raptures  lit  the  hall  of  warriors. 
The  voice  of  Ullin  of  the  songs  was  heard, 
And  Selma's  harp,  at  which  the  sea  would 

bend. 
Uha,  the  loveable,  sat  by  his  side, 
And  sought  of  him  th&  mournful  song  of 

grief.  [meek, 

The  tears  were  starting  'ueath  her  eyelids 


Tune,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


187 


AVhen   spoke  Crimora   of    the    pleasant 

strains,  [blades, 

Daughter  of  Einvel,  of  the  sharp-edged 
Who  dwelt  by  Lotha's  stream.     The  lay, 

tho'  long, 
Was  sweet;  blithe  was  the  fair  branch  of 

the  noi-th. 

Crimora. 
"  Who  comes  in  silence  from  the  moun- 
tain height. 
Like  a  cloud  bending  in  the  western  sky. 
With  side  tinged  by  the  sun?      Whose 

the  sweet  voice. 
Loudly  melodious  as  the  moimtain  wind, 
And  exquisite  as  Carril's  slender  harp  ? 
0!  'tis  my  hero  that  in  brightness  comes; 
The  noble  warrior  of  the  spears  in  grief; 
Dark  is  the  aspect  of  thy  lofty  brow. 
Has  Finn,  the  King,  been  of  his  breath 

deprived  ? 
Wherefore,     Connal,      thy     melancholy 

grief  ?" 

Connal. 
"The  Prince  lives.      After  having  led 

the  hunt,  [light; 

The  wrathful  brave  returned  like  burning 
Beams  on  the  boss  of  his  unrusty  shield. 
He  on  the  hill  himself  like  lustre  great, 
Loud  are  the  voices  of  his  youth  around. 
The  conflict  of  the  blades  slow  travels  on. 
To  morrow  Dargo  is  to  come  across 
To  wage  the  strife  with  children  of  the 

chiefs —  Lsteel — 

The  children  of   the  King  of   brightest 
The  stormy  race  of  wounds  and  victories. " 
Crimora  . 
" — 0  Connal,  I  beheld  his  sails. 
Extending  broad  as  hoary  foam  of  waves; 
Their  course  was  sluggish,  bending  to  the 

beach. 
Numerous  are Dargo's warriors  and  ships." 
Connal. 
" — Fit  to  my  side  thy  father's  shield — 
The  hard  and  bosisy  shield  that   Riuvel 

had— 
The  shield  like  the  unwaning  full-orbed 

moon 
Advancing  grandly  through  the  sky  in 

storm. 
While  dark  and  dusky  in  her  countenance. " 
Crimora. 
"Sure  I  shall  fit  the  shield  full  speedily. 
Though  it  saved  not  the  chief  of  victories. 
He  fell  by  spear  of  Cormac  on  the  hill; 
Perehance,    0   Connal!   thou  mayst  also 

fall." 


Connal. 
"  Perchance  I  may;  but  raise  thou  high 

my  tomb. 
Graceful  Crimora.     Let  a  hoary  cairn, 
A  mound  of  earth  fast  by  the  wavy  shore, 
Be  seen  to  send  my  name  and  fame  through 

time.  [tears, 

Bend  thou  thy  crimson  eyelids,  wet  with 
Over  my   dust,    while    standing  by    my 

mound;  [tiful, 

Grieved,  strike  thy  bosom  purely  beau- 
And  after  me  preserve  alive  my  fame. 
Though  thou  more  beautiful  than  light 

itself,  [breeze. 

Thy   voice   as   gentle    as   the   mountain 

I  will  not  stay  beside  thee  in  the  Ben; — 

Crimora,  raise  thou  after  me  my  praise!" 

Crimora. 

"  Let  there  be  arms  of  light  placed  in 

my  hand,  ''[steel; 

A  blue  sharp-edged  blade,  and  spear  of 
And  let  me  meet  with  Dargo  then  without 
A  succour  in  the  battle  to  my  love. 
Farewell  ye  summits  of  the  lofty  bens, 
Ye   red   ones   of   the   antlers,    cairn-girt 

streams; 
We  shall  not  from  the  battle  home  return; 
Our  tomb  sliall  far  beyond  arise." 

"  Did  they  return  no  more  ?  "  said  Uha, 

sad, 
Ullin  beheld  the  virgin's  tear  and  took  the 

haij): — 
"She followed  her  warrior  to  the  strife; 
Crimora  in  the  conflict  drew  her  string 
On  Dargo,hut  she  erring  pierced  her  Connal! 
He  hied!  He  died!  She  sobbed,  and  died  in 

grief!* 
Eartli  hides  the  hapless  lovers  on  the  field. 

Voyage  to  Morven. 
Three  days  endured  the  feast  of  warriors; 
The  fourth  beheld  the  sails  of  both  out- 
spread, [mightily. 
While   from   the   north    the   wind   blew 
Fingal  arrived  at  his  uncloudy  land, 
The  wood  of  Morven  of  the  lofty  towers. 
Cloud-seated,  the  dark  Ghost  of  Lodin's 
Form  [waves, 
Served   Frohal  in   the    mansion   of   the 
Bending  to  him  the  breeze  o'er  the  huge 
seas  [face. 
To  the  white  sails  spread  on  the  ocean's 
The  Phantom's  thoughts  were  brooding 
on  his  wounds,                             [King. 
And   on  the  hand  of    the    fear-smiting 


*  The  rest  of  the  melancholy  episode  of  Crimora  and  Connal  is  now  found  nowhere  in  the  Gaelic  ; 
in  the  seven  lines  in  italics,  I  have  given  the  drift  of  it  from  M'Pherson's  Translation. 

A  true  rendering  of  Ossian  must  probably  )je  in  rhyming  octosyllabic  verse  ;  but  this  hurried 
translation  of  Carric-thura,  first  written  the  year  before  Clerk's  excellent  work  appeared,  may  show 
I'ow  Os»ian  would  r«ad  in  blank  verse. 


188 


THE  GAEL. 


June,  1876 


TRANSLATION— EXTRACTS 

FROM  AN  UNPUBLISHED 

LECTURE. 

As  much  of  the  appreciation  which 
Gaelic  letters  meet  with  in  the  eas3 
of  those  to  whom  the  Gaelic  is  un- 
known depends  on  the  renderings  in 
which  the  originals  are  conveyed, 
it  may  not  be  undesirable  to  touch 
on  some  of  the  general  principles  of 
translation. 

A  good  deal  of  Gaelic  Literature 
has  been  transferred  into  English 
already :  while  the  poems  of  Ossian 
have  been  translated  into  Latin  and 
into  most  European  languages.  There 
are  not  a  few  who  have  translated 
Gaelic  productions  into  English.  To 
show  Celtic  activity  in  this  direction, 
I  give  a  list  of  the  names  of  transla- 
tors who  have  done  anything  worth 
recording,  with  dates  of  their  publi- 
cations. The  list  is  longer  than  some 
unacquainted  with  Celtic  letters  ma}^ 
anticipate  : — 

Jerome  Stone,  ...         1756. 

James  Macpherson,  ...         1760. 

Rev.  J.  Woodrow,     ...         1771. 

Ewen  Cameron,  ...         1777. 

John  Clark,     1778. 

Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  ...         1780. 

Rev.  Dr.  Ross.  — 

The  MacCallums,       ...         1816. 

Mrs.  Grant.  — 

Patrick  Macgregor,    ...         1840. 

Robert  Munro,  ...         1843. 

Rev.  Dr.  Maclauchlan,         1862. 

J.  F.  Campbell,  Esq., 

Rev.  Thomas  Pattison,         1866. 

Rev.  Dr.   Clerk,  ...         1870. 

C.  S.  Jerram,  Esq.,  ...  1873. 
A  few  of  these  have  not  translated 
much;  but  many  of  them  have  pro- 
duced in  translation  as  much  as 
would  make  considerable  volumes. 
Macpherson,  so  well  known,  Sirith, 
Maclauchlan,  Campbell,  Pattison, 
and  Clerk  are  those  whose  works  as 
translations  have  received  much  re- 
cognition. Macpherson  and  Smith 
translate  in  a  free  paraphrastic  man- 
ner, something  in  the  style  of  Pope's 


Homer.  Maclauchlan,  Campbell, 
and  Clerk  have  adopted  a  rigid  liter- 
ality  of  rendering  which  the  Ossianic 
controversy,  among  other  reasons 
compelled  them  to  follow.  In  the 
works  of  these  writers,— :7'Ae  Book  of 
the  Dean  of  Lismore,hy  Maclauchlan, 
The  Tales  and  Ballads,  by  Campbell, 
and  Ossian  by  Clerk, — the  original 
Gaelic  is  given  along  with  the  Eng- 
lish. In  the  Gaelic  Bards  of  Patti- 
son the  original  is  not  given;  for  the 
work,  unlike  the  former,  was  in- 
tended for  more  genei'al  and  popular 
use.  Pattison  has  adopted  a  literal, 
but  at  the  same  time  metrical  and 
rh^'ming  style  of  translating  from  the 
Gaelic.  Mr.  Jerram's  translation  of 
Dan  an  Deiry  is  a  very  meritorious 
performance  much  in  the  style  of 
Clerk.  It  is  interesting  as  coming 
from  an  English  Oxford  graduate. 

There  is  some  ti-uth  in  James 
Macpherson's  suspected  declaration 
that  a  translator  who  cannot  equal 
the  original  cannot  express  its  beau- 
ties. Translation  is  very  difficult; 
and  is  perhaps  as  true  a  test  of  talent 
as  can  be  applied.  Practically,  how- 
ever, a  great  manj?^  common-place 
men  think  that  though  they  are  in- 
capable of  producing  original  works, 
still  the^^  may  be  ver}'^  successful 
translators.  And  in  the  case  of 
simple  prose  translations  this  may 
hold  true.  But  in  the  matter  of 
works  which  are  of  a  classical  or 
literary  character  culture  and  talent 
of  the  highest  kind  are  necessary 
possessions  in  a  translator. 

The  most  successful  translations 
have  been  generally  very  far  from 
the  original.  The  best  translation 
may  be  not  unfitly  compared  to  a 
transplanted  flower,  which,  while 
presenting  the  original  stem  and 
branch,  has  lost  in  the  transference 
much  of  the  bloom  and  aroma  of  the 
original. 

"  The  true  result  to  be  aimed  at, 


THE  GAEL. 


189 


where  we  propose  anything  beyond 
the  commviuication  of  bare  fact,  is  to 
produce  upon  the  mind  of  the  English 
reader,  so  far  aa  possible,  the  same 
impression  which  the  original  author 
produced  upon  the  miuds  of  those 
for  whom  he  wrote."  "  It  is  the 
characteristic  of  a  perfect  translation 
that  it,  for  the  time,  transforms  the 
reader  into  the  likeness  of  those  for 
whom  the  story,  the  ballad,  or  the 
ode,  was  first  said  or  sung."  There  is 
another  principle  which  is  held  to  be 
of  great  practical  value  in  transferring 
the  productions  of  "  creative  genius 
from  their  native  to  a  foreign  soil,  in 
such  a  way  that  they  shall  yield  the 
same  fruit  as  in  their  original  clime. 
It  is  this :  we  should  choose  for  our 
translation  the  dialect  of  the  period 
when  our  language  was  in  a  stage 
of  development  as  nearly  as  possible 
corresponding  to  that  of  the  tongue 
from  which  we  translate."  This 
rule  cannot  be  absolutely  carried  out/ 
but  such  an  approximation  sh(  axld  be 
attempted  as  would  be  consistent 
with  perfect  general  iutelligibility  in 
the  translator's  own  time. 

Besides  these  two  rules  already 
laid  down  there  are  other  elements 
or  priuciples  to  which  the  successful 
translator  must  carefully  attend. 
These  I  call  the  moral,  the  aesthetic, 
and  the  historical. 

1.  The  Moral  Element  in  Transla- 
tion. We  ought  to  know  intimately 
the  manners  and  associations  of 
thought  peculiar  to  the  period  of  the 
original  which  we  translate.  It  is 
undoubted  that  words  change  much 
in  their  signification  in  the  course  of 
ages;  and  it  is  equally  true  that 
words  in  one  language  have  a  moral 
significance  which  their  equivalents 
or  those  taken  to  be  equivalent  in 
another  language  do  not  bear.  It  is 
necessary  to  attend  to  this  in  transla- 
tion otherwise  a  distorted  impression 
is  conveyed  to  the  reader. 


2.   The  Aesthetic  Element  in  Trans- 
lation.    While  there  are  permanent 
principles  on  which  all  true  theories 
of  the  beautiful  are  based,  whether 
they  treat  of  beauty  in  its   spiritual, 
moral,  intellectual,  or  physical  mani- 
festations, still  men's  conceptions  of 
what    constitutes     taste     are    very 
vai-iable.     What  is  considered  stand- 
ard in  one  age  may  be    considered 
subordinate  and  accidental  in  another. 
At    the    same    time   the   Science   of 
Aesthetics  which  is  not  much  culti- 
vated    yet     must     be     based     on 
permanent   fundamental    principles. 
In  the  case  of  a  work  which  is  based 
on  this  permanent  element  of  taste — 
built    on    an     eternal     unchanging 
aesthetic  basis  —  the  aesthetic  diffi- 
culties of  a  translation  are  few  or 
none.     But  as  no  hiunan  work   can 
illustrate  such  a  perfection  of  taste 
we    expect   aesthetic  dilficulties,   in 
dealing  with  which  a  translator  must 
acton  some  right  recognised  principle. 
He    must    attend    to    the    variable 
elements  of  taste.     Of  course  if  all 
men  were  possessed  of  perfect  moral 
and  intellectual  culture  there  would 
be,    we    believe,    no    such  changing 
element  in  taste  which  would  be  the 
same  in  a  perfect  state  of  society  in 
all    climes.      With    regard    to    the 
translation  of  some  works  we  would 
say  that  productions  of  a  decidedly  im- 
moral tendency  should  not  be  trans- 
lated at  all.      Byron   says  of  Burns 
that  he  was   a  mixture  of  dirt  and 
deity;  and  of  Byron  himself  it  may 
be  said  that  he  was  a  strange  medle}' 
of  heaven  and   earth — a  medley  in 
which  the  dirt  of  earth  was  at  times 
most  visible.     Alexander  Macdonald 
was  a  similar  mixture.     I   question 
whether   any    one    will   venture   to 
translate   his   Mi-mholadh  of  Morag 
which  contains  pretty  much  the  same 
species  of  moral  mud  as  the  reader 
of  Don  Juan  has  to  wade  through. 
It  should  be  a  question  with  a  trans- 


190 


THE  GAEL. 


lator  whether,  notwithstanding  the 
wit  and  genius  they  manifest,  he 
should  expose  himself  and  others  to 
the  lurid  flames  which  indicate  the 
existence  of  burning  lava  in  the 
mysterious  world  to  whose  confines 
the  Don  Juan  of  Byron  and  Decame- 
ron of  Boccaccio  introduce  them. 
Such  works  can  never  receive  the 
moral  homage  of  all  men  in  any  age. 
But  there  are  other  productions 
which  are  mai'red,  in  the  estimation 
of  one  age,  by  certain  passages  which 
when  written  were  morally  harmless; 
because  their  spirit  was  in  harmony 
with  the  prevailing  taste  of  theperiod. 
Such  passages  we  come  across  in  the 
Latin  poets,  Horace  and  Ovid,  for 
example,  and  even  in  Shakspeare  ; 
and  on  aesthetic  principles  we  are 
bound,  to  make  a  correct  translation, 
to  produce  or  rather  reproduce 
these  iu  a  style  that  would  leave  the 
same  harmless  impression  on  the 
reader  as  the  original  did  in  the  case 
of  those  to  whom  it  was  first 
addressed. 

3.  The  Historical  Element  in 
Translation.  To  arrive  at  success  in 
translation  which  is  to  make  the 
same  impression  by  means  of  the 
translation  as  the  original  makes,  we 
must  study  the  history  of  the  work 
which  we  translate.  "Without  aknow- 
ledge  of  the  circumstances  which 
exercised  a  formative  and  shaping 
influence  on  the  work  we  are  not  so 
likely  to  iniderstand  accurately  not 
only  the  translation  but  even  the 
original  itself. 

A  translator  ought  to  be  qualified 
in  these  three  respects;  from  a  moral, 
aesthetic,  and  historical  point  of 
view.  The  translation  of  Gaelic 
poetry  does  not  present  much  difii- 
culty  from  a  moral  point  of  view. 
For,  with  the  exception  of  Macdon- 
ald,  the  bards  wrote  no  immoral 
poems.  Rob  Donn  also,  and  a  few 
others  composed  a  few  pieces — gene- 


rally short— which  are  not  calculated 
to  elevate  morals.  But  the  Gaelic 
bards  do  not  seem  to  have  been 
sufiiciently  refined — at  least  in  the 
culture  which  large  centres  of  civili- 
zation develope— to  compose  on  the 
subtler  immoralities  of  which  their 
more  learned  tuneful  brethren  else- 
where have  sung  with  such  delicious- 
ness.  Gaelic  poetry,  however,  is 
frequently  a  little  defective  from  an 
aesthetic  point  of  view.  We  find 
the  bards  singing,  with  nauseating 
minuteness,  of  the  ears,  the  teeth,  the 
breasts,  the  waist,  the  thighs,  and 
other  delicate  possessions  of  the  unfor- 
tunate ladies  who  come  in  for  their 
poetic  praises.  In  this  unaesthetic 
spirit  and  style  did  many  of  their 
brethren  of  the  Lowlands  also  jjoetize 
of  the  maids  they  honoured  with  a 
song.  The  Greeks,  whose  whole  souls 
and  bodies  seem  to  have  been  full  of 
the  light  of  beauty  or  aesthetics, 
never  descended  to  such  undesirable 
minuteness.  The}"  would  not  mar 
the  impression  which  the  whole  left 
by  any  analysis. 

I  find  that  Mr,  Pattisou,  in 
translating  Màiri  Laghach,  has  con- 
sciously or  otherwise  acted  on  this 
esthetic  principle.  There  are  eight 
stanzas  in  the  song ;  three  of  which 
are  descriptive  of  Màiris  bodily 
parts,  Mr,  Pattison  has  translated 
the  one  which  touches  on  the  head 
and  hair.  The  other  two  he  left 
untranslated.  They  describe,  with 
great  beauty  we  confess,  the  breast^ 
the  soft  sides  of  the  body,  the  neck, 
the  jaw,  the  cheek,  the  eyelids., 
the  brows,  etc.  With  a  similar 
minuteness,  we  find  Scottish  Low- 
land poets  speaking  of  the  waist  and 
other  enormities.  Such  descriptions 
may  be  thought  poetical ;  but  we  do 
not  know  that  they  are  very  aesthetic 
after  all.  Should  a  poet  speak  as  if 
he  laiew  the  character  and  colour  of 
the  skin  of  all  the  bodily  members  ? 


THE  GAEL. 


191 


I  give  here  a  rendering  of  Màìri 
Laghach^  attempting  to  improve  the 
translation  of  Pattison,  which  is  not 
regularly  the  same  measure  as  the 
original.  No  one  has  translated  the 
chorus  so  far  as  I  am  aware.  I  try 
a  translation  of  it,  rendering  Layhach 
by  the  phrase  little.  Laghach  has 
no  absolute  equivalent  in  English. 
It  means  at  times  neat,  sometimes 
sweet  in  the  sense  in  which  sweet  is 
used  with  the  word  floioei\  as  a  sweet 
flower.  Laghach  in  the  title  of  this 
song,  however,  is  more  correctly 
rendered  by  little.  Màiri  was  a 
mere  child  on  her  mother's  knees 
when  this  song  was  composed  for 
her.  Laghach  was  therefore  more 
expressive  in  her  case  at  the  age 
than  it  would  be  in  the  case  of  a 
grown-up  person.  Indeed  the  phrase 
itself  is  suggestive  of  the  idea  of 
littleness.  We  never  would  apply  it 
to  an  object  of  large  proportions  : — 

0  my  little  Mary, 

0  my  pretty  love, 
Gentle  soft-lipped  Mary, 
My  own  tender  dove  ! 
0  my  little  Mary, 

Darling  of  my  soul. 
Sweet  and  lovely  Mary 
Born  in  fair  Glensmeòl  ! 
Young  wert  mtli  me,  Mary, 

In  yon  lone  Glensmeòl, 
"When  the  imp  of  Venus 
Pierced  me  to  the  soul. 
With  such  living  fervour 

We  together  drew, 
That  none  under  heaven 

Ever  loved  so  true  ! 
Oft  we  strayed,  my  Marj% 

In  the  desert  wild. 
Where  no  thought  of  evil 
E'er  our  hearts  defiled  ; 
In  our  souls  we  cherished 

Love  sincere  and  true, 
Bright  as  shone  the  siiubeams 
The  high  branches  through. 
Though  1  had,  my  Mary, 

Albin,  with  its  gold. 
How  could  I  be  happ}' 

Should  our  love  gi-ovr  cold  ? 
I  would  rather  kiss  thee 

With  love's  right,  by  far. 
Than  possess  the  treasures 
That  in  Europe  are. 


Sweet  thy  tresses,  Mary, 

Eound  thy  small  ears  stray, 
Golden  curly  wavelets, 

Flowing  in  array  ; 
Round  a  neck  that's  whiter 

Than  the  foaming  sea  ; 
With  thy  sunny  eyebrows 

Frowns  can  ne'er  agree. 
Happier  than  princes' 

Was  that  pride  of  ours. 
Stretching  'neath  the  branches 

On  the  grass  and  flowers. 
With  the  scented  blossoms 

Our  j^oung  hearts  to  feed, 
Where  the  streams  rolled  past  us, 

Nourishing  each  seed. 
Nought  was  e'er  invented 

'Neath  the  sun  could  jJay 
Music  with  the  sweetness 

Of  our  love-born  lay. 
With  the  larks  above  us. 

Thrushes  on  the  spray. 
And  cuckoos  with  "  goo-goo," 

In  sweet  morn  of  May.* 
The  fact  of  jNfaiy  being  a  mere  child 
when  the  above  was  composed  for 
her  accoimts  perhaps  for  the  presence 
of  a  sentiment  or  two  which  give  a 
character  of  fragrant  innocence  to 
the  song.  The  innocence  of  child- 
hood may  have  suggested — "  Where 
no  thought  of  evil  e'er  our  hearts 
defiled,"  and  "  Love — bright  as  shone 
the  sunbeams." 

In  conclusion  I  give  a  new  trans- 
lation of  Ossian's  famous  Address  to 
the  Sun.,  the  original  of  which  is  very 
much  admired.  I  have  endeavoured 
to  follow  the  original  measure  and 
stanza  as  much  as  the  requirements 
of  an  English  version  will  allow.  A 
few  expressions  such  as  that  of  the 
last  line  are  obscure  or  doubtful  in 
the  original.  In  these  cases  obscurity 
in  the  translation  has  been  unavoid- 
able:— 

0  Thou  that  glidest  in  the  sky. 
Round  as  the  hero's  full  hard  shield, 
Thy  frownle&s  lustre,  whence  on  high? 
Sun,  whence  thy  ceaseless  Light  revealed? 
Thou  comest  in  thy  lovely  might ; 
The  stars  conceal  from  us  their  motion ; 
The  moon  pale  hies  from  heaven's  height. 
And  shrouds  her  in  the  western  ocean. 

*  §ince  the  above  was  fii'st  piiblisliecl,  Professor 
l^lackie's  excellent  translation  has  appeared, 


192 


THE  GAEL. 


June,  1876. 


Thou  in  thy  distance  art  alone ; 
Who  bold  may  dare  approach  thy  might ; 
With  ac;e,  cairn,  cliff,  are  overthrown ; 
With  age,  the  oak  falls  from  the  height. 

The  ocean  shakes  with  ebb  and  flow ; 
The  moon  is  lost  in  depth  of  night ; 
But,  victor,  thou  alone  dost  glow 
In  endless  joy  of  thine  own  light. 

When  tempests  darken  round  the  earth 
With  lightning  and  with   hoarse-voiced 

thunder; 
Fair  through  the  storm  thou  look'st  in 

mirth 
Upon  the  troubled  heavens  under. 

But  vain  to  me  are  thy  bright  rays, 
While  I  must  see  no  more  thy  glance 
Gold-tressed  that  turns  on  eastern  gaze 
Of  heaven's  cloudy  countenance, 
When  thou  art  trembling  in  the  west, 
Through  ocean's  dusky  doors  to  rest. 

But  like  myself,  thou  art  perchance,— 
Once   robed   with  weakness,    once   with 

strength ; 
In  circling  sky  our  years  advance 
Together  to  one  end  at  length ; 
Rejoice,  0  Sun,  while  thou  art  young ! 
Beglad,  thou  Prince,  while  thou  artstrong! 

Old  age  is  dark  and  void  of  mirth. 
Like  moon  faint  ere  her  horn  she  fills  ; 
While  looking  from  the  clouds  on  earth 
Where  hoary  mist  skirts  cairny  hills  ; 
The  north  blast  on  the  meadow  blows, 
The  slow  wayfarer  p]  aided  goes. 

THE  CHARACTER  OF  THE 
WESTERN  GAEL  AND  HIS 
PRIDE  OF  PEOPLE. 
Some  of  the  moderu  representa- 
tives of  the  earliest  inhabitants  of 
Europe  are  still  found  in  the  High- 
lands and  Western  Isles  of  Scot- 
land. As  far  as  language  is  con- 
cerned, the  people  there  are  yet,  and 
have  been  from  the  remotest  ages, 
Celtic ;  but  Teutonic  blood  to  no 
small  extent  mingles  wàth  the  Celtic 
in  their  veins.  The  Teutonic  ele- 
ment has  had  no  less  influence  on 
the  character  of  the  Gael  than  the 
Celtic  has  had  on  the  character  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon.  A  Germanic  element 
was  very  early  and  distinctly  intro- 


duced into  the  western  isles,  where 
it  was  not  altogether  uufelt  previ- 
ously. And  all  along  it  has  been 
coiitiaually  receiving  fresh  acces- 
sions. This  Germanic  element  com- 
ing from  the  vigorous,  brave,  and 
bold  countries  of  the  North — Nor- 
way and  Denmark  —  helped,  no 
doubt,  to  give  weight,  freshness,  and 
persevering  vitality  to  the  character 
of  the  West  Highlander,  and  to 
calm  down  the  ii-repressible  Celtic 
buoyancy  of  his  nature,  which  was 
too  easily  developed  and  nourished 
by  the  grand  scenes  and  romances 
of  the  country  in  which  he  found 
his  home.  Tliis  may  have  enabled 
the  Hebridean  Gael  to  exhibit  less 
exuberance  of  unreliable  patriotism 
than  has  at  times  charactised  his 
brother  Gael  in  Ireland. 

It  is  a  natural,  though  not,  per- 
haps, a  universal  curiosity,  that  a 
man  should  know  something  of  his 
ancestors.  The  consciousness  of  a 
long  and  no  mean  descent  is  highly 
elevating;  and  as  the  result  of  this, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  intellec- 
tual health  and  vigour,  where  the 
consciousness  is  cherished,  are  bet- 
ter preserved  in  the  process  of  trans- 
mission from  sire  to  son.  People, 
however,  are  met  with,  especially 
in  large  cities,  who  know  nothing  of 
their  ancestral  line  further  back 
than  their  own  immediate  parents — 
some  even  ignorant  of  this  itself; 
nor  do  such,  indeed,  appear  con- 
cerned to  look  further  back  into  the 
subject.  This,  of  course,  is  not  true 
of  the  offspring  of  distinguished  men. 
History  generall}'  preserves  the  me- 
mory of  a  line  of  fame.  Among 
the  Gaels  it  has  all  along  been  a 
special  feature  of  the  social  organi- 
sation of  the  tribes,  to  haad  down 
faithfully  the  lineage  of  each  famil}". 
This  has  developed  the  special  fea- 
ture of  the  Highland  character  known 
as  px'ide  of  people. 


Aisr 


G^A-IDHE^L. 


Men-  ghath  sohiis  do  m'  anamfein 

Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fhalhh. " — Oisean. 


V.  Leabh.]     TEEAS  MIOS  AN  T-SAMHRAIDH,  1876.         [55  Air. 


DEOCH  LAIDIR. 

Mu  Dhleas  Dhaoine  a  thaobh 
dibhe  laidir,  mar  a  tha  sin 
air  a  leigeil  ris  anns  a 
Bhiobull. 

Tha  daoine  deas  air  a  blii 
smuaineachadh  gun  robh  gacli  ni  ris 
an  abrar  Jion  's  a  Bhiobull  Ghaidh- 
ealach  comhionann  ris  an  fliion  areic- 
ear  am  Breiteann.  Ach  tha  facal 
no  dha  's  a  Bhiobull  Eabhrach,  a 
tha  air  an  eadartheangachadh  Jion; 
agus  chan  'eil  a  h-aon  diu  a  ciallach- 
adh  fion  goirt,  amhain.  Tha  am 
facal  cunianta  airson  fion  a  ciallach- 
adh  fion  mills,  ionann  ri  fion  goirt 
no  oibrichte.  Tha  so  soilleir  bho 
lob,  Caib,  XXX,  r.  19,  agus  Mata, 
Caib,  ix,  r.  17:  oir  's  e  'm  fion  mills 
amhain  a  dh'  atas ;  agus  uime  sin 
dh'  fhonadh  seann  searragan  airson 
fion  goirt.  Tha  am  facal  tiruis  a 
ciallach  toradh  na  fionain  gu  h- 
iomlan ;  agus  's  e  so  am  facal  a 
ghnathaichear  far  am  bheil  arbhar 
air  ainmeachadh,  mar  an  Genesis 
Caib.  xxvii,  r.  28,  agus  Deuteronomi, 
Caib.  xxviii,  r.  51,  a's  dearcan  fiona 
pairt  mhor  do  bhiadh  an  t-sluaigh, 
air  feadh  tir  Chanaain. 

Gabhaidh  fion  cumail  milis  air  tri 
doighibh^le  pronnasc,  le  dhunadh 
suas  bho  'n  àile,  agus  le  bhruicheadh 
gus  am  fas  e  tiugh.  Bha  na  h- 
ludhaich  eòlach  air  an  da  dhoigh 
mu  dheireadh.  An  am  na  càisge, 
bha  iad  gu  curamach  a  glanadh  as 
an  taighibh  gach  ni  goirtichte,  a  reir 


aithne  an  lagha,*  araon  deoch  a's 
aran  :  agus  's  e  fion  milis  a  bha  iad 
ag  ùl  aig  an  fheisd,  mar  a  tha  iad  a 
deanamh  gus  an  latha  'n  diugh.  Mur 
faidh  iad  fion  milis  air  dhoigh  eile, 
bogaidh  iad  fion  dhearcan  caoinichte 
an  uisge. 

Mar  so  chi  sinn  gur  e  fion  milis  a 
dh'  òl  ar  SLànuighear  agus  abstoil 
aig  an  t-suipeir  :  oir  cha  robh  fion 
goirt  ri  fhaighinn.  Agus  niiair  a 
smuainicheas  sinn  air  buwidhibh  an 
stutli  so,  agus  air  an  truaighe  a  thug 
deoch  laidir  air  milltibh  gun  aireamh, 
feumaidh  sinn  a  dhunadh  gun  do 
chruthaich  e  aig  Cana  fion  mar  a 
chruthaich  Freasdal  's  an  dearc,  agus 
chan  e  an  stuth  cronail  a  thig  a  fion 
le  bhi  'g  a  ghrodadh.  Dhuin  an 
Cruithfhear  suas  stuth  na  beirme 
am  meadhon  nam  fion  dhearc  ;  agus 
uime  sin  cha  tig  boinne  alcohol  asda 
mur  brughar  iad.  Chaidh  pòitear 
fiona  a  radh  ris  an  t-81anuighear  gun 
teagamh  :  ach  ghoirear  "  duine  geoc- 
ach"  dhe  leis  na  ceart  dhaoine; 
agus  tha  fios  againn  gum  bu  bhreug 
sin. 

Tha  am  fion  milis  car  coltach  ri 
brailis,  agus  ro  thaitneach  ri  òl. 
Cha  robh  am  fion  goirt  Ini  treise  a 
bh'aig  na  h-  ludhaich  idir  cho  laidir 
ri  Port  no  Madeira  :  oir  tha  branndi 
air  a  chur  annta.  Agus  a  bharr  air 
a  sin,  b'  e'n   seann  chleachd  a  fion 


*  Ecsodus,  Caib.  xiii,  7.  Tha  daoine 
iunnsaichte,  ludhaich  agus  Criosdaidhean 
maraon,  ag  radh  gur  e  's  ciall  do  'n  fhacal 
eadar-theangaichte  taois  ghort,  ni  air  bith 
oibrichte  le  beinn. 

13 


194 


AN   GAIDHEAL.         Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876 


goirt  a  mheasgadh  le  h-uisge  mus  an 
olar  e.  Bhatar  a  meas  gum  bn  choir 
da  thrian  de  'n  dibhe  a  bhi  'n  a  h- 
uisge.  A  thaobh  na  dibhe  ris  an 
abrar  "  deoch  laidir "  's  a  Bhiobull 
Ghaidhealach,  chan  'eil  ach  aon  fhac- 
al  's  an  Eabhra ;  agus  tha  daoine 
foghkiimte  ag  innseadh  gur  e  fion  na 
crann-pailme  is  ciall  da,  deoch  nach 
'eil  ni  's  treise  na  fion  na  fionain. 

Tha  an  aithne  so,  "  Na  dean  cron 
sam  bith  ort  fein,"  *  a  toirmeasg 
gach  ni  a  ni  coire  ;  agus  gun  teagamh 
's  ann  diu  sin  alcohol.  Tha  ciall 
nàduir  fhein  ag  innseadh  dhuinn  gum 
bheil  an  duine  a  tha  gu  fiosrachail  a 
giorrachadh  a  shaoghail  le  dibhe,  a 
cur  laimhe  'n  a  anam.  Agus  tha  'm 
Biobull  gu  comharraichte  a  bacadh 
fion  a  phòiteir,  "  Na  h-amhairc  thusa 
air  an  f  hion  an  uair  a  bhios  e  dearg, 
nuair  a  bheir  e  a  dhath  's  a  chupan,"  f 
"  Is  cealgach  an  ni  fion  ;  is  buaireas- 
ach  an  ni  deoch  laidir ;  agus  ge  b' 
e  neach  a  mhealltar  leo,  chan  'eil  e 
glic."|  "  Is  an-aoibhin  dhoibhsan  a 
dh'  eireas  gu  moch  's  a  mhaduinn,  a 
dhol  an  dèigh  dibhe  laidir,  a  bhuan- 
aicheas  gu  feasgar,  ionnus  gu  'n  cuir 
am  fion  teas  orra,"  "Is  truagh  dhoibh- 
san a  ta  laidir  a  dh'  òl  fiona,  agus 
'nan  daoinibh  neartmhor  a  mheasg- 
adh dibhe  laidir."  § 

Tha  a  chiad  earrann  diu  sin  atoirm- 
easg  sealltuinn  air  dibhe  a  phòiteir, 
agus  uime  sin  a  teagasg  dhuinn  fan- 
tainn  as  a  rathad.  Agus  nach  'eil 
an  t-aite  sin  a  toirmeasg  a  bhi  bias 
dibhe,  far  am  bheil  e  air  a  radh  nach 
sealbhaich  misgeir  rioghachd  Dhe?  || 
Nuair  tha  mhisg  air  a  bacadh,  tha 
gach  ni  air  a  thoirmeisg  a  bheir 
daoine  gu  bhi  'nam  misgeiribh ;  agus 
chan  'eil  ni  a's  cinntiche  a  ni  so  na 
bhi  'g  Ò1  dibhe.     Tha  earrainnean  's 


*  G-niomharan,  Caib.  xvi.,  v.  28. 
+  Giiath-f  hocail,  Caib.  xxiii.  v.  31. 
J  Gnatli-f  hocail,  Caib.  xx.,  v.  1. 
§  Isaiah,  Caib.  v.  11,  22. 
t  1  Corintianaich,  Caib.  \i.,  v.  9,  10 


a  Bhiobull  's  am  bheil  fion  air  a 
mholadh  ;  ach  's  e  toradli  fallain  na 
fionain,  agus  chan  e  fion  grod,  air  am 
bheil  iad  sin  a  luaidh. 

Tha  a  Phaidir  fhein  a  bacadh 
dibhe  laidir,  anns  a  ghuidhe  so  :  "  na 
leig  sin  ann  am  buaireadh."  Tha 
so  a  feuchainn  gur  coir  buairidhean 
a  sheachnadh ;  agus  tha  'm  fear  a 
dh'  òlas  deoch  laidir  'g  a  thilgeadh 
fhein  'n  am  meadhon. 

Tha  'm  Biobull  a  toirmeasg  do 
dhuine  dibhe  òl,  ged  nach  deanadh 
i  coire  dha  fhein,  agus  ged  a  bhith- 
eadh  e  cinnteach  nach  tigeadh  e  ri 
latha  gu  bhi  'n  a  mhisgeir :  "  Is 
maith  an  ni  gun  fheoil  itheadh,  no 
fion  òl,  no  ni  air  bith  a  dheanamh 
leis  am  faigh  do  bhrathair  tuisleadh 
no  oilbheum,  no  leis  an  deanar  lag 
e."  *  Nise  tha  e  ro  chinnteach  gum 
bheil  Moran  d'  ar  braithrilih  a 
faighinn  oilbheum  agus  tuislidh 
le  dibhe  laidir,  agus  gum  faigh 
moran  eile  oilbheum  leatha,  fhad  's 
a  leanas  daoine  air  a  bhi  'g  a  h-òl. 
'S  6  ar  dleasnas,  uime  sin,  a  seachn- 
adh  airson  so  amhain,  a  bharr  air 
aobharaibh  eile. 

Tha  am  Biobull  a  feuchainn  gum 
bheil  deoch  laidir  a  lagachadh  sluaigh 
araon  an  corp  's  an  inntinn ;  oir 
bhacar  i  do  mhathair  Shamsoin,  a 
bha  gu  bhi  'n  a  dhuine  laidir,*  agus 
bha  i  air  a  toirmeasg  do  na  sagart- 
aibh,  an  am  an  dleasnais.f  Os  barr 
tha  an  Ti  Mhath  Uile-leirsinneach  a 
feuchainn  gur  droch  ni  pòit ;  oir 
bheannaich  e  na  Pechabaich,acheann 
gun  do  sheachainn  iad  i  gu  tur,  a 
reir  aithne  am  priomhathar.  %  Na 
saoil  gun  d'  thainigam  beannachadh 
ach  airson  deagh  aithne  a  choilion- 
adh ;  oir  cha  tigeadh  beannachd 
Dhè  air  sgàth  aithne  aingidh  no 
leibidich.  P.  MacGriogair. 


J  Romanaich,  Caib.  xiv.,  v.  21. 
§  Breitheamhna,  Caib.  xiii.,  v.  1  gu 
t  Lebhiticus,  Caib.  x.,  v.  1  gu  11. 
J  Jeremiah,  Caib.  xxxv. 


Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876.        AN   GAIDHEAL,  195 


EAINX  DO  NEOINEIN. 

Tha  thus'  an  sin  a  neoinein  bliig  a'n  cùil  leat  fein, 

Us  fiamh  a'  ghcàir  air  d'aghaidh  mliin  ri  blaths  na  grèin  ; 

A'  deanamh  gàirdeacliais  ri  lòchran  àrd  nan  spèur, 

'Tha  'g  àrach  siias  do  fhreumhan  maoth'  gu  baigheil  seimh. 

Ach  c'àit  an  robh  thu  'n  uair  'bha  gruaim  air  uchd  nan  spèur, 
'S  an  geamhradh  fuar  le  'fhrasan  garbh  a'  searg  do  glmèth, 
'S  a'  lomadh  sios  gach  duileig'  guinn'  'bha  'fas  air  crann, 
'S  gach  luidhe  maoth  le  doinioun  searbh  a'  falbh  'n  an  deann  Ì 

Thug  reòtachd  fhuar  air  falbh  do  ghruag,  do  shnuadh,  's  do  dhreach 
Us  shhigh  on  talamh  sios  'n  a  bhalg  do  dhealbh  a  steach ; 
Us  cheil  a'  ghrian  a  sgiathan  blath  a  bàigh  's  a  feart, 
'Bha  'g  iirachadh  do  chruth  gach  la'gu  fàilteach,  ait. 

Ach  bha  do  bheath'  a'n  dion  bho'n  fhuachd  a'n  cuaich  gun  bheud, 
'S  do  chuislean  faoin  'gan  altrum  suas  gun  fhios  dhuit  fein, 
Le  diomhaireachd  nach  faca  sùil,  's  nach  aithris  bèul, 
'Tha  'toirt  a  nàdair  do  gach  ni  areir  am  feum. 

Ach  tha  thu  nis  air  teachd  as  iir  bho'n  ghrunnd  air  ais, 
Le  d'  churrachd  bileach,  pleatach,  dllith,  gu  h-urar  glas, 
'S  cha'n  aithnichear  ort  gu'n  robh  thu  duint'  a'n  ciiil  fo  ghlais, 
'N  leabaidh  thosdaich  anns  an  fhonn  re  cam  na  h-airc. 

Tha  nis  an  drihchd  le  ceuman  ciiiin  re  am  na  h-oidhch', 
Ag  uisgeachadh  do  bhilean  maoth'  le  braonaibh  soills', 
Mar  shradan  boilsgeach  feadh  do  ghruaig'  'is  uaisle  dreach, 
'S  do  cheann  a'  lùbadh  sios  gu  làr  aig  lain'  do  bhrat. 

Ach  togaidh  'ghrian  gu  moch  a  ceann  air  gual  an  t-sleibh', 
Us  sinidh  i  a  sgiathan  blath  a  nuas  bho  neamh, 
Us  tiormaichidh  i  suas  do  ghnuis  's  do  dheoir  ma  seach. 
Us  sgaoilidh  tu  do  chuailean  fann  gu  greannmhor,  ait. 

Thig  eòin  nan  geug'  gu  moch  a  sheinn  dhuit  iomadh  fonn, 
Itealaich  a  null's  a  nail  mu'n  cuairt  do'n  tom, 
A'  criomadh  bharr  gach  feòrnein  gorm  's  ag  òl  dheth'n  ceann, 
Gu  sòlasach  air  bharr  nan  slat  a'  seinn  dhuit  rann. 

Bha  mis'  uair  a  bhithinn  fein  gu  trie  a'd'chòir, 
A'  dol  mu'n  cuairt  am  measg  nam  preas  gun  dragh  gun  ghò, 
A  null  's  a  nail  air  feadh  nam  bruach  's  a'  buain  nan  ros, 
Bhiodh  tus'  an  sin  's  an  t-orach  bhan  an  sas  'n  a  m'  dhorn. 

Ach  thriall  na  làithean  sin  air  falbh  mar  shruth  le  gleann, 
'S  tha  grian  ar  'n  òige  'cromadh  sios  air  chùl  nam  beann  ; 


196 


AN    GAIDHEAL.         Treas  MIos  an  t-Samhraldh, 


Tha  aois  us  leòn,  us  bròn,  a'  ruith  'n  an  deann, 

'S  gacli  lath'  us  uair  a'  glaodh  'n  ar  cluais  gu'n  tig  an  t-càra. 

Tha  geamhradh  gnùth  le  iomadh  dùlachd  a'  tigh'nn  òirnn, 
'S  a'  cur  gu  taobh  gach  solas  faoin  'bha  againn  òg  ; 
Ach  ged  'theid  thusa  sios  do'n  uaigh  cha  chrion  do  bheò, 
Ged  shearg  do  ghruaidh  bheir  earrach  nuadh  air  ais  do  ghlòir, 

Ach  aon  uair  's  gu'n  tèid  mise  sios  gu'crich  mo  lò, 

Cha'n  ùraich  driùchd,  cha  bhlàthaich  grian,  cha  mhaothaich  deòir, 

Cha  chluinn  mi  ceòl  air  feadh  na  coili  no  guth  an  eòin, 

Ach  diùnte  'n  glasan  teann  a'  bhàis  an  talla  'n  f  hòid. 

'N  uair  'theid  mo  chrè-se  'leagadh  sios  's  a'  chadal  throm, 
'N  sin  èirich  thus'  us  sgaoil  do  bhrat  mu'n  cuairt  do  m'  thorn, 
Biodli  drihchd  us  grian  le  sgiathan  blath  an  taic  do  chòm, 
'S  biodh  eòin  us  clann  mu  d'  thulaoh  cùrr'  a'  togail  f honn. 

N.  MacLeoid. 


COMHRADH 

EADAR  MURACDADH  BAN  AGUS 
COINNEACH  CIOBAIR. 

MuR. — "  Ceud  mile  failt  air  Fear 
a'  Ghoirtein  Fhraoich  !  Bha  mi  dir- 
each  a'  smuaineachadh  ort,  agus  ag 
radh  ri  m'  a'  mhnaoi  gu'n  do  thilg 
Coinneach  Ciobair  clach  oirnne." 

Coin.— "Ma  thilg,  a  Mhurach- 
aidh,  bithidh  a'chlach  sin  cosmhuil 
ri  cronachadh  an  fhirein,  oir  cha 
bhris  i  do  cheann." 

M. — "  Tha  mi  'creidsinn  nach 
bris,  agus  cha  bhiodh  duil  agam 
gu'm  briseadh.  Ach,  a  charaid, 
tilg  dhiot  an  cota-mor  sin,  oir  tha  e 
mu's  trom  r'a  ghiulan  leis  an  aimsir 
bhlath  so." 

C.  — "  Nach  cual  thu  riamh,  a 
ghraidh  nam  fear,  an  sean-f hacal  a 
deir  : — 

Cha  truimeid  a'  chaor  a  falluing, 
Cha  truimeid  an  t-each  an  t-srian, 
Cha  trr.imeid  an  loch  an  lach, 
'S  cha  truimeid  a'  choluinn  ciall  ?" 

M. — "  Tha  thu  geur-chainnteach 
an  diugh,  a  Choinnich,  ach  dean 
suidh,  agus  faigheamaid  do  naigh- 
eachd." 


C. — "Is  maith  an  naigheachd  a 
bhi  gun  naigheachd  idir  ;  ach,  cha'n 
ann  a  chur  ca«g  air  do  chainnt,  ciod 
an  leabhar  boidheach  a  th'  agad  ann 
sin,  a  Mhurachaidh?  Is  maiseach 
a  cheangladh  e  gu'n  teagamh.  Is 
geal  gach  nobha,  gu  ruig  snothach 
an  fhearna." 

M. — "  Ma  ta,  a  Choinnich,  tha 
leabhar  agam  ann  so  a  fhuair  Seon- 
aid  bheag  mar  dhuais-foghluim  's  an 
sgoil,  eadhon  bardachd  Eoibeirt 
Burns,  agus  cha  dheanadh  tusa 
sgillinn  dlieth,  a  thaobh  canain  nan 
Dubh-Gliall  anns  am  bheil  e  air  a 
chur  a  mach.  Bha  mi  di reach  a 
leughadh  an  duain  aig  Burns  mu 
Thomi  a'  Shanter,  agus  is  miorbhuil- 
each  a  chuireadh  r'a  cheile  i.  Is 
gasda  a  chordas  i  riutsa,  a  Choinn- 
ich, do  bhrigh  gu'm  bheil  i  a'  toirt 
iomraidh  air  do  chairdibh  na  buid- 
sichean  agus  na  sithichean." 

C. — "  Nach  toir  thu  dhomh  's  a' 
Ghaelig  e,  a  Mhurachaidh,  oir  bu 
cheart  co  maith  dhuit  athoirt  dhomh- 
sa  'sa  Ghreugais,  ri  thoirt  dhomh 
'sa  chainnt  neonaich  sin." 

M.^ — "  Ni  mise  mo  dhichioll,  ma 
ta,  a  Choinnich,  agus  cha  mhor  nach 


Treas  Mios  an  t-8amhraidh,  1876.        AN    GAIDHEAL. 


197 


biodli  e  CO  furasd  teadliair  a  dhean- 
amh  as  na  sligibh-bairiieach,  ris  an 
duan  sin  eadar  theangachadh,  acli 
bheir  mise  deucliainn  dha,  agus 
cha'n  iarrar  air  duine  dona  ach  a 
dliichioll.  Eisd,  ma  ta  ris  an  duan 
aig. 

TOMI  a'  SHANTER. 

"  An  uair  a  dbunar  na  buthan, 
agus  a  dli'  fhagas  ballaich  nan  ceann- 
aicbean  na  sraidean ;  an  uair  a 
chomhlaicheas  coimliearsnaich  pòit- 
chiocrach  a'  cheile ;  an  uair  a 
chromas  an  t-anmocli  air  laithibh- 
feille,  agus  a  tlioisicbeas  muinntir 
air  an  t-sligbe  a  ghabhail  dachaidh  ; 
an  uair  a  ta  sinn  'nar  suidii  ag  ol  ar 
druthaig,  agus  a'  fas  blatli  agus 
anabarrach  soganach,  cha'n  'eil  aon 
smuain  'n  ar  cridhe  mu  na  mithibh 
fada  Albannach,  no  mu  gach  cathar 
agus  slochd,  gach  stuadh  agus  stac, 
a  ta  eadar  sinn  agus  ar  dachaidh, 
far  am  bheil  ar  cailleachan  gu  dur, 
dranndanach  'nan  suidh  ann  am 
feirg,  agus  a'  teannachadh  an 
cnuaichdean  mar  anradh  a'  fas  ann 
an  gairge,  ag  altrum  an  corruich 
chum  a  chumail  dian. 

Fhuair  Tomi  a'  Slianter,  an  duine 
coir,  an  f  hirinn  so  a  mach  'n  am  da 
a  bhi  'marcachd  air  oidhche  araidh 
cà  lonarAir,  (seann  Air,  baile  air 
nach  d'  thugadh  barrachd  riamh  a 
thaobh  a  chuid  daoine  ionraic,  agus 
a  chuid  oighean  maiseach  !) 

O  Thomi,  gu'n  robh  thu  co  glic 
agus  comhairle  Ceite  do  bhean  fein 
a  ghabhail !  Leig  i  ris  duit  gu'n 
mhe;Trachd  nach  robh  annad  ach 
trusdar  salach  gu'n  diu, — gleosgair 
bruidhneach,  goileamach,  misgeach  ; 
— nach  robh  thu  fein  aon  la  feille  o 
gheamhradh  gu  foghair  measorra  no 
stolda  !  Cha  do  chuir  am  muillear 
lamh  air  molltair,  nach  do  shuidh 
thu  maille  ris  f  had  'sa  bha  sgillinn 
ruadh  na  d'  sporran.  Cha  do  chair- 
eadh  crudh  air  gearran  gn'n  daoraich 


a  bhi  maraon  air  a'  ghobha  agus  ort 
fein.  Air  an  t'Sabaid  Naoinih,  agus 
am  fochair  na  h-eaglaise,  bu  ghnath 
leat  a  bhi  'g  ol  maille  ri  Sine  a' 
Chlachain  gu  moch  Diluain  !  Uime 
sin,  chuir  i  air  mhanadh  gu'm  biodh 
tu  air  t-fhaotuinn  air  do  bhathadh 
luath  no  mall,  ann  an  sruthaibh 
domhain  na  h-aibhne  Doon,  no  air 
do  ghlacadh  anns  an  duibhre  leis  na 
sithichibh  am  fagus  do  sheann  eaglais 
thathaichte  Allobhaidh  ! 

Och  !  a  mhnathan  suairce  !  bheir 
e  sileadh  nan  deur  orm  a  bhi 
srauaineachadh  cia  lion  comhairle 
thaitneach,  agus  cia  h-iomadh  rabh- 
adh  seasmhach  a  thugadh  le  mo 
mhnaoi,  ach  air  an  d'rinneadh  tair 
leamsa  a  companach  ! 

Ach  chum  ar  sgeoil. — Air  feasgair 
araidh  feille,  bha  Tomi  gu  stòlta 
'na  shuidh  ri  taobh  na  cagailte  far 
an  robh  gealbhan-teine  a'  bras- 
lasadh,  agus  maille  ris  bha  poitearan 
druaiheach,  a  bha  'gol  gu  cothromach 
gloin'  air  ghloine.  Aig  uilinn  Thomi 
bha  Seocan-Greasuiche  na  shuidh 
air  caithir,  mar  an  seann  fhear-ruin 
dileas,  iotmhor  aige  fein.  Ghradh- 
aich  Tomi  e  mar  fhior  bhrathair 
caidreach,  air  doibh  a  bhi  cuideachd 
re  iomadh  seachdain  fo'n  daoirich. 
Bhras-shiubhail  an  oidche  le  h-oran- 
aibh  agus  gleadhraich  gu'n  choimeas, 
— agus  bha  an  leann  a'  sir  dhol  am 
feabhas !  Bha  a'  bhean-osda  agus 
Tomi  a'  fas  ro  shuairce  r'a  cheile  le 
comanaibh  uaigneach  agus  fior- 
thaitneach.  Dh'  aithris  Seocan- 
Griasaiche  gach  sgeul  a  b'  iongant- 
aiche  na  cheile,  agus  bha  gaire  mor 
an  fhir-osda  mar  chomh-sheirm  do'n 
dluth-chomhradh  !  Seideadh  an 
doinionn  o'n  taobh  a  mach  le  buraich 
eagallaich,  ach  cha  bu  mho  air  Tom' 
an  doinionn  'as  fead  ! 

lomaguin !  air  di  a  bhi  air  bhoi 
le  bhi  'faicinn  neach  co  sona,  chaidh 
i  agus  bhath  i  i  fein  anns  na  tuiltibh 
leanna  !     Mar  a  ghreasas  na  seillea- 


198 


AN    GAIDHEAL.         Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876 


nan  dhachaidh  le  luchdaibh  storais, 
mar  sin  theich  na  mionaidean  mar 
air  sgiathaibh  le  toilinntinn.  Feiid- 
aidh  righrean  a  bhi  air  am  beannach- 
adh,  ach  bha  Tomi  moralach,  air  da 
buaidli  a  thoirt  air  uile  thruaighibh 
na  beatlia  a  ta  lathair ! 

Ach  tha  toiliiintinnean  mar  chrom- 
lusan  air  an  sgaoileadh  a  mach.  Ni 
thu  greim  air  a  ghucaig,  ach  tha  am 
blatli  air  a  sgapadh  !  Air  neo  direach 
cosmhuil  ri  cloinneagaibh  sneachda 
a'  tniteam  air  an  uisge  ;  tha  iad  geal 
re  sealain,  ach  air  ball  leaghaidh  iad 
as  an  t-sealladh,  agus  cha'n  fhaicear 
iad  tuilleadh  ni's  mo  ; — air  neo 
cosmhuil  ris  na  firchlis  a  ghrad- 
theicheas  air  falbh  mu'n  comharraich 
sibh  a  mach  an  t-ionad  anns  an  robh 
iad ; — air  neo  cosmhuil  ri  dealbh 
maiseach  a'  bhogha-f  hroisa  shiubhlas 
air  falbh  ann  am  meadhon  an  ànraidh. 
Cha  bheo  e  a  chuireas  cuibhreach 
aon  chuid  air  nine  no  air  seol-mara. 
Ach  tha'n  uair  air  teachd  anns  an 
feum  Tomi  del  air  mu'n  eich, — an 
uair  sin  a  ta  mar  chlach-ghlasaidh 
do  dhruim-bhogha  dhoilleir  na  h- 
oidhche, — anns  a'  cheart  uair  thiamh- 
aidh  sin  leum  e  air  druim  a  chapuill 
fein, — agus  ann  an  leithid  de  dh' 
oidhche  's  air  an  do  ghabh  e  an  t- 
slighe,  cha  deachaidh  peacach  bochd, 
truagh  riamh  a  mach  ! 

Sheid  a'  ghaoth  marnach  seideadh 
i  tuilleadh  !  Dh'  eirich  na  frasa 
torghanach  air  sgiathaibh  na  sine  ! 
Shluig  an  tiugh-dhorchadas  suas  na 
grad-bhoisgean  teine  'sna  speuraibh; 
agus  bha'n  tairneanach  a'  buirich  le 
langanaich  aird,  f  had,  agus  f  huaimn- 
each !  Dh'  fheudadh  leanabh  a 
thuigsinn  air  an  oidhche  sin,  gu'n 
robh  gnothuch  aig  an  Droch-Fhear 
OS  laimh  ! 

Air  do  Thomi  a  bhi  gu  daingean 
na  shuidh  'san  dioUaid  air  muin 
Maggai  a'  chapuill  glhas  fein, 
— agus  capull  ni  b'  fhearr  cha  do 
thog  riamh   cas, — ghrad   ghluais  e 


air  adhairt  roimh  chlabar  agus 
lathaich,  gun  suim  sam  bith  do'n 
ghaoith,  do'n  uisge,  na  do'n  teine, — 
an  traths'  a'  deanamh  grein  air  a 
dheagli  bhonait  ghuirm  fein,  agus  a 
ris  gu  crònach  a'  seinn  seann  dhuan- 
aig  Alba.maich.  A  ris,  bhiodh 
a  shuilean  a'  sgeannnadh  'na  cheann, 
a'  sealltuinn  gu  curamach  mu'n 
cuoirt  da,  air  eagal  gu'n  dianadh  na 
bocain  greim  air  Bha  Eaglais  Allobh- 
aidh  a'  tarruing  am  fagus,  far  an 
robh  taibhsean  agus  cailleachan- 
oidhche  a'  sgreadail's  an  dorchadas  ! 

Fhuair  e  nis  a  null  thar  an  àthan 
far  an  do  mhàchadh  an  ceannaiche 
'san  t-sneachda.  Chaidh  e  seachad 
air  na  craobhaibh  beithe,  agus  air  a' 
chloich  mhoir  far  an  do  bhris  Tear- 
lach  misgeach  cnaimh  na  h-amhaich 
aige  fein,  agus  chaidh  e  troimh  'n 
chonasg,  agus  seachad  air  a'  charn 
far  an  d'  fhuair  na  sealgairean  an 
leanabh  a  mhortadh,  agus  am  fagus 
do'n  droighnich  os  ceann  an  tobair, 
far  an  do  chroch  mathair  Mhungo  i 
fein.  Air  thoiseach  air  tha  Doon, 
a'  taomadh  a  tuiltean  a  mach, — tha'n 
doinionn  bhuaireasach  a'  beucaich 
troimh  na  coilltean,  agus  tha  na 
dealanaich  a'  clis-bhoisgeadh  o  dheas 
gu  tuath !  Ni's  faigse  agus  ni's  faigse 
tha  na  tairneanaich  a'  buirich;  agus 
gu  fann  troimh  na  craobhan  acain- 
each  chithear  Eaglais  Allobhaidh 
gu  lasarrach  mar  gu'm  biodh  i  'na 
teine!  Bha  na  sailean  aice  a'  gliosg- 
adh  troimh  gach  fosgladh,  agus 
chualas  'san  am  gleadhraich  sugraidh 
agus  dannsa  a'  fuaimeadh  gu  mor! 

Och  !  lain-a'-Ghrainein-Eorna ! 
thusa  a  dheachdas  gu  dan!  Ciod 
na  cunnartan  a  bheir  thu  oirnn, 
ach  cnnnartan  a  chuir  sinn  air  dim- 
eas!  Cha'n  'eil  eagal  uile  air  bith 
oirnne  le  deoch  an  da  sgillinn  ach  le 
"  Mac  na  bracha "  bheir  sinn  an 
aghaidh  air  an  Droch-fhear  fein! 
Bha  na  boinnean-dibhe  a'  cur  a 
leithid   de   bhuaireas   ann   an  eau- 


reas  Mios  an  t-Samhraìdh,  1S76.         AX   GATDHEAL. 


199 


cliainn  Thomi,  air  chor  's  le  ceartas 
fliaotuiau,  nach  biodh  an  curam  ni's 
lugli'  air  raimh  na  deamhain  fein! 
Ach  sheas  Maggai,  air  a  bualadh  le 
li-eagal,  gus  an  do  smachdaicheadh  i 
le  sail  a's  laimh;  dliuraig  i  an  sin 
dol  gu  mall  air  a  h-aghaidh  cliuni  an 
t-soluis.  AgusOlFeuch!  chiinuaic 
Tomie  sealladli  miorbhaileacli ' 
Ciuinnaic  e  sithicliean  agus  buids- 
ichean  a'  dian-chur  ris  an  dannsa! 
Clia  b'e  leumartaich  chiuin,  reidli,  a 
nail  as  an  Fhraing  a  bha'n  sin,  ach 
cascheuman  ealamh, — grad-stapan 
gearra,  —  srath  -  speidhean,  agus 
ruidhlean  cridheil,  leis  an  do  chuir- 
eadh  beothalas  agus  smioralachd 
'nan  sailtibh  gu  leirl  Air  an  taobh- 
near  bha  dall-uinneag  dhorch,  far 
an  romli  an  t-Aibhistear  mor  fein 
'na  sluiidh  ann  an  riochd  beathaich 
fiadhaich.  Bha  e  'na  gharrach 
dudach,  dubh,  gruamaeh,  agus  mor. 
B'e  a'  ghnothuch-san,  aig  an  am,  a 
'shi  '  seinn  ciuil  dhoibh.  Uime  sin, 
iheann-ghleus  e  a'  phiob,  agus  thug 
is  gread  aisde  a  chuir  mullach  agus 
tailthean  an  tighe  air  chrith! 

Bha  cisteachan-laide  'nan  seasamh 
ceitlur-thimchioU  mar  phris  no  corn- 
chlaran  fosgailte,  a  bha  nochdadh 
nam  marbh  'nan  eididhibh  deireann- 
ach;  agus  le  druidheachd  no  le  cleas- 
labh  deamlianach  eigin,  bha  solus 
aiiste  ann  an  laimh  f  huair  gach  aoin 
diubh,  trid  an  d'  thugadh  comas 
do'n  treun-fhear  Tomi,  beachd  a 
ghabhail  dhe'n  bhord  naomh,  air  an 
robh  'nan  laidhe  cnamhan  mortair 
ann  an  iaruinnibh  na  croiche, — lean- 
abana  beaga  gu'n  bhaisteadh, — da- 
reis  air  fad, — meirleach  air  ur- 
ghearradh  o'n  taod,  leis  na  h-ospag- 
aibh  deireannach  aige  fathast  air  an 
dealbhadh  air  spleuchd  a'  ehraoise, 
— cuig  tuaighean-catha  le  dearg- 
mheirg  na  fola  thairis  oiTa,  —  cuig 
crom-chlaidhean  carrach  le  mortadh, 
— gluinean  leis  an  do  thachdadh 
naoidhean,  —  sgian    a    bheubanaich 


sgornan  athar  a  chuireadh  gu  bas  le 
'  mhac  fein,  agus  chithear  na  duala 
!  Hatha  aige  fathast  glaoidhte  air  cois 
i  na  sgeine,— agus  moran  de  nithibh 
j  oillteil  agus  eagalach  eile,  nach 
'  biodh  e  laghail  iiu  an  ainmeach- 
^adh! 

I  An  uair  a  bha  Tomi  a'  sgeannadh 
a  shiii'lean,  Ian  uabhainn  agus  iong- 
I  antais,  dh'  f  has  an  aighear  agus  a' 
I  mhire  grad  agus  gleadhrach. 
Sheid  am  piobair  suas  na  bu  labhra, 
agus  na  bu  labhra,  agus  chaidh  an 
luchd-dannsaidli'nandeannaibh.gach 
mionaid  na's  luaith'  agus  na's  luaith'. 
Euidhil  iad,  shuidhich  iad,  chroisg 
iad,  agus  chaidh  iad  an  sas  'na 
cheile,  gus  an  robh  smuid  fallais  air 
gach  seanu  chaillich  a  bha  lathair ! 
Mu  dheireadh,  thilg  iad  dhiubh  an 
luideagan,  agus  bhuan-sheas  iad  ri'n 
obair  'nan  leintibh ! 

A  nis,  a  Thomi,  0  Thomi!  na'm 
b'  oighean  iad  sud,  agus  gach  aou 
diubh  sultmhor  agus  maiseach  'nan 
oige,  le'n  leintibh  air  an  deanamh, 
cha'u  ann  dhe'n  phlaide  slialaich 
bhain,  ach  dhe'n  t-seachd  ceud  deug 
anart,  geal  mar  an  sneachd — ciod 
a  theireadh  tu  riutha  sin  Ì 

Faic  a'  bhriogais  so,  an  t-aon 
phaidhir  a  ta  agam,  a  bha  aon  uair 
na  h-eudach  giobagach  a  rinneadh 
dhe'n  deagh  roinne  a's  guirme, — 
thiiginn-sa  i  bharr  mo  leasraidh  air 
ball  air  son  aon  sheallaidh  de  na 
creutairibh  laoghach  sin! 

Ach  an  aite  sin,  bha  bansgalan 
seargta,  aosda,  agus  baoth,  le  lurg- 
anuaibh  tana,  cuagach,  a  chuireadh. 
searrach  air  dhiol,  a  leumartaich 
agus  a'  gearradh  shurdag,  air  druim 
seana  mhairt !  Och!  bu  leoir  e 
chum  deistinn  a  chur  orm,  agus 
chum  mo  dheanamh  tinn ! 

Ach  bha  deagh  fhios  aig  Tomi 
jair  aon  rud  agus  rud  eile,  agus  bha 
!  aon  chaile  dhreachail,  chiatach  'san 
ruidhtearachd  air  an  oidhche  sin,  (aig 
an  robh  eolas  fad  an  deigh  sin  air 


200 


AN    GAIDHEAL.         Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1S76. 


tir  Charric,  oir  is  lionmhor  ainmhidh 
a  bhuail  i  gu  bas,  agus  is  iomadh 
deagh  bhàt  a  cliuir  i  a  dhith,  agus 
chrath  i  moran  coirc  agus  eorna  aims 
gach  ait,  aguS  chum  i  taobh  na  duth- 
cha  air  fad  fo  gheilt).  Bha'n  leine 
cliutach  aice  de  gharbh  lion-anart 
Phaislidh,  a  bha  i  a'  caitheadh  an 
uair  a  bha  i  'ua  caileig.  Ann  am 
fad  bha'n  leine  ro  ghann,  ach  is  i  a 
b'  fhearr  a  bh'  aice,  agus  bha  i  bos- 
dail!  Ach,  och!  is  beag  bha  fios 
aig  do  sheanmhathair  chrabhaich, 
gu'm  biodh  an  leine  sin  a  sholair  i 
air  son  a  h-Annaige  bige  fein,  le  da 
phiinnd  Albannach  (a  saibhreas  gu 
leir)  a'  cur  urraim  a'  chaoidh  air 
dannsa  nam  ban-bhuitseach ! 

Ach  a  nis  feumaidh  mo  cheolraidh 
an  sgiathan  fein  a  bhearradh,  oir 
tha  itealachadh  dhe'n  ghne  so  fad 
OS  ceann  an  cumhachd  !  Co  a 
cheinneadh  mar  a  bha  Annag  a' 
slisg  'sa  leumadh,  (oir  bha  i  'na 
baoibh  thapaidh,  a  bha  subailt  agus 
treun)  agus  mar  a  sheas  Tomi  mar 
neach  airan  d'  rinneadhdruidheachd, 
agus  mar  shaoil  e  gu'n  robh  a  shuil- 
ean  a'  sealbhachadh  thiodhlacan 
araidh  !  Spleuchi  eadhon  Satan 
fein  agus  rinn  e  iomairt  le  Ian-toil, 
a'  cas-charrachadh,  agus  a'  seideadh 
suas  na  piob  leis  gach  cumhachd 
agus  innleachd  'na  chomas.  Ach 
mu  dheireadh  le  aon  surdaig,  agus 
a  ris  le  surdaig  eile,  chaill  Tomi  a 
thoinisg  gu  buileach,  ag  eigheach  a 
a  mach,  "  Eo  nihaith,  Ro  mhaith,  a 
Leine  Chutaich  !  " — agus  ann  am 
priobadh  na  sula  bha  gach  ni  dorch  ! 
Agus  is  gann  a  f  huair  e  Maggai  air 
a  ceartachadh,  an  uair  a  bhruchd  a' 
bhuidheann  ifrinneach  a  mach  le 
dian-chabhaig ! 

Ceart  mar  a  bhriseas  na  seilleanan 
a  mach  'nan  sgaoth,  a'  srannail  le 
feirge  dhein,  an  uair  a  bhios  buach- 
aillean  gadach  a'  toirt  ionnsuidh  air 
an  sgeapaibh  ; — ceart  mar  a  theich- 
eas   a'    mhaigeach  bho  a  naimhdean 


sgriosach,  an  uair  a  chluinneas  i 
Sgailc  a'  ghunna — seadh.  Sgailc  ! 
Sgailc  ! — agus  a  chlis-leumas  i  roimli 
an  sroin  air  falbh  ; — ceart  mar  a 
dhian-ruitheas  an  domhladas  sluaigh 
air  an  aghaidh  air  la  feille,  an  uair  a 
ghlaodhar  a'm  fad  'sam  farsuing, 
"  Glac  am  meirleach,"' — ceart  mar 
sin  bheir  "  Maggai "  a  casan  as, 
air  do  na  buitsichean  a  bhi  a'n  toir 
oirre,  le  iomadh  sgreach  cianail 
agus  eagallach ! 

Och !  a  Thomi !  mo  chreach,  a 
Thomi  !  gheibh  thusa  do  dhuais, 
Roistidh  iad  thu  'san  Droch-aite  mar 
sgadan  !  Is  ann  gu  diomhain  tha 
do  Cheit  a'  fantuinn  rid'  theachd  ! 
A  nis,  a  Mhaggai,  dean  gu  h-ealamh 
na's  urrainn  thu,  agus  ruig  Clach- 
ghlasaidh  na  drochaid.  Ann  sin, 
feudaidh  tu  t-earball  a  chrathadh  riu 
gu  leir.  Cha'n  'eil  a'  chridhe  aca 
dol  thoiris  air  sruth  is  e  'na  ruith, 
Ach  mu'n  d'rinn  i  mach  a'  chlach- 
iucharach,  feuch  !  an  truaigh  earball 
a  bh'aice  gu  'chrathadh  !  Oir  bha 
Annag  fad  air  thoiseach  air  each, 
agus  rinn  i  suas  gu  dluth  ri  Maggai 
threin,  agus  thug  i  ionnsuidh  air 
Tomi  le  cuimse  fhiadhaich  !  Ach 
is  beag  a  bha  dh'  fhios  aice  air 
smioralas  Maggai,  a  theasairg  a 
maiglistir  gu  tearuinte  le  aon  leum, 
ach,  dh'  f  hag  i  'na  deigh  a  h-earball 
glas  fein !  Ghlac  a'  chailleach  i 
air  an  rumpall,  agus  dh'  f  hag  i  aig 
Maggai  air  eigin  am  bun  ! 

A  nis,  g'e  b'e  co  a  leughas  an 
sgeul  firin neach  so,  thugadh  gach 
duine  agus  gach  mac  mathar  an  aire  ! 
Cuin  air  bith  is  miann  leat  dol  a  dh' 
ol,  no  a  ruitheas  Leintean-Cutach 
'nad  inntinn,  smuainich  gu'm  tend 
thu  solasan  a  cheannachadh  tuill- 
eadh's  daor,  agns  cuimhnich  air 
capuU  Thomi  a'  bhanter  !  " 

Coix.-"Ubh!  Ubh  !  a  Mhur- 
achaidh,  cha  chual  mi  a'  leithid 
riamh.     Ciamar  a  chaidh  agad  air, 


Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876.         AN   GAIDHEAL, 


201 


oir  tlia  a'  Ghaelig  sin  co  cruaidh, 
cruinu,  geur  ris  na  sligibh  bair- 
iieach  fein,  agus  an  deigh  sin  tha  i 
so-tliuigsinn  ? " 

Mufi. — "  Cruaidh  no  bog,  feuin- 
aidh  feiun  geill  a  thoirt  do  gliairm 
Bean-aii-tighe,  oir  tha'n  t-suipeir 
deas  o  cheann  fada,  agus  tha  fios 
agad  gu'm  feum  gach  beo  a  blieath- 
achadh.  Uime  sin,  thugamtud  an 
seomar  oirnn,  agus  feudaidh  e  bhi 
iiu'n  an  deigh  na  suipeir,  ged  bu 
bhardachd  Oisein  a  thigeadh  an 
uachdar. 

Alasdair  Ruadh. 


BLAIR  NA  BEATHA. 
Rixx  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 

'Nuair  a  chuaF  sinn  a'  ghairm 
Aig  Ramesis  na  Torruinn 
A  dhùisg  sinn  gu  airm  ! 
Bha  spealgadh  is  lotadh 
Is  sgaineadh  o  cheil' 
Measg  steudairean  gailbheach 
"Sa'  chonfhadh  a  ghèill ! 

:is  :  O'n  bha  buaidh  ann  an  grks  ! 

Agus  Dia  air  ar  taobh 

A'  toirt  misnich  do'n  mheatfhear 

'S  a'  casg  nam  fear  saobh  ; 

A' cur  lùis  anns  an  lag 

'S  e  'gan  stiùradh  gu  caomh 

Troimh  na  gkbhaidhean  dearg 

Tha  mu  aisri  nan  naomh  I 

Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 
Direach  dian  air  a'  cheiim 
Gus  an  d'ràinig  sinn  Succot 
Nam  Bnithean  gun  teum  ; 
Bha  na  naimh  air  gach  taebh 
Air  am  bruanadh  gu  làr ; 
Sinue  uaibhreach  a'  triall 
Thar  an  cairbh  anns  an  ar  ! 

Rinn  sinn  kr  le  ar  lainn  ! 
Shaoil  sinn  Etam  Ar  Neart  ; 
Ach  air  ball  's  ann  a  dh'  eòl  sinn 
Mar  bha  sinn  gun  fheart  ; 
Is  thug  smuain  na  h-un-earbsa 
Air  falbh  uainn  ar  liis  ; 
Ach  cha  d'  iomasgaoil  an  greim 
A  bh'aig  Dia  oirnn  air  tùs. 


Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 
Eadar  cuan  agus  beinn 
Pharaoh  fuilteach   nar  deigh 
Is  ar  suiun  ann  an  teinn  1 
Ach  do  ghlaodh  sinn  ri  Dia 
Mach  <C  doimhneachd  ar  daors,' 
'S  aig  Pi-hahirot  dh'  fhosgail 
Duinn  Dorus  na  saors  ! 

Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 

Is  troimh  uisge  Chuain  Deirg 

Dh'èirich  ceuui  "beo  is  nuadh"  diiinn 

Roimh  Pharaoh  na  feirg. 

Thog  sinn  (iran  ar  buaidh  ; 

Ach  air  ball  b'^igin  òl 

Do  i'Aea?'6Athonna  Mhara, 

Ach  mhair  trian  a'n  cheòl. 

Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 
Is  aig  Elim  nam  Pailm 
Ehuair  sinn  f  ioruisg'  a  dh'ùraich, 
'S  a  dhùisg  sinn  gu  sailm ; 
Oir  chuunaic  sinn  an  Crann 
'S  6  fo  linnseachas  dearg; 
'S  ann  am  blasad  na  mils'  ud 
Bha  'n  t-seirbhe  a'  searg. 

Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 

Is  aig  taobh  na  Mar'  Ruaidh 

Rinn  sinn  camp  ris,  bhi  sealltuinn 

Air  ais  air  a'  bhuaidh  : 

Fhuair  sinn  fois  an  Taidhibeh 

Is  Taitneas  nach  gann 

Is  bu  Mhaith  leinn  bhi  dearc' 

Air  an  fhuil  bh'  air  a'  Chrann. 

Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 
Gus  'n  a  thekig  an  Ion 
Thug  sinn  leinn  ann  ar  crios 
Macia  a  Eiphit  ar  bròiu  ; 
Ach  thuig  sinn  aig  Sin 
Gu'n  robh  'm  biadh  ud  'na  Smiir 
'Nuair  fhras  oLmn  am  Manna 
Gach  maduinn  gu  h-iir. 

Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  I 

Sinn  a'  sealbhachadh  cli 

0  aran  nxn  aingeal 

A  chruadhaich  ar  cri  ; 

Aig  Dophcah  do  Bhuail  sinn 

An  Dorus  gu  dan 

Is  ar  n-anam  le  tograidhean 

Coisrigte  Ian. 

Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 

'Nuair  bu  d(?ine  ar  ceum 

'S  ann  bu  dlùithe  ar  cunnart 

'S  a  thuig  sinn  ar  feum : 

Bha'n  Lcòyhann  a  Gliaraidh 

Aig  Alush  ri  bene', 

Ach  an  slaodair'  ged  chlaoidheadh 

Le  Amalec  rinn  euchd. 


202 


AN    GAIDHEilL.         Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraklh,  1S7G. 


Einn  sinn  àr  le  ar  lainn  ! 
Is  o'n  Charraig  do  bhrùchd 
Am  beo-usig'  a  mhair  dhuinn 
Gach  la  ùr  mar  dhriùcbd  ; 
Aig  Kephidim  fhuair  siim 
Ait'  Tàimh  is  sinn  sgith  ; 
Is  bhuadhaich  air  Amalec, 
Uilc  dhualach  ar  cri  ! 

Einn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 
Is  aig  mòrachd  Shinài 
Thàinig  iompach'  as  ùr, 
Baisteadh  Icujh  agus  gràidh  ; 
Is  dhealbh  Criosd  am  focal 
Air  clàraibh  ar  cri, 
Is  ghluais  sinn  's  an  àithne 
Ag  aoradh  'na  chli. 

Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 

Bha  sinn  òrdail  's  a'  ghleacbd 

Fo  stiùradh  an  iiiilfhir 

'San  snillse  a  reachd  ; 

Aig  Cibrot-hattabhahj 

An  Uaifjh-ana-miann, 

Do  thiolc  sinn  gach  ailgheas 

A  dhiùlt  tigh'nn  fo  rian. 

Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 
An  d(^igh  glanadh  Sbinki, 
'So'n  a  thiolc  sinn  an  fheòil 
A  bha  mo>gladh  dhuinn  cràidh, 
Lean  sinn  ceart  air  an  t-sligh' 
Gus  an  d'  imich  sinn  sèamh 
Steach  do  Haserot  fionn, 
An  Eoimh-dhorus  gii  nèamh. 

Rinn  sinn  ar  le  ar  lainn  ! 
Ghabh  sinn  direach  is  teann 
Gu  Cadesh  na  Naomhachd 
Air  sgriobchath  gu  ceann  ; 
Ach  do  chi-eid  sinn  a'  blireug, 
'Sar  cul-sleamhnach'  bidh  ban 
Gun  euchdsgeul  ged  thèid  sinn 
A  steach  do  Chankan. 

N.  Mac-Xeill. 


DOMHNULL  MACTHORMAID 

AGUS  LEANABH-SITHE  CNOC- 

A'-CHUILINN. 

Bha  nis  bho  chionn  iomadh  linn 
air  ais,  duiiie  coir  ris  an  canadh  iad 
Dòmhnull  MacThormaid,  agus  Seòn- 
aid  ruadh  a  bhean,  a'  còmhnuidh 
ann  au  aon  de  ghlinn  na  Gàidhealt- 
achd.  Bha  an  taigh  aig  DonilmuU 
'  am   bràighe  a'  ghlinne,   faisg   air 


creig  rnhòir  ri  iichd  na  beinne,  far 
nach  robh  ni  gu  bristeadh  a  stigh 
air  a  shiiaimhneas  agus  air  a  shith, 
ach  toirni  na  h-aibhne,  a  bha  le 
ce'uman  mall,  agus  le  crbnan  tiamh- 
aidh  a'  gabhail  seachad  sios  fo'n 
dorus  aige,  agus  ceilearadh  binn 
nan  eun,  a'  seinn  le  solas,  mu  bhun 
nam  preas,  agus  mu  bliarr  nan  dos, 
air  na  bruachan  os  cionn  an  taighe 
aige.  Ach  bu  trie  a  bha  e  air  a 
dhùsgadh  an  am  na  dùbhlachd,  le 
nuallan  na  gaoithe  a'  seideadh  le 
bliirein  ri  mullacli  nam  beann  agus 
nan  creag,  a  chum  am  bathais  gun 
eagal  gun  fhiamh,  ri  aghaidh  sion 
agus  gaillionn  nam  miltean  geamh- 
radh.  Cha  'n  'eil  ànranach  a  thig- 
eadh  thar  rnuir  no  monadh,  nach  b'e 
'bheathaaigDòmhnullMacThomaid; 
bha  daonnan  a  dhorus  fosgailte, 
agus  a  bhord  fialaidh  do  gach  coig- 
reach  agus  fear-fuadain  a  thigeadh 
'n  a  ratliad.  Bha  aige  mar  sin 
moran  de  dheadh  thoil  dhaoine, 
maille  ri  riarachadh  a  choguis  fein 
gu'n  robh  e  '  deanamh  ceart.  Ach  an 
dèigli  sin  uile,  mar  a  thachair  do 
gach  neach  fo'n  ghrein,  cha  robh 
Dòmhnull  gun  a  "  chamadh  's  a' 
chrannchur/'  aon  ni  gu  h-àraidh  a 
bha  '  cur  gruaim  air  inntinn,  agus 
neul  dorcha  mu  'n  teallach  aige,  agus 
's  e  sin,  e  '  bhi  gun  sliochd.  Bhiodh 
e  daonnan  a'  caoidh  's  a'  gearan  nach 
do  chuir  Freasdal  duine  cloinne  air, 
a  dh'  aisigeadh  ainm  agus  eachd- 
ruidh  a  shinnsir  sios  do  'n  ghinealach 
a  bha  gu  teachd  'n  a  dheigh.  Bha 
creideamh  làidir  aig  Dòmhnull  anns 
na  daoine-sithe,  agus  'n  an  gniomh- 
aran  iongantach  am  measg  chlann 
nan  daoine.  Cha  'n  'eil  teagamh 
nach  do  chuidich  uaigneas  '  ionad- 
comhnuidh,  maille  ris  gach  dearbh- 
adh  a  fhuair  e  bho  'shinnsir,  agus 
bho  sheann  daoine,  ann  a  bhi  'daing- 
neachadh  a  chreideamh  ann  am 
feartan  agus  cleachdadh  nan  sith- 
ichean. 


Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876.        AN    GAIDHEAL, 


203 


Ach  gu  bhi  '  tighinn  nis  faisg'  air 
ceann  ar  sgeòil;  ciod  e  '  th'  agad 
air,  acli  gu'ii  d'  fliàs  Seònaid  trom 
air  duine  cloinne ;  agus  ma  dh'  f  has 
Seònaid  tròm,  dli'  fhàs  Dòmlinull 
aotrom ;  cha  robli  sraeòrach  air 
geig,  no  uiseag  air  Ion,  cho  binn 
lead  ri  Dòmhnnll,  moch  us  anmoch, 
le  dòchas  làidir  ri  oiglire  òg.  Agus 
cha  robh  a  dhochas  air  a  mhealladh, 
oir  oidhche  dhe  na  h-  oidcheannan 
'n  uair  '  thàinig  e  dhachaidh  bho 
iasgach,  agus  a  shuidh  e  ri  taobh  an 
teine,  thainig  a  bhean-ghlùine  '  nail 
bho  thaobh  na  leapa  air  an  robh 
Seònaid  'n  a  laidhe,  agus  chàirich  i 
leanabh  gille  ann  an  gàirdeanan 
Dhùmhnuill,  cho  tlachdmhor  's  air 
an  do  dhearc  sUil  bodaich  riamh. 
Cha  'n  'eil  teagamh  nach  roiih 
cridhe  DhòmhnuiU  air  a  thogail  le 
so,  agus  bha  '  bhuil;  cha  deachaidh 
mòran  fois  air  an  t-  slige-chreachain 
car  latha  no  dhà,  agus  bha  iomadh 
bodach  us  cailleach  's  a'  ghleann, 
aig  nach  robh  fios  gu  ro  mhaith,  co 
dliiiibh  a  's  e  an  ceann  no  'n  casan  a 
bha  gu  h-ard  dhiubh,  ag  òl  deoch- 
slàinte,  agus  ag  guidhe  saoghal  fada 
agus  sonas  do  Thormad  beag.  Bha 
nis  gach  cuis  a'  dol  air  aghaidh  gu 
maith,  cha  robh  neul  dorcha  air 
speurati  Dhòmhnuill,  air  nach  do 
chuir  Tormad  beag  an  ruaig.  Ach 
mo  thruaighe  !  bha  latha  faisg  air 
laimh  a  thug  buiUe-bhàis  do  gach 
biuadar  faoin,  agus  dòchas  diomh- 
aiu  a  bha  Dùmhnull  ag  altrum  a 
thuubh  Thormaid  bhig.  Air  latha 
tioram  fuar  earraich,  's  Dòmhnull 
agus  Seònaid  ag  obair  a  mach  's  an 
achadh,  dh'  fhàg  iad  caileag  òg  a' 
toirt  an  aire  air  a'  phàisde.  'N  uair  a 
chuir  i  '  chadal  's  a'  chreithil  e^ 
chaidh  i  car  greis'  a  mach  'g  a 
cluiche  fein.  Agus  'n  uair  a  thill  i 
dliachaidh  's  a  sheall  i  's  a'  chreithil, 
an  àite  an  leinibh  làidir.  reamhair, 
thlachdmhoir,  a  dh'  fhàg  i,  's  e  '  bh' 
aice    tacharan    beag,    caol,  glas,    a 


chuireadh  eagal  air  an  dearg  mheàir- 
leach.  'N  uair  a  chunnaic  a'  chaileag 
mar  a  bha,  dh'  eigh  i  na  creachan, 
's  bhuail  i  na  basan,  thug  i  mach' 
chun  an  raoin  a  dh'  iarraidh  athair 
agus  màthair  an  leinibh.  Ma  thug, 
"  chaidli  an  ceòl  air  feadli  na 
fidhle"— 
"  Siream  sios,  siream  suas, 

Cha  robh  ball  de  Ruairidh  agam"! 

Cha  robh  fios  an  e  'n  talamh  a 
shluig,  no  'n  e  'n  t-  athar  a  thog  Tor- 
mad  beag, — ach  aon  ni  '  bha  cinn- 
tach,  agus  's  e  sin,  nach  b'  e  a  bh' 
anns  a'  chreithil.  'N  uair  a  chaidh 
crioch  air  iarraidh  Thormaid  bhig 
agus  clos  air  an  tigh,  sinuainicli 
Dòmhnull  gu'n  tugadh  e  siiil  air  an 
fhleasgach  neònach  a  thàiiiig  air 
mar  a  thainig  a'  bhuidseach  air 
Eobhain,  "  gun  chuireadh  gun 
chead."  'N  uair  a  sheas  Dòmh- 
niill  OS  a'  chionn  agus  a  sheall  e 
ceart  air,  thog  e  '  dhà  laimh  ag 
ràdh,  Freasdal  a  bhi  'g  ar  beannach- 
adh,  agus  ag  cur  dion  eadar  sinn 
agus  tu,  mur '  th'  aun '  tlia  '  choltas 
agus  a  chruthachd  a'  cur  crith  air 
m'  f  heoil ;  's  cinnteach  mise  nach 
ann  do'n  t-saoghal-sa  a  bhuiueas  an 
creiitair  sin. 

Ciod  air  bith  saoghal  do'ni  buin 
6,  arsa  Seònaid,  cha  'n  fheud  e  bhi 
fo  na  eabair  so,  cha  teid  priobadh 
cadail  air  mo  shtiil  fhad  's  a  bhios 
e  'n  aon  tigh  rium.  Ma  's  ann  mar 
sin  a  tha,  arsa  Dòmhnull,  tha  eagal 
ormsa  gu'm  bi  thu  gun  phriobadh 
an  da  latha  so ;  cha  'n  'eil  dad  de 
choltas  cabhaig  air  an  diùlnach  sin. 
Ciod  e  '  ghabhas  deanamli  ris  !  ma 
theid  a  thiJgeadh  a  mach,  ni  an  lagh 
greim  oirlin,  agus  ma  leigear  bàs 
anns  an  tigh  e,  cha  'n  e  sin  is  feàrr, 
—nach  ann  a  dh'  fhèumas  sinn 
biadh  fheuchainn  ris.  Agus  'n  uair 
a  chaidh  sin  a  dheanamh,  dh'  ith- 
eadh  us  dh'  òladh  e  gU  sgoinneil. 

Ihcàinig  a  nis  Dòmhnidl  agus  a 
chàirdean  gus  a  chomhdhunadh  gur 


204 


AN    GAIDHEAL.         Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidb,  1876. 


i  'bhean-shithe  '  ghoid  Tormad  beag 
agus  a  dh'  fhagaleanabh  fein'n  a  aite. 

Agus  thug  iad  de  cliomhairle  air, 
na  'm  fàgadh  e  fad  oidhclie  's  a' 
chreig  mhoir  e,  'n  uair  a  chluinn- 
eadh  a'  bhean-sbithe  a'  rànaich  e, 
gu'n  tigeadh  i  g'  a  iarraidh  agus 
gu'm  f àgadh  i  'n  leanabh  ceart  'n  a 
aite.  'S  anil  mar  so  a  thachair;  an 
ath-oidhche,  phaisg  Dòmhnull  an 
leanabb-sithe  'n  a  bbreacan-glas, 
agus  sgnog  e  '  bhonaid  leatbann 
gborm  m'  a  cheann,  agus  tbeannaicb 
e  '  cbuaille  daraich  'n  a  dhorn,  's 
thog  e  ris  a'  chreig  mhoir,  's  an 
leanabb-sithe  aige  air  a  nibuin. 

'N  uair  a  thill  e  dhachaidh  leig  e 
glag  dhe  fein  's  a'  chathair,  agus  e  aig 
an  am  chèudna  ag  ràdh,  "dh'  f  bag  mi 
's  a'  chreig  mhoir  e,  agus  mur  a 
gabh  a  bban-cbaraid,  a  bbean-shith, 
truas  ris,  ged  a  tbogadh  na  h-  iolair- 
ean  e,  's  mi  naeb  biodh  diombacb." 
Ge  mocli  a  dh'  èirich  a'  ghrian  a 
sgaoileadh  a  sgiatban  òir  airgualainn 
an  t-  slèibhe,  bu  mhoiche  na  sin  a 
bha  Dòmhnull  aig  a'  chreig  mhoir. 
'N  uair  a  ràinig  e,  bha  'n  leanabb- 
sithe  gu  clocb-shuileach  ag  amharc 
mu'n  cuairt  de  air  a'  chreig.  Cha  d' 
thàinig  a'  bhean-shith  a  chur  dragh 
sam  bith  air;  agus  cha  mbò  '  thàinig 
iolaire  no  feannag  g'  a  ghriobadh  no 
g'  a  ghrobadh.  Cha  robh  air  ach  a 
thoirt  dhachaidh  a  rithist;  agus  ma 
thug,  cha  b'  ann  gu  sith,  ràineadh 
us  cbaoineadh  e,  air  àman,  latha  's 
oidhche  gun  sgur,  ach  facal  bruidhne 
cha  d'  thainig  riamh  as  a  cheann. 
Agus  coltach  ri  crodh  caol  na  h- 
Eiphit,  mar  is  motha  dh'  itheadh  e, 
's  ann  bu  chaoile  '  bha  e  'fas. 

Ach,  arsa  Seonaid  ri  Dòmhnull, 
oidhche  dhena  b-  oidhcheannan,ciod 
e  'n  t-  ainm  a  bheir  sinn  air  an  lean- 
abh so,  'n  saoil  thu  nach  f  hèum  sinn 
fhaotainn  air  a  bhaisteadh  1  Ma  ta, 
arsa  Dòmhnull,  cha  'n  ann  a'  toirt 
droch  f  hreagairt  ort,  ma  thogras  tu 
fhèin   thoir    "  Mac-Crùisleig "    mar 


ainm  air,  ach  cha  bhi  m'  ainm-sa  no 
mo  shloinneadh  air,  no  ainm  no 
sloinneadh  duine  '  bhuineas  dhoinh; 
mar  a  b'  e  beagan  dhorah,  's  e  'n 
aon  bhaisteadh  a  dheanainns'  air — 
breith  air  dha  chaol  coise  air,  agus 
aon  tulgag  '  thoirt  da  a  macli  air 
linne  '  chreagain.  Beagan  iiine  'n 
dèigh  sin,  thainig  duine  cunnaitach 
de  thàiUear  crìibach  a  bha  's  an  aite, 
dh'  obair  do  thigh  Dhòmhnuill.  'S 
e  am  an  f  hoghair  a  bh'  ann,  'n  uair 
a  bha  iad  gu  maith  ilripeil  ris  a' 
bhuain.  Agus  an  dèigh  am  biadh 
maidne,  thuirt  Seonaid  ris  an  tàill- 
ear,  e  '  bhi  cho  math  's  a  shiiil  a 
chumail  air  an  fhear  a  bh'  anns  a' 
chreithil,  gus  an  tigeadh  iad  dhach- 
aidh bho  'n  bhuain;  ach,  ars'  ise, 
ged  a  bhiodh  e  '  rànaich  's  a  caoin- 
eadh,  na  gabh  ort  e,  oir  's  e  sin  a 
thoilinntinn. 

Bha  nis  an  tigh  aig  an  tàillear 
chrùbach  agus  aig  an  fhear  bheag 
dhaibh  fein,  a'  h-  uile  greim  a  bheir- 
eadh  an  tàillear  's  a'  chòta,  bheir- 
eadh  e  siiil  air  an  fhear  bheag,  agus 
bheireadh  am  fear  beag  sliil  a  cheart 
cho  guineach  air  an  tàiUear.  M'  a 
dheireadh  chaidh  e  air  uilinn  's  a' 
chreithil  agus  sheall  e  gu  colgarra 
air  feadh  an  tighe,  agus  'n  uair  a 
chunnaic  e  nach  robh  '  stigh  ach  iad 
fein,  thionndaidh  e  ris  an  tàillear, 
agus  ars  esan,  le  guth  fearail,  "am 
bheil  duine  '  stigh  ach  thu  fein  Ì  " 
"  ma  ta,"  ars  an  tàillear,  "  tha  mi  ' 
faicinn  nach  'eil,  agus  tha  mi  gle 
choma  ged  nach  bithinn  fhein  a 
stigh."  "Na  biodh  eagal  sam  bith 
ort,"  ars  am  feur beag, ' '  cha  chuir  mise 
corrag  ort."  "  Cha  'n  e  cudthrom  do 
chorraig '  tha,  cur  eagail  orm,"  ars'  an 
taillear,  ach  co  dhiiibh,  bu  cho  math 
leamabhitrimilea  so."  "Na  gabh  ort 
e,"  ars' am  fear  beag;  "achmagheallas 
tu  dhomh  nach  innis  thu  orm  e, 
bheir  mi  dhut  an  t-aon  phort  piob- 
aireachd  '  is  briaghe  '  chual'  thu 
riamh."    "  So  ma  ta",  ars'  an  taillear, 


Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidli,  1S76.        AN    GAIDHEAL. 


205 


"  suas  e."  Thug  am  fear  beag  a  mach 
feadan  caol  clubh  a  bha  fo'  dliruim 
's  a'  chreithil,  agus  thòisich  e  air 
cluiche.  'S  ma  thoisich — a  leithid 
de  cheòl  cha  cluial'  an  tàillear  crùb- 
ach  riamh,  Stob  e  'n  t-snathad  's 
a'  chòta,  agus  chuir  e  '  chasan  bac 
air  bhac ;  's  a  làmii  fo  '  lethcheann 
ag  eisdeachd  a'  chiùil. 

Ach  clia  robli  e  fada  mar  sin  'n 
uair  a  tliàinig  aon  fhiciiead  maighd- 
eann  òg  a  stigh.  le  'n  earradh  fada 
uaine  air  gach  te  dhiubh.  Thoisich 
an  ceòl,  's  thoisich  an  dàmhsa,  an 
taihear,  's  a  dhà  shùil  an  iompais 
leura  a  mach  as  a  cheann  ag  amharc 
orra.  Ach  ma  dlieireadl),  thug  an 
ceòl  a  leithid  de  bhuaidh  air,  agus 
gu'n  do  thilg  e  uaithe  '  an  còta  agus 
air  a  chois  gu'm  bitheadh  e.  Bha  e 
mu  dheireadh  's  f  hallus  'g  a  dhalladh 
a'  dàmhsa  leis  a'  chois  chrubaich. 
Agus  's  ann  a  thoisich  e  air  breith 
air  na  boirionnaich,  ach  'n  uair  a 
shaoil  leis  te  dhiubh  'bhi  aige  'n  a 
ghlachdan  cha  robh  anu  ach  sgàile. 
Ach  uair  dhe  na  uairean,  ann  an 
tighinn-mu  'n-cuairt  do'n  tcàillear 
chrìibach  's  an  dàmhsa,  thàinig  tè 
dhiul)h,  agus  thug  i  sgailc  ud  do'n 
tail  1 1  ar  mu  thaobh  a  pheirceill,  a 
cliuii'  deàrsach-theine  as  na  siiilean 
aige.  Thog  e  '  dhà  laimh  'g  am 
f àsgadh,  agus  'n  uair  a  dh'  fhosgail 
iad,  fliuair  e  e  fein  'n  a  shuidhe  air 
a'  chathair,  agus  a  chasan  bac  air 
bhac,  's  an  còta  air  a  ghliin,  direach 
mar  a  bha  e  mu'n  do  thoisich  an 
ceòl.  Sheall  e  mu'n  cuairt  air,  agus 
cha  robh  beo  a  stigh  ach  e  fein  's 
am  fear  beag,  a  bha  gu  socair  air  a 
dhruim  's  a'  chreithil,  gun  phiob  gun 
fheadau. 

Thàinig  na  buanaichean  dhach- 
aidh,  agus  bha  'n  tàillear  gle  thaing- 
eil,  agus  gle  thoilichte  'n  uair  a 
bha  còta  Dhòmhnuill  rèidh,  agus 
nach  tigeadh  air  a  bhi  latha  eile' stigh 
leis  fein,  an  cuiiieachd  an  fhir  bhig. 

Beagan  an  dèigh  sin,  thoisich  am 


fear  beag  air  cleachdadh  a  ghabhail  a 
bhi  'g  eiridh  'n  uair  a  rachadh  each 
a  chadal,  agus  suidhe  leis  fein  aig  an 
teine,  a'  turraman  agus  a'  seinn  iom- 
adh  crònan  tiamhaidh  nach  cuala 
Dòmhnull  riamh  roimhe.  Aon 
oidhche  càraid  'n  uair  a  dhùisg 
Dòmhnull  eadar  uair  agus  da  uair 
's  a'  mhaduinn,  bha  'm  fear  beag  ag 
cur  dheth  a'  seinn — 

' '  'S  truagh  nach  robh  mi  'n  cnoc-a-chuilinn 
Far  an  d'  fhàg  mi  mo  chuid  ghillean, 
Fuaim  an  ùird  us  glag  an  innein, 
Builg  'g  a;i  seideadh  's  airm  'g  an  cumadh. 
'S  truagh  nach  robh  mi  'n  cnoc-na-h-kiridh. 
Far  'n  do  dhealaich  mi  ri  m'  chàirdean, 
ladsan  ait  gu  ceòlmhor  gàii-each, 
'S  mis'  an  so  gu  brònach  cràiteach." 

"Ambheilthu  'nadodhùisgf'  arsa 
DùmhnullriSeònaid.  "Tha,"arsaSeòn- 
aid.  "Am  bheilthusT'arsaDòmhnuU, 
ag  èisdeachd  a'  chrèutair  ud,  m'  an 
àm  so  dh'  oidhche,  'n  uair  '  tha 
h-uile  criosduidh  's  an  dìilhaich  'n  an 
suain  chadaiH  nacli  cianail  an  gnoth- 
ach  nach  faigh  daoine  fois  na 
h-oidhche  leis  a'  gharrach  ghlas  ì  'S 
mòr  tha  mi  smaoinachadh  eiridh 
agus  aon  teas  a  thoirt  'n  .  a 
pheirceall  a  chuireas  bàs  a  shean- 
mhathar  às  a  chuimhne,  ma  bha 
sean-mhathair  aige. 

0  !  arsa  Seònaid,  air  son  na  cliunn- 
aic  thu  riamh  na  cuir  corrag  air, 
cha  'n  eil  sìthiche  's  a'  chreig  mhòir 
nach  biodh  air  do  mhuin  fo  latha 
'toirt  a  mach  a  thòrachd. 

Latha  no  dha  an  deigh  sin,  bha 
Dòmhnull  a'  do!  do  'n  cheài'daich  le 
soc  a'  chruinn,  agus  'n  uair  a  chunn- 
aic  am  fear  beag  a'  falbh  e,  fiach 
ars'  esan,  am  faigh  thu  sgèul  ur 
dhomh  bho  'n  ghobha.  'N  uair  a 
thill  Dhòmhnull,  "Seadh,ars'amfear 
beag,  an  d'  fhuair  thu  sgèul  dhomh 
bho  'n  ghobha  1  Ma  ta,  arsa  Dòmh- 
null.  dh'  iarr  e  orm  innse  dhutgu'n 
deachaidh  ceàrdach  cnoc-a-chuilinn 
'n  a  teine  eadar  bhalg  us  inneanan. 
Och,  mo  chreach  !  arsa  'm  fear  beag. 


206  AN    GAIDHEAL.         Treas  Mìos  an  t-Samliraidh,  1876. 

ma  tha  sin   fior,   tha    mo   chall  sa  a  tha  e'  clniche,  "  Cha  till  mi  tuill- 
deanta,    tha    da    theallach     dheug  eadh;"  gu  dearbh,   a   Sheònaid,  's 


agamsa  ag  obair  's  a'  cheàrdaich  sin, 
Thog  e  mach  ris  an  aonach  's  an 
ran  'n  a  blieul;  ach  an  ceann  tiota, 
thòisich  e  air  clnicli'  an  fheadain. 
Ma  ta,  arsa  Dòmhnull,  tha  mi  'n 
dòchas  gur  e  cumha  Mhic-Crimmein 


sinn  a  dh'  f  haodadh  a  ràdh,  mar  a 
thuirt  Iain  glan  'n  uair  a  chuir  e 
mach  ammac-mallachd  "is  gloinid  an 
tigh  an  cartadh  ud." 

{R  a  Uantainn.) 


EANNAN  DO  DHEALBH  MATHAE. 

O,  NACH  robh  cainnt  's  na  bilean  tosdach  balbh ! 
Mo  bheatha  's  ànrach  o'n  la  'rinn  thu  falbh  ; 
'S  i  d'  aghaidh  chaoin,  's  do  bhilean  caomh  a  th'  ann 
Bu  trie  thug  solas  dhomh  's  mi  òg  a  's  fann. 
Guth,  na  'm  biodh  ann,  gu  'n  labhradh  iad  gu  ciuin, 
"  Mo  leanabh  brònach.  cuir  do  bhròn  air  chhl." 
Na  suilean  blàth  'bha  'g  innseadh  meud  do  thuir, 
Tha  'nis  mar  b'  abluiist  'dearsadh  orm  as  tir. 
(Beannachd  a's  buaidh  do  'n  ealain  uasail  ghrinn 
A  chumas  aogas  chairdean  caomh  'n  ar  cuimhn'). 

0  chuimhneachain  air  aon  cho  gràdhach  dlùth, 
Gun  fhiuthair  riut,  's  maith  leam  gu'n  d'  thainig  thu. 
Tha  thu  ga  m'  bhrosnuchadh  gu  dan  a  dhealbh, 
Le  cridhe  maoth,  do  m'  mhathair  chaomh  a  dh'  f  halbh. 
Is  toileach  'ni  mi  sin,  le  aiteas  Ian, 
Mar  gu  'm  b'  i  fein  a  dh'  iarradh  orm  an  dan. 
'S  ged  bhios  a  ghnùis  so  'g  ùrachadh  mo  bhròin, 
Gu  'n  toir  mac-meamn'  an  searbhas  as  mo  leon. 
'S  bheir  bruadar  taitneach  aiteas  dhomh  's  an  am 
'Toirt  orm  a  chreidsinn  gur  i  fein  a  th'  ann. 

A  mhathair  !  'nuair  a  fhuair  mi  sgeul  do  bliàis, 
Am  faca  tu  mo  dheoir,  mo  bhròn,  's  mo  chàs? 
An  d'  rinn  do  spiorad  itealaich  mu  'n  cuairt 
Air  do  mhac  brònach,  's  e  cho  òg  a's  truagh  ? 
Theagamh  gu  'n  d'  thug  thu  dhomh,  gun  fhios  domh  pòg 
No,  theagamh  deur,  ma  ghuileas  naoimh  an  gloir. 
Saoileam  gu  'n  aontaioh  leam  fiamh-ghair'  do  bheoil. 

Air  latha  d'  amhlaic',  chualas  leam  clag-bheum 
Chunnaic  mi  'n  carbad  'thug  air  falbh  do  chreubh  ; 
0  m'  uinneig  thionndaidh  mi  gu  tursach  truagh, 
'S  le  h-eubh  ro  chraiteach  dh'  fhag  mi  beannachd  bhuan. 
'N  i  sin  a  bh'  ann  1     0  's  i — An  rio'chd  na  gloir, 
Cha  chluinnear  "  Beannachd  leibh  "  a  chaoidh  ni  's  mo. 
Ma  choinnicheas  sinn  air  cladach  sith  an  àigh 
Air  dealach'  uait  cha  toir  mi  luaidh  gu  brath. 

Do  mhaighdeannan  's  iad  duilich  air  mo  sgàth, 
Bu  trie  a  gheall  gu'n  tilleadh  tu  gun  dàil, 
An  ni  bu  mhiann  leam,  chreid  mi  e  gu  luath, 


Treas  Mios  an  I  Samhraidh,  1876.         AN    GAIDHEAL.  207 

'S  o  la  gu  la  gu  'n  d'  mhealladh  mi  gu  truagli, 

Le  dòchas  faoin  o  laithibh  m'  oige  nuas, 

Bu  trie  as  an  la  màireach  rinn  mi  uaill. 

0  !  's  iomadh  màireach  cianail  a  chaidh  seacli. 

Mu  'n  d'  flialbli  mo  bhrùn  's  iiiu  'n  d'  fhas  mi  reidli  ri  m'  staid. 

Acli  ged  a  sguir  mi  blii  ga  d'  chaoidh  mar  bhà, 

Gidheadh  cha  di-chuimhnich  mi  thu  gu  bràth. 

'S  an  taigh  a  bh'  againn,  tlia  ar  n-ainm  gun  luaidh, 

'S  clann  èile  'nis  a'  cluich  's  a'  ruitli  mu'n  cuairt; 

A'  s  far  am  biodh  Rob  garadair  gacli  la 

Ga  m'  thoirt  do'n  sgoil  's  mi  coiseachd  leis  air  laimh, 

Mo  charbad  beag  a'  m'  dheigh,  's  o'n  fhuacbd  ga  m'  dhion 

Mo  chleòca  dearg,  's  mo  bhoineid  bbeilbbeid  ghrinn  ; 

Cha  mhor  tha  fiosracb  gu'n  robh  againn  sealbh 

Air  taigh  a  mhiiiisteir  's  an  am  a  dh'  fhalbh. 

Ar  sealbh  bu  ghoirid,  ach  do  chaoimhneas  blath, 

A  mheal  mi  'n  sud,  tha  lir  a'  m'  chuimhn'  a  ghnath, 

Ged  dhi-chuimhnich  mi  mile  ni  a's  neach 

Nach  deach'  cho  domhain  riamh  a'  m'  chridhe  steacli. 

Do  m'  sheomar,  thigeadh  tu  gach  oidhch'  le  baigh, 

A  chur  an  aodaich  timchioll  orm  gu  blath, 

'S  a'  mhaduinn,  an  am  falbh  do  'n  sgoil  le  each, 

Bhiodh  briosgaid  no  rud  mills  dhomh  o'  d'  laimh. 

Air  m'  aodann  chuireadh  tu  an  t-uisge  fuar, 

Ach  gus  an  eireadh  ruglia  glan  a'  m'  ghruaidh. 

Ach  'se  bu  mhilse  no  iad  sud  gu  leir 

Do  ghaol  gun  fhailinn,  cridheil  cairdeil,  seimh, 

Gun  bhras-shruth  feirge,  saor  o  ghairg'  !  's  o  ghruaim 

0  nadur  feineil  s  trie  tha  'g  eiridh  suas. 

Sud  uile,  sgriobht'  a'  m'  ehuimhne  sios  gu  reidh, 

'S  mar  sin  gu  buanaehadh  gu  erich  mo  reis, 

Tha  'nis  as  iir  toirt  diuachd  dhomh  a's  eàil 

Thoirt  dhuit  gach  urram  's  urrainn  mi  le  ra'  dhan, 

Cuimhneachan  beag,  ach  treibh-dhireach  gun  gho, 

'S  cha  deanar  dimeas  air  an  rio  'chd  na  gloir. 

Na  'n  tionndadh  curs'  na  h-aimsir  a  chaidh  seach, 
'S  gu  'm  pilleadh  laithean  m'  oige  air  an  ais, 
An  t-àm  's  am  b'  abhaist  domh  bhi  cluich  gu  faoin 
Ri  d'  thrusgan  ioma-dhathach  air  gach  taolih, 
A 's  thusa  ni  bu  shona  no  mi  fein, 
A'  sliogadh  m'  fhuilt  's  a  bruidhinn  rium  gu  seimh, 
(Na  laithean  àigh,  bha  'n  aireamh  tearc  gu  fior), 
An  saoil  mi  'n  iarrainn  iad  a  theachd  a  ris  ? 
Cha  'n  earbainn  as  mo  chridhe  fein  's  an  am : 
Theagamh  gu  'n  iarrainn  ni  cho  miannaeh  leam. 
Ach  0  !  cha  'n  iarradh — tha  ar  cuairt  cho  gearr, 
'S  ar  beatha  Ian  de  thrioblaid — 's  mor  gur  fearr 
Thu  bhi  mar  tha  thu,  sona :  b'olc  an  ni 
Do  spiorad  saor  a  thoirt  fo  dhaors  'a  ris. 

Eadar.  le  A.  Sinclair,  nach  maireann. 


208 


AN    GAIDHEAL.         Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876- 


DONNACHADH  MOR 
CHINNTAILE. 

Bha  Donnachadh  Mor  Chinntàile, 
mu'n  d'thug  mi  sgial  dhut  Ijlio  chionn 
ghoirid,  turns  còmhla  ri  'mhàthair 
ann  an  "  Gearrstan  "  lonarlòchaidh, 
's  iad  a'  reic  an  annlainn.  Dh'  iarr 
e  airgiod  Ijoineid  oirre,  oir  cha  robh 
ann  an  uair  ud  acli  an  glas-ghille, 
agus  ma  dli-f  haodte  nach  robh  boin- 
eid  riamh  aige  ;  cha  d'  thugadh  a 
mhàthair  'iarradas  dha ;  agus  a' 
tilleadh  dhachaidh  thachair  na  rob- 
airean  orra  's  a'  mhonadh,  agus  dh' 
iarr  iad  air  Donnachadh  na  bh'aige 
a  liubhairt. 

Thuirt  Donnachadh  nach  robh 
bonn-a-sia  aige  ;  gur  h-ann  aig  an  tè 
ud  thall  (a  mhàthair)  a  bha  e  uile, 
agus  iad  a  dh'  fhiachainn  rithe  's 
nach  cuireadh  esan  dragh  orra. 

Shuidh  e  air  cloich  f  had's  a  bha 
a  mhàthair  a'  liubhairt  an  airgid, 
agus  an  uair  a  thug  i  seachad  e  thuirt 
i  riu  gu'n  robh  a  nis  aca  h-uile  sgil- 
linn  a  bh'  aice  de'n  t-saoghal,  ach 
gu'm  biodh  i  'n  an  comaine,  'an 
deaghaidh  na  rinn  iad  oirre,  na  'm 
buaileadh  fear  dhiubh  sròn  abhròige 
air  a'  ghille  mhaol  ud  'n  a  shuidhe 
air  a'  chloicli.  Rinn  fear  dhiubh  sin 
agus  's  e  'bh'  ann  gu'n  d'  eirich  an 
gille  maol,  's  cuirear  na  robairean  air 
muin  a  chèile,  agus  thugar  bhuapa  a 
a  h-uile  tasdan. 

An  uair  a  bha  iad  gu  'bhi  aiga  n  tigh 
ruitli  Donnachadh  air  thoiseach  air 
a  mhàthair  gus  gu'n  innseadh  e  f  heia 
mar  a  thachair.  Liubhair  e  an  t-air- 
giod  dh'a  athair  agus  dh'  f  hoighnich 
'athair  ciod  a  choisinn  dàsan  gur 
h-ann  aige  a  bha  an  t-airgiod.  Dh' 
iunis  6  a  h-inle  car,  mar  a  dhiiilt  a 
mhàtliair  a'  bhoineid,  agus  mar  a 
thachair  leis  na  robhairean. 

Thuirt  'athair  an  sin,  "Bheir  mise 
boineid  dhut ;  "  agus  chaidh  iad  a 
mach  far  an  robh  greigh  de  loithean 


agus  thug  'athair  dha  a  roghainn 
dhiubh. 

Bha  Donnachadh  Mor  uair  eile  a' 
dol  do  lonarlòchaidh  agus  fear  do'm 
b'  ainm  Mac-Amhlaidh  còmhla  ris. 
Chuir  iad  rompa  bhi  air  an  oidhche 
aig  piuthar  màthair  Dlionnachaidh, 
'us  i  ann  am  bothan-àiridh  'an  Coire- 
an-t-sagairfc  'an  Gleanna-Gairidh. 
Bha  piuthar  a  mhàtliar  agus  nighean 
d'i  a'  fui reach  anns  a'  bhothan,  agus 
an  uair  a  ràinig  na  feara  cha  robh 
steach  ach  an  t-seann  te,  agus  a 
chionn  nach  d'  aithnich  i  iad,  bhuail 
i  air  an  cur  a  mach^ — ag  innse  dhaibh 
nach  robh  càite  ann  an  sid  dhaibh. 
Ach  a  mach  cha  rachadh  na  ceathar- 
naich  dh'i  ;  agus  'an  sin  thuirt  i  riu 
an  uair  a  thigeadh  an  te  a  bha  muigh 
a  stigh  gu'm  feumadh  iad  dol  a 
mach,  ged  nach  gabhadh  iad  a  comh- 
airle-se. 

An  ceann  tacain  thigear  an  nigh- 
ean mhor  ruadh  ud,  'snago)'Iiairaice, 
's  dh'fhaighich  i  de  màthair  co  iad  na 
daoine  a  bh'aice  'n  sid.  "Tha,"  ars' 
ise,  "  daoine  a  dh'f  hairtlich  ormsa 
an  cur  a  mach." 

"  Cuiridh  mise  mach  iad,"  ars'  an 
nighean  ruadh  's  i  'toirt  an  spionaidh 
ud  a  mach  air  Mac-Amhlaidh  an 
toiseach,  bho'n  is  e  'bu  teinne  air  an 
dorus.  Rug  Mac-Amhlaidh  air  urs- 
ain  an  doruis,  agus.  leis  an  t-stràc  a 
bha  fodha,  thug  e  leis  a  mach  i. 

An  sin  thuirt  Donnachadh  ri  Mac- 
Amhlaidh,  's  e  ag  èirigh,  "Dian  thusa 
socair,  leig  eadar  mise  'si;"  agus  sid 
an  nighean  ruadh  's  Donnachadh 
Mor  'an  uganan  a  cheile  ag  gleachd. 

Air  a'  chiad  char  chuir  i  air  a 
ghlùn  e;  ach  ghabh  e  an  sin  miothap- 
adh  gu'm  biodh  e  'n  a  laidhe  aice, 
agus  chruadhaich  e  efhein  rithe,  agus 
chuir  e  car  dh'i,  's  leag  e  i. 

Thuirti'ansin,  "Ma  tà  tha  maighd- 
eanas  mo  dhrouia  agad,  agus  bha 
mi  'n  dùil  nach  robh  e  beò  's  nach 
d'rugadh  e  aig  am  bitheadh  e,  ach 
mi    a    sheachnadh     Dhonnachaidh 


Treas  Mioa  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876.         AN    G AIDHEAL. 


209 


Mhoir  mac  piuthar  mo  mhàthar  à 
Cinntàile." 

"  Ciod  a  theireadh  tu  na  'm  b'e  a 
bhiodh  agad  ?  "  arsa  Donnachadh. 

"  Ma 's  è,"  ars  ise,  "  clia  deic  'f  bad- 
's is  doichioll  e,"  agus  mur  d'fbuair 
esau  deanamb  db'e  'an  sin — efbein 
agus  Mac-Amblaidb  ! 

Ban-Saileach. 


MU   BHRUADAIR. 

Thus'  a  tba  eòlach  air  gacb  ni, 
innis  domb,  ma's  e  do  tboil  e,  ciod 
is  ciall  do  bbruadair,  no  aislingean 
no  b-oidbche  Ì  Tba  iad  a'  cur  ion- 
gantais  mbòir  orm,  agus  cba  'n  'eil 
mi  idir  ga'n  tuigsinn.  Ma  db' 
fhaoite  nacb  'eil  duine  sa  bitb  a' 
bruadar  mar  tba  mise.  Cba  'n  'eil 
dùil  agam  gu'n  d'  tbainig  cadal 
riarab  air  mo  spiorad.  'N  uair  tba 
mo  cbolainn  ag  gabbail  tàmb  na 
b-oidbebe,  tba  mo  spiorad  ag  iteal- 
aicb  gu  saor  fuasgailte  amacb  air 
feadh  an  t-saogbail.  Cba  gbabb 
esan  tàmb,  agus  cba  'n  'eil  e  air  a 
cblaoidb  le  saotbair.  Air  leam  nacb 
'eil  ann  an  aisling  na  h-oidbcbe  acb 
fearas-cbuideacbd  an  anma,  an 
deigb  dba  uallacb  na  collainne  a 
cbur  dlietb.  Saoilidb  mi  gu  bbeil  a' 
cbolainn  mar  leanabh  trom  gun  tiir, 
fo  cbiiram  agus  aire  an  anma;  agus 
an  deigb  do  'n  leanabb  so  dol  na 
'cbodal  gu  bbeil  a  mbuime  a'  dol  a 
inacb  gu  b-aigbearacb,  inntinneacb 
a  db'  fbaicinn  an  t-saogbail. 

Is  duine  aosmbor  mise,  a  tba 
cbòmbnuidb  fada  blio  tbir  m'  eolais, 
ann  am  fròig  bbochd  dborcb'  ann  an 
aon  de  cbaol-sbràidibb  a'  bbaile- 
mhòir.  Is  daor  a  tba  mi  cosm  db 
m'  arain,  agus  tba  iarguin  na  b-aois 
a'  laidbe  gu  trom  orm.  B'  e  miann 
mo  cbridbe  botban  beag  fbaotaiun 
ann  an  deireadb  mo  laitbean,  ann 
an  dùtbaicb  nam  beann,  agus  mo 
cborp,  au  deigb  bàis,  a  bbi  air  a 


cbàramh  fo  lie  mo  sbinnsir  ;  acb  's  e 
so  dòcbas  nacb  fbaod  mi  àrach,  agus 
cba  'n  'eil  feum  a  bbi  'gearan.  Bba 
la  nacb  do  sbaoil  mi  gur  ann  mar  so 
a  bbitbeadb.  Bu  mbeanmnacb,  àrd- 
thogarraeb  mi  latba  gan  robb  mi. 
B'e  mo  tblacbd  a  bbi  tiadbacb  nam 
beann,  's  a  bbi  leantuinn  na  faoghaid, 
agus  ga  rireadb  bu  miii  nàmbuid 
a'  cboilicb-dbuibb  agus  na  liatb- 
cbirce.  Clia  'n  iarrainn  caitbe-aira- 
sir  bu  taitnicbe  na  bbi  'biinneir- 
eacbd  air  a'  cbaol.  Ghabbaitui  mo 
dbuanag  agus  dbeanainn  i ;  bha  mi 
anabarracb  deigbeil  air  ceòl,  hbeir- 
eadb  an  fbigbeal  orm  dannsa,  ge  b' 
ann  casruisgte  's  an  dubb-cbladacb, 
agus  cba  b'  fbearr  mi  na  amadan  fo 
nuallan  na  pioba.  Bha  mi  ann  an 
gaol  o'n  is  cuimbne  leam,  ge  nacb  do 
pbòs  mi  riamb.  Bba  gaol  mòr  agam 
air  ainnir  àillidb,  a  rugadli,  agus  a 
tbogadb  lamb  rium  ;  boinne  fala  co 
luracb  's  a  cbunnacas  le  siiil.  Is 
minic  a  bba  mi  leatba  ann  an  coille 
nan  cnò,  a'  buacbailleacbd  nam 
meann,  's  a'  buain  nan  dearc  air  an 
tom.  0,  bu  bbòidheacb  i ;  lui  mbilis 
leam  briagail  a  beòil,  bu  taitnicbe 
leam  fiamb  a  gàire,  agus  blàitbead 
asùl,  na  aon  ni  eile  a  cbunnaic,  no 
cbi  mi  gu  bràtb ;  acb  cbuir  tuail- 
eas  nam  briag  eadaruinn,  agus  cba 
cbuala  i  riamb  ciamar.  Acli  is  coma 
CO  dbiubb.  Tba  mis  a  nis  am  dbuine 
bocbd ;  tba  uallacb  trom  air  m' 
inntinn,  agus  tba  imcbeist  an  t- 
saogbail  so  an  impis  mo  cbridbe  a 
sgàineadb ;  mur  b'e  bruadair,  agus 
aisling  na  b-oidbcbe  cba  'n  'eil  fbios 
ciod  e  a  dbeanainn.  Is  mòr  am 
faocbadh  a  ta  iad  so  a'  toirt  domb. 
Cba  luaitbe  'dhiiineas  mo  shbil,  na 
tba  mo  spiorad  a'  falbb  air  a  chuairt 
do  tbir  m'  òige.  Ann  an  sin  tba  mi 
CO  òg,  uallacb,  aigbearacb  's  a  bba 
j  mi  riamb  ;  gun  suira  do'n  aois 
mbosaicb,  no  do  'n  t-saoglial  bbuair- 
j  easacb.  Tba  letb-cbeud  bUadhna 
de  m'  laitbean  mar  gum  biodh  iad  air 


210 


AN    GAIDHEAL.         Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 


an  dubhadh  a  macli.  Tha  mi  a  ris 
aim  an  tigh  m'  athar,  agus  tha  e  mar 
bha  e  riamh.  Tha  mo  bhràithrean 
agus  mo  pheathraichean  mar  a  b' 
àbhuist  doibh.  Tha  mi  an  dara 
cuid,  ag  camanachd  air  a'  bhlàr,  a' 
sealgaireachd  air  a'  bheinn,  no  a' 
luinneireachd  air  a'  chaol,  a'  deanamh 
falach-«huain  air  gach  bat  a  thig  am 
charamh.  Tha  mi  gu  trie  ann  an 
aisling  na  h-oidhche  ri  mànran 
milis  le  m'  chaileig  ghaolaich,  a' 
siubhal  ri  taobh  nam  fuaran,  ise  co 
àillidh  òg  's  a  bha  i  air  an  la  air  an 
dubhairt  mi,  Nacli  robh  air  an  t- 
saoghal  idle  na  chuirinn  ann  an 
coimeas  rithe,  agus  mise  co  aotrom 
sunntach.  Ann  an  aon  fhocal,  cha 
'n  'eil  ni  a  thug  riamh  solas  do  m' 
chridhe  's  mi  òg,  air  nach  'eil  m' 
inntinn  a'  ruith  ann  am  bruadar  na 
h-oidhche.  Ach  a  thuilleadh  air  so, 
tha  mi  am  chadal  far  nach  robh  mi 
riamh  am  fhaireachadh.  Tha  mi 
gu  trie  ann  an  saoghal  iir,  le  buaidh- 
ibh  agus  le  cumhachdaibh  ùr  nach  d' 
fhiosraich  m'  inntinn  riamh  's  mi  m' 
dhusgadh.  Tha  mi  'n  cuideachda 
righrean  agus  fhlaithean  domliain. 
Bheir  mi  sgriob  do  'n  Fliraing,  agus 
gu  grad  theid  mi  as  sin  do  na  h- 
Innsibh.  Diridh  mi,  ann  am  prioba 
na  sill,  do  'n  ghealaich,  agus  tearu- 
aidh  mi  co  grad  do  uamhaibh  dorcha 
an  talmhuinn.  Marcaichidh  mi  an 
cearban  air  a'  chuan,  no  am  fiadh 
air  a'  bheinn.  Bidh  mi  'n  dara  uair 
ag  gabhail  dhuanag  leis  a'  mhaighd- 
inn-mhara  fo  'n  fhairge  ghuirm,  no 
a  dannsa  leis  na  sithichean  air  an 
tulaichibh  uaine.  Saoilidh  mi  gu 
bheil  comas  agam  air  uairibh  siubhal 
gun  chas  a  ghluasad,  ach  ag  iathadh 
gu  h-aotrom  uallach  gun  f  hios  agam 
ciamar,  mar  ian  beadarrach,  o 
chnoc  gu  cnoc,  no  a'  snàmh  gu  h- 
aithiseach  mar  mhoch  cheò  an  t- 
sàmhraidh.  Mo  bheannachd  aig 
bruadair  na  h-oidhche,  is  iomad  ao- 
tromachadh  thug  iad  riamh  dhomh : 


ach  'e  èiginn  domh  aideachadh  gu 
bheil,  air  uairibh,  aislingeau  mi- 
thaitneach  agam.  Ma  thuiteas 
dhomh  bhi  sealgaireachd 's  a'  bheinn, 
tha  mo  ghunn'  a  diiiltadh  agus  am 
fiadh  ag  amharc  orm  'an  clàr  an 
an  aodainn.  Ma  's  ann  a'  luinneir- 
eachd a  bhitheas  mi,  tha  'u  stiiiir  air 
m'  fhàgail,  tha  'n  crann-toisich  a 
mach  air  a'  chliathaich,  agus  taoim 
gu  tobhtaichean.  Ma  theid  mi  do 
'n  choille  chnò  tha  leannan  mo 
ghràidh  a'sleamhnachadh  bhuam  leis 
an  eas,  agus  chi  mi  a  cuailean  donn, 
's  a  làmh  f  hada  gheal  's  a'  chuairteig 
dhorcha  dhomhain  a  tha  gu  h-iosal 
fotham.  Ma  theid  mi  chreach  nead 
na  h-iolaire,  tha  mi  'tuiteam  o  sgòrr 
na  creige,  's  an  crochadh  ri  preas 
beag  a  tha  'n  cunnart  gèilleadh  leam. 
Air  uairibh,  's  mi  m'  chadal,  saoilidh 
mi  gu  bheil  mo  cholainn  air  at  gu 
to  malt  anabarrach,  a  h-uile  eas  agam 
mar  shac  mine,  's  a  h-uile  niiar  cho 
garbh  ri  buideal.  Tha  mi  air  uair- 
ibh a'  bruadar  gu'n  do  thuit  mi 
bharr  an  eich,  's  gu  bheil  e  an  dara 
cuid  na  'laidhe  air  mo  mhuin,  no  ga 
m'  shlaodadh  as  a  dheigh.  Bha  mi 
o  cheann  oidhche  no  dhà  crochte  le 
fuiltein  mo  chinn  ris  a'  ghealaich, 
agus  i  'falbh  le  luaths'  mòr  's  an 
iarmailc.  Bha'n  cuan  mòr  gu  h-iosal 
fotham,  cha  bu  mho  Breatunn  na 
eilein  Mhuile,  no  an  luingeas  mòr 
na  na  fiidean.  Bha  eagal  mo  cliridh' 
orm  gu  'm  bristeadh  an  rùinnein,  's 
gu'n  tuitinn  's  an  àibheis  oillteil  a 
bha  fotham.  Ma  dheireadh  mhoth- 
aich  sgiobair  na  gealaiche  de  rionn- 
aig-earballaich  a  dlùthachadh  air,  na 
'caoiribh  dearga,  agus  ghlaodh  e  mach. 
"  Gearraibh  an  ròinnein,  leigibh  as 
e,  tha  e  cur  moille  oirnn  ;  "  an  uair 
a  chunnaic  mi  chore  a'  dol  air, 
thug  mi  sgriach  oillteil  asam  a 
dhùisg  as  mo  shuain  mi. 

A  nise  nach  iongantach  an  gnotli- 
ach  so  uile,  agus  nach  do-thuigsinn 
buaidhean  inntinn  mhic  an  duiue. 


Tresa  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876.        AN   GAIDHEAL. 


211 


Is  trie  a  chuala  mi  mo  mhiiime 
Seònaid  ni  'n  Eoghainn  ag  innseadh 
mu  chladli  na  dlitlicha  anns  an  d' 
rugadh  mi,  gu'm  b'  àbhuist  do 
spiorad  nam  marbli  èirigh  air 
mheadhon  oidhche  a  shiubhal  an 
t-saoghail,  agus  aig  gairm  nan 
coileach,  tilleadh  a  ris  a  dh-ionn- 
suidli  an  tighean  caola  còmlinuidh. 
'S  ann  mar  so,  ann  am  bharail-sa, 
a  tha  inntinn  an  duiue,  co  luath  's  a 
tha  cholainn  na  'suain  tha  'n  t- 
aoidlie  so  a'  dol  a  mach  a  shiublial 
an  dombain,  agus  tillidh  e  a  ris  'n 
uair  a  dhùisgeas  i. 

Thugaibh  dhuinn  fiosracbadh  air 
a  chilis  so.  Ge  b-aineolacb  mise 
seacli  sibhse,  tha  mi  tarruing  a  cho'- 
dliiinaidli  so  uaithe,  gu  bheil  an 
inntinn  a  eisimeil  na  colainne,  gu 
bheil  buaidhean  aig  an  spiorad  nach 
urrainn  cadal  a  mhilleadh  :  tha  mi 
tuigsinn  o  so  gu  bheil  a'  cholainn  na 
'nasgadh  no  na  'h-uallaich  air  an 
spiorad,  agus  an  uair  a  chuireas  an 
t-anam  dheth  an  corp  truaillidh  so 
gu'n  èirich  e  gu  àirde  agus  foirfeachd 
nach  urrainn  duinn  a  nis  a  thuig- 
sinn.  Caidlidh  a'  cholainn  car  seal 
's  an  uaigli,  acb  bithidh  an  spiorad 
sior-bheo ;  a  nis  tha  e  air  a  chumail 
fodha  le  uallach  na  feòla,  agus  do  'n 
uallach  sin  is  trie  a  tha  e  sgith,  ach 
an  uair  a  shaoras  cadal  a'  bhàis  e  o'n 
uallach  so,  èirigh  e  gu  coi'-liontachd 
nea-chriochnaich. 
An  Teachdaire. 


DOIMHNEACHD  A'  CHUAIN. 

'N  uair  a  sheallas  sinn  air  aghaidh 
a'  Chuain  tha  sinn  ullamh  gu  'shaol- 
sinn  gu'm  bu  bhriagh  am  fearann  a 


bhitheadh  ann  na  'n  robh  na  h-uisg- 
eachan  as  an  rathad.  Ach  an  aite 
leaba'  'Chuain  a  bhi  na  chonard,  's 
ann  a  tha  'n  grunnd  na  shluic  's  na 
chnuic,  na  ghlinn  dhomhain,  's  na 
bheanntan  nàrda  mara  chitear  o'n 
bheagan  a  leanas.  A  measg  moran 
aitean  's  an  deachaidh  a  thomhas  's  'e 
so  cuid  dhiu. 

Tha  doimhneaehd  a'  Bhaltic  mu 
20  Aitheamh;  an  Caol  eadar  an 
Fhraing  a's  Sasunn  50  Aitheamh; 
cuid  do'n  Mhedeterranean  800 
Aitheamh;  Baffin's  Bay  1000  Aithe- 
amh ;  taobh  an  lar  a'  Chip  (Cape  of 
Good  Hope)  2, 6 GO  Aitheamh ;  taobh 
an  lar  do  Eilean  St.  Helena  4,500 
Aitheamh — corr  agus  sia  uibhir  's  a 
tha  dh'airde  am  Beinn  Neamheis  ! 
J.  W. 

Lasr-na-h-amhunn  1876. 


SOP  AS  GACH  SEID. 

Is  e  gliocas  gach  neach  toiseachadh  air 
tras  na  beatha  le  crionnachd  iomchuidli, 
agus  le  fior  ghrunndalas.  Tha  e  ro  f  hurasd 
a  bhi  anameasarra,  struidheil,  agus  caith- 
teach  oil-  cùimhnich  gu'm  fas  ana-caitheamh 
de  gach  gnè  ceart  cosmhuil  v\  peileir 
sneachda  a'  ruith  le  gleann. 

Tha  e  moran  ni's  fearr  gèilleadh  ann  an 
nithibh  beaga,  na  connsuchadh  a  dhtisgadh 
suas.  Tha  e  'na  chleachdadh  aig  cuid  a  bhi 
'seasamh  gu  dian  air  son  an  dlighe  fein  dh' 
aindeoin  a  shuaraichead.  Is  minic  tha  'n 
giulan  so  a'  togail  aimhreitean  nach  furasd 
an  casgadh.  Tha  beatha  an  duine  tuill- 
eadh's  goirid  air  son  connsachaidh  gu'n  diu 
dhe'n  t-seorsa  so.  Agus  mar  bi  a'  chùis 
mòr  agus  cudthromach  'se  a's  glice  gu'n 
teagamh,  agus  a's  lugha  trioblaid  striochd- 
adh  ann  an  neoni,  na  bhi  coLreach  an  comh- 
strith  sam  bith  a  dheanamh.  Tha  fior 
ghliocas  "  air  tùs  glan,  agus  an  d^igh  sin 
siochail," 


212 


AN   GAIDHEAL.         Treas  Mìos  an  t-SamhraIdh,  isre. 


OKAN  DO  MHAIGHDINN  COIS-A-BHILE. 


Gleus  D. 


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Rinneadh  an  t-òran  so  le  Dòmhnull  Macghriogair,  do  Chatriana  MhMnn,  a'n  Cois-a'- 
Bhile,  laimh  ri  Abarpheallaidh.  Phòs  iad  a'n  tiine  gheàrr  an  d^igh  sin — ma  'a  fior 
Alastair  Macdhùghaill,  a'n  Cùl-an-drumain,  bho  'n  d'  thainig  an  t-òran.         D.  R.  ^L 

'S  RO  mhuladach,  neo-àdhmhor, 
Mo  cliàradh  's  an  uair  s', 
An  deigh  mo  leannan  fhàgail 
'S  a'  bhràighe  so  shuas ; 
Gur  i  mo  chruinneag  ghaolach, 
Tha  '  gruaidhean  mar  na  caoran, 
Mar  ùbhlan  air  bhàrr  chraobh  dhetu 
Nach  f  haodar  am  buain. 


Ge  duilich  dhomh  's  ge  dlblidh 

'Bhi  as  do  dhith  gach  uair, 

Cha  'n  aithnich  neach  gu  'm  bi  mi 

Fodh  mhi-ghean  no  ghruaim  ; 

'S  ge  cruaidli  thu '  bhi  'g  a  m'  f  hàgaiì 

Cha  chuir  do  ghaol  gu  bàs  mi, 

'S  cha  ghiorraich  e  mo  làithean 

Gu  bràth  urad  's  uair. 

Ma  's  e  fear '  thig  ri  d'  chàirdean 
A  's  dàch'  do  thoirt  uam, 
Nach  truagh  cho  fad'  's  a  bha  mi 
'G  a  d'  thàladh  scun  bhuaidh  ! 


Treas  Mios  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876.         AN    GAIDHEAL.  213 

Ma  's  e  's  gu  'n  d'  rinn  thu  m'  fhàgail, 
'S  gur  e  fear  eile  's  aill  leat, 
Nach  b'  f  heàrr  dhut  innse  tràtli  dhomh, 
Na  fas  rium  an  gruaim. 

Is  bochd  learn  thu  'bin  'n  còmhnuidh 
A'n  dòchas  cho  truagh, 
A'n  dull  gu  'n  d'  rinn  mi  d'  f  hagail, 
'S  gu  'n  d'  f has  mi  riufc  fuar ; 
An  gaol  a  thug  mi  tràth  dhut, 
Am  feasd  cha  dean  mi  àicheadh, 
Cho  fad'  's  a  bhios  am  bàs  gun 
Mo  chàradh  's  an  uaigh. 

Aeh  's  dona  '  rinn  thu  'ràidhtinn 
Gu  'n  d'  f  has  mi  riut  fuar, 
No  gu  'n  do  rinn  mo  chàirdean 
Mo  bhlàth  ghaol  'thoirt  uat ; 
Ged  'thiginn  gu  bhi  'g  àieheadh 
Mo  chinnidh  's  diithaich  m'  àraich, 
Cho  cinnteach  ris  a'  bhàs,  bidh 
Mo  ghràdh  dhutsa  buan. 

Na  'm  biodh  do  chridh'  cho  deònaeii 
Hi  d'  chòmhradh  'n  a  m'  chluais, 
A  dh'  aindeoin  na  tha  bed, 
Bhiodhmid  pòsda  ri  luaths, 
Bho  's  ann  a  d'  phearsa  bhòidheich 
A  tha  mo  ghaol-sa  '  còmhnuidh, 
*S  do  nàdur  seirceil  comhnard. 
Mo  leòn  thu  'bhi  uam  ! 

Tha  sgèul  air  feadh  na  diithcha 
Gu  'm  bheil  gach  cùis  gu  rèidh, 
Ach  's  beag  am  fios  na  luban 
'Tha  dùbfhillt'  'n  a  d'  chrè ; 
Cha  d'  chuir  i  cas  a'm  bròig,  us 
Cha  'n  fhacas  'g  imeachd  feòir  i 


214  AN    GAIDHEAL.         Treas  Mìos  an  t-Samhraidh,  1876. 

Mu  'n  deanainn  mòran  bròin, 
'S  i  gun  deò  dhomh  de  spèis. 

Ma  's  e  's  gu  d'  rinn  thu  m'  fliàgail, 
'S  gur  fheàrr  leat  fear  lir, 
Gu  'n  robh  gach  sonas  àrd  ag 
Cur  blàth  air  do  chrlin ; 
'S  mo  dhùrachd  fear  a  's  feàrr  dlmt, 
'Bhios  fearail,  toirteil,  bàigheil, 
'S  a  chumas  tu  bho  ànrath, 
Le  càirdeas  us  miiirn. 

Cha  'n  urrainn  iad  a  ràdh  ach 

Gur  geàrr  'bha  do  run ; 

Is  iomadh  fear  a  b'  fheàrr  na 

Mi  'dh'fhàilnich  's  a'  chùis ; 

Is  iomadh  fear  a  bhàrr  orm 

Nach  d'fhuair  a  leannan  làimh  ris — 

An  ni  nach  'eil  a'n  dan, 

Ciod  an  stàth  'bhi  'n  a  dhùil  Ì 

Cha  bhi  mi  nis  ag  innse 
Co  i  'tha  mi  'luaidh  : 
Ach  cluinnear  e  ri  tim, 
'S  i  's  an  tir  so  mu  'n  cuairt ; 
Am  Fairtrichill  Didònaich, 
Cha  'n  fhaicear  bean  a  bòichead^ 
'S  na  'n  teannadh  i  'n  am  choir,. 
Eachadh  fògradh  fodh  m'  ghruaim, 

Ach  c'  ait'  am  bheil  ri  'faotainn 
Bean  aogais  mo  luaidh  ? 
Chofosgarr'  ris  an  fhaoileig 
Air  aodann  nan  stuadh  : 
Gu  coimhneil,  cridheil,  seolta, 
'S  i  'shliochd  nan  daoine  còire — 
Nis  criochnaichidh  mi  m'  òran, 
A'n  dòchas  a  buain. 


THE     Q-_z^EL, 


ENGLISH  DEPARTMENT. 


Vol.  V.  JULY  1876.  No.  55. 


TO  THE  READERS  OF  "  THE  GAEL." 

It  is  now  oA'er  five  years  since  the  prospectus  of  The  Gael  was  first 
issued,  and  The  Gael  itself  is  well  on  into  its  fifth  year,  a  much  longer 
life  than  any  Gaelic  pubUcation  of  the  kind  has  ever  yet  enjoyed.  But 
having  received  the  appointment  of  Canadian  Government  Emigration 
Commissioner  for  Scotland,  I  have  found  great  difficulty  in  regularly 
attending  to  The  Gael  and  my  other  duties  which  necessitated  my 
being  occasionally  absent  for  considerable  periods  of  time.  Yet,  although 
at  considerable  sacrifice  both  as  to  time  and  money  (for  the  object  which 
I  had  so  much  at  heart),  I  had  been  able  to  bring  out  The  Gael  pretty 
regularly  until  the  last  winter,  when  a  heavy  family  bereavement,  as  well 
as  ofiicial  duties,  required  me  to  stay  in  Canada  for  several  months,  which 
brought  The  Gael  so  much  behind  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  bring  it 
up  to  the  present  time.  Finding  it  thus  difficult  to  conduct  The  Gael 
properly,  and  do  justice  to  my  other  duties,  I  have  just  arranged  Avith 
Messrs.  Maclachlax  &  Stewart,  the  well-known  Gaelic  publishers, 
Edinburgh,  to  take  the  entire  management,  both  editorial  and  otherwise, 
for  a  space  of  time,  under  certain  conditions,  which  need  not  be  detailed 
here. 

I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  state  that,  under  these  new  arrangements,  the 
readers  of  The  Gael  are  guaranteed  its  regular  issue  on  the  first  of 
each  month  for  a  number  of  years,  and  under  the  same  plan  as  that  fol- 
lowed from  its  commencement, — free  from  party  or  sectarian  control  or 
bias.  In  retiring  from  the  active  superintendence  of  it,  I  wish  the  readers 
to  understand  that  I  am  as  much  as  ever  interested  in  the  prosperity  of 
The  Gael,  as  in  everything  promotive  of  Gaelic  interests. 

I  do  not  care  to  refer  to  the  indifference  and  neglect,  if  not  opposition, 
of  })arties,  whose  friendship  and  support  in  such  an  enterprise  I  was  led 
to  expect ;  but  in  thus  giving  up  the  active  control  and  management,  I 
cannot  let  the  opportunity  pass  without  publicly  acknowledging  the  assist- 
ance received  in  the  editorial  department,  from  a  number  of  talented  and 
true-hearted  Highlanders,  without  whose  aid  I  could  scarcely  have  been 
able  to  carry  on  the  publication  at  all.  Foremost  among  these  I  may 
mention  Mr.  John  Whyte,  of  Glasgow,  who  is  so  nearly  related  to,  and 
looks  so  much  like,  Iain  Mac  lUehhnin,  Mac  Mharcuis,  and  Skicram  Cum, 
that  it  is  doubtful  if  the  most  expert  physiognomist  could  distinguish 
the  one  from  the  other.  Next  comes  Mr.  Donald  C.  Macpherson,  Edin- 
burgh, and  Aharch,  who  hold  the  same  relationship  to  each  other  as  the 
former  party.  Then  comes  Dr.  D.  Morrison  {D.B..M.),  Edinburgh,  son  of 
the  late  pious  and  talented  John  Morrison,  of  Harris,  and  next  Messrs.  N. 
MacNeill,  Glasgow,  and  William  Mackenzie,  now  the  northern  represen- 


216  THE  GAEL.  juiy.isre. 

tative  of  the  Aberdeen  Free  Press,  at  Inverness,  both  of  whom  were  con- 
nected with  The  Gael  editorially,  shortly  after  its  removal  to  Scotland  ; 
Mr.  ]\IacNeill  having  assisted  in  preparing  the  first  two  numbers 
here,  besides  coming  to  its  aid  on  seveial  occasions  since  then. 

Among  others  who  have  been  less  intimately  connected  ■with  The 
Gael,  but  who  have  rendered  important  service,  may  be  named,  first  the 
genial,  kind,  and  true  Highlander,  'Rev.  Alexander  MacGregor,  M.A., 
Inverness,  of  whom  the  readers  of  The  Gael  need  not  be  told  more 
than  that  he  is  very  nearly  related  to  the  well-known  Sgiathanach 
and  Alasclair  Euadh;  Mr.  D.  Mackinnon,  M.A.,  Edinburgh;  P.  Mac- 
Gregor, Esq.,  M.A.,  Barrister,  Toronto,  Canada,  author  of  an  able  and 
complete  translation  of  Ossian's  poems,  and  other  works ;  D.  Macphail, 
Esq.  [Muileuch),  Glasgow;  Eev.  Alexander  Cameron,  of  Brodick, 
late  of  E.enton  ;  Eev.  Dr.  Maclauchlan,  Edinburgh ;  the  late  Dr.  Mac- 
kintosh MacKay,  and  Col.  Eobertson,  Edinburgh  ;  Eev.  Eobert  Blair, 
M.A.,  Glasgow  ;  John  MacKay,  Esq.,  C.E.,  Shrewsbury  ;  the  Honourable 
John  Eraser  de  Berry,  M.L.C.,  Chief  of  the  Erasers,  British  North  America; 
the  Bard  MacColl;  Eevs.  D.  B.  Blair,  Dr.  MacNish,  and  Prof.  MacKay, 
Canada,  and  many  others  on  both  sides  of  the  water. 

But  to  the  first  five  gentlemen  named,  more  than  any  others.  The  Gael, 
perhaps,  owes  in  a  greater  degree  its  lengthened  life  and  present  position. 
They  are  among  the  first  Gaelic  scholars  and  Avriters  in  Scotland ;  and  as 
they  are  not  among  those  Avho  show  their  patriotism  by  parading  in  kilts, 
or  otherwise  by  a  prominent  disjilay  of  their  abilities — a  great  part  of  their 
labour  having  been  spent  privately  in  correcting  and  preparing  other 
writer's  manuscripts  for  the  press,  and  their  own  valuable  and  most 
interesting  productions  appearing  principally  anonymously  or  under 
assumed  names — it  therefore  gives  me  the  more  pleasure  now  in  bringing 
them  to  the  surface.  And  let  me  mention  again,  in  conclusion,  that 
Messrs.  John  Whyte,  D.  C.  Macpherson,  Dr.  D.  Morrison,  K.  MacNeill, 
and  William  Mackenzie,  have  been  found  foremost  among  the  true-hearted 
Highlanders  that  The  Gael  has  fallen  in  with  during  its  now  nearly  five 
years  existence,  and  as  they  are  all  but  young  men,  we  may  hope  yet  to 
see  them  occupying  such  positions  as  would  turn  their  talents  to 
proper  account  for  the  benefit  of  their  couijtry ;  and,  in  parting,  I  think  I 
can  perhaps  do  no  better  than  present  them  as  The  Gael's  candidates 
for  the  new  Celtic  Chair,  and  merely  suggesting  that  Professor  Blackie 
and  the  other  powers  that  be,  might  do  worse  than  select  uue  of  them 
for  that  position. 

It  is  understood  that  most  of  the  gentlemen  referred  to  above  are  to 
support  The  Gael  for  the  future  as  in  the  past,  and  under  the  regular 
and  vigorous  management  of  Messrs.  Maclachlan  &  Stewart,  no  doubt 
it  will  attain  to  greater  success  than  ever. 

With  these  words  of  explanation  and  acknowledgment,  let  me  for  the 
present  bid  an  affectionate  farewell  to  the  readers  of  The  Gael. 

Angus  Nicholson. 


July,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


217 


LORD  MACAULAY.* 

Three  months  ago,  we  had  before 
us  the  beautiful  life  of  Norman 
Macleod  written  by  his  brother ; 
and,  a  month  afterwards,  the  life  of 
Lord  ]\Iacaulay  appeared  written  by 
his  nephew.  Even  though  the 
biography  of  the  peer  had  not 
followed  so  closely  upon  the  heels 
of  that  of  the  clergyman,  it  would 
be  impossible  for  a  Highlander  to 
read  the  life  and  character  of  the 
one  without  being  irresistibly  re- 
minded of  the  life  and  career  of  the 
other.  Both  have  many  features  in 
common.  In  many  respects  it  would 
be  difficult  to  find  two  distinguished 
men  more  unlike.  In  blood,  tlie  two 
are  equally  related  to  us  and  exactly 
in  the  same  way.  Both  prided 
themselves  upon  inheriting  an  old 
Scandinavian  name.  Thegreat grand- 
father of  Macaulay  left  a  tacksman's 
home  in  the  Lews  for  the  manse  of 
Tiree;  the  grandfather  of  Norman 
Macleod  came  from  Skye  to  the 
manse  of  Morven.  The  grandfather 
of  Macaulay  was  minister  of  In- 
veraray and  Cardross  ;  Norman 
Macleod's  father  was  one  of  the 
most  distinguished,  if  not  the  most 
distinguished,  Highland  clergyman 
of  his  day.  Macleod's  mother  was 
a  border  Maxwell ;  Macaulay's 
mother  was  an  English  quakeress. 
From  their  infancy  both  gave 
promise  of  a  brilliant  future  ;  and 
their  after  life  fulfilled  the  expecta- 
tions of  the  most  sanguine.  As 
conversationalists  both  were  perhaps 
without  an  equal  in  their  day. 
Macaulay,  in  Parliament,  "reminded 
one  of  the  old  days."  In  the  pulpit, 
in  the  General  Assembly,  on  the 
platform,     Macleod    was     acknow- 


*  The  Life  and  Letters  of  Lord  Macaulay. 
By  his  Nephew,  George  Otto  Trevelyan, 
M.P.  London:  Longmans,  Green,  &  Co., 
1876. 


ledged  to  be  the  foremost  orator 
of  his  day  in  Scotland,  perhaps  in 
Britain.  Macaulay's  great  reputa- 
tion as  a  writer  has  somewhat 
obscured  his  reputation  as  an  orator. 
Norman  Macleod's  writings  are 
probably  not  destined  to  take  a 
permanent  place  in  our  literature  ; 
but  few  authors  had  a  larger  circle 
of  readers  during  the  last  twelve 
years  of  his  life.  Both  men  were 
distinguished  for  their  honest  and 
manly  patriotism  and  for  a  certain 
outspokenness  which  at  different 
times  threatened  to  shake  the  public 
confidence  in  them.  Both  were 
connected,  though  in  different  ways, 
with  India  ;  and^  it  is  to  be  fearedi 
that  their  connection  with  our. 
Eastern  Empire  shortened  the  lives, 
of  both.  Both  enjoyed  without  a 
grudge  a  large  share  of  the  admira- 
tion, esteem,  and  favour  of  their 
fellow  men  and  of  their  sovereign, 
The  lives  of  both  conclusively  show 
that  they  deserved  even  a  larger 
share  of  the  affection  of  the  public 
than  they  received.  Both  passed, 
away  suddenly  and  unexpectedly— 
at  the  .same  age,  in  the  zenith  of 
their  fame,  admired  by  their  country 
which  they  loved  so  well,  and 
adored  by  their  families  to  whom, 
they  were  so  devotedly  attached. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  points  of 
contrast  are  perhaps  even  more 
striking  than  the  points  of  similarity 
between  the  two  men.  'Pjom  the 
beginning  to  the  end  of  his  life 
Macaulay  was  a  man  of  cities  and 
books  ;  Norman  Macleod  was,  from 
first  to  last,  a  child  of  nature.  We 
are  told,  indeed,  that  Norman  loved 
to  walk  through  Glasgow,  that  he 
paid  a  weekly  visit  to  the  Broomie- 
law  and  the  ships,  and  enjoyed  the 
ringing  of  the  bells  which  betokened 
tlie  awakening  of  the  great  city  to  its 
daily  toil  at  six  o'clock  of  a  winter's 
morning.     But  the  country  was  his 


218 


THE  GAEL. 


July,  1876. 


deliglit.  He  read  in  his  own 
desultory  fashion  very  extensively  ; 
but  to  accurate  scholarship  he  laid 
no  claim.  Macaulay  loved  the  country 
in  his  way, — loved  to  walk,  book  in 
hand,  through  lanes  and  over  com- 
mons, and  stretch  himself  on  a  grassy 
bank.  But  hear  him  writing  to  a 
friend,  when  barely  fifteen  years 
old:  "I  know  not  whether  'peep- 
ing at  the  world  through  the  loop- 
holes of  retreat '  be  the  best  Avay  of 
forming  us  for  engaging  in  its  busy 
and  active  scenes.  I  am  sure  it  is 
not  a  way  to  my  taste.  Poets  may 
talk  of  the  beauties  of  nature,  the 
enjoyments  of  a  country  life,  and 
rural  innocence ;  but  there  is  an- 
other kind  of  life  which,  though  un- 
sung by  bards,  is  yet  to  me  infinitely 
superior  to  the  dull  uniformity  of 
country  life.  London  is  the  place 
for  me.  Its  smoky  atmosphere  and 
its  muddy  river  charm  me  more 
than  the  pure  air  of  Hertfordshire, 
and  the  crystal  currents  of  the 
river  Kib.  Nothing  is  equal  to  the 
splendid  varieties  of  London  life, 
'  the  fine  flow  of  London  talk,'  and 
the  dazzling  brilliancy  of  London 
spectacles.  Such  are  my  sentiments, 
and,  if  ever  I  publish  poetry,  it 
shall  not  be  pastoral.  Nature  is 
the  last  goddess  to  whom  my  devoirs 
shall  be  paid."  Imagine  Norman 
Macleod  writing  in  that  strain  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  or  at  the  age  of 
fifty  !  And  even  Clapham  Common, 
which  Macaulay  knew  so  thoroughly 
and  so  thoroughly  enjoyed  when  a 
child,  was  enjoved  in  a  fashion  quite 
his  own.  "  He  explored  its  recesses; 
he  composed,  and  almost  believed, 
its  legends;  he  invented  for  its 
different  features  a  nomenclature 
which  has  been  faithfully  preserved 
by  two  generations  of  children.  A 
slight  ridge  intersected  by  deep 
ditches  towards  the  west  of  the 
Common,    the    very    existence    of 


which  no  one  above  eight  years  old 
would  notice,  was  dignified  with  the 
title  of  the  Alps  ;  while  the  elevated 
island,  covered  with  shrubs,  that 
gives  a  name  to  the  Mount  pond, 
was  regarded  with  infinite  awe  as 
being  the  nearest  approach,  within 
the  circuit  of  his  observation,  to  a 
conception  of  the  majesty  of  Sinai." 
The  most  pleasing  and,  until  his  life 
was  written,  the  least-known  feature 
of  Macau  lay's  character,  is  his  love 
of  children  and  their  love  of  him. 
But  we  can  hardly  imagine  that  he 
ever  was  himself  a  child.  He  was 
the  companion  and  friend  and  guide 
of  children  at  five ;  he  was  so  at 
fifty.  But  at  three  he  is  introduced 
to  us  as  reading  incessantly,  "  for 
the  most  part  lying  on  the  rug 
before  the  fire,  with  his  book  on  the 
ground,  and  a  piece  of  bread-and- 
butter  in  his  hand."  His  manner 
and  diction  and  judgment  are  those 
of  a  well-read,  confident,  young  man. 
When  only  four  years  old,  he  meets 
Mrs.  Hannah  More  at  the  door,  tells 
her  his  parents  are  out,  "  but  if  she 
would  be  good  enough  to  come  in, 
he  would  bring  her  a  glass  of  old 
spirits."  A  servant  in  Lady  Walde- 
grave's  spills  some  hot  coffee  over 
his  legs.  To  the  lady's  anxious  in- 
quiry he  replies,  "  Thank  you, 
madam,  the  agony  is  abated."  The 
servant-girl  removes  oyster-shells 
which  marked  his  plot  of  ground  in 
the  back-garden.  The  child  of  four 
went  "straight  to  the  drawing-room, 
where  his  mother  was  entertaining 
some  visitors,  walked  into  the  circle, 
and  said  very  solemnly :  '  Cursed 
be  Sally ;  for  it  is  written.  Cursed 
is  he  that  removeth  his  neighbour's 
landmark.'"  Before  he  was  eight, 
he  wrote  a  Compendium  of  Univer- 
sal History;  "a  paper  which  Henry 
Daly  was  to  translate  into  ]\Ialabar 
to  persuade  the  people  of  Travancore 
to  embrace  the  Christian  religion  ;" 


July,  isre. 


THE  GAEL. 


219 


three  cantos  of  an  epic,  entitled 
"Battle  of  Cheviot;"  "commenced 
a  heroic  poem,  to  be  called  '  Olaus 
the  Great,  or  the  Conquest  of} 
Mona,'  in  which,  after  the  manner 
of  Virgil,  he  might  introduce  in  pro- 1 
phetic  song  the  future  fortunes  ofl 
the  family;"  and  hymns  innumer-' 
able.  When  we  learn  further  from  \ 
his  biographer  "that  the  volumin- 
ous writings  of  his  childhood, 
dashed  off  at  headlong  speed  in  the 
odds  anJ  ends  of  leisure  from  school  i 
study  and  nursery  routine,  are  not 
only  perfectly  correct  in  spelling 
and  grammar,  but  display  the  same 
lucidity  of  meaning,  and  scrupulous 
accuracy  in  punctuation  and  the 
other  minor  details  of  the  literary 
art,  which  characterise  his  mature 
works,"  we  feel  a  certain  incongru- 
ity in  speaking  of  Macaulay  as 
child  or  boy,  save  in  years  alone. 

His  biographer  says  truly,  that 
"  the  most  ardent  admirers  of  Mac- 
aulay will  admit  that  a  minute 
study  of  his  literary  productions 
left  them,  as  far  as  any  but  an  in- 
tellectual knowledge  of  the  writer 
himself  was  concerned,  very  much  j 
as  it  found  them."  "We  knew  the 
public  man — the  essayist,  the  states- 
man, the  historian,  "  the  brilliant 
ornament  of  society ;"  but  of  the 
personal  life  and  ways  and  habits  of 
the  man  the  world  was  not  aware. 
In  the  two  handsome  volumes  of 
Mr.  Trevelyan,  the  great  historian's 
private  life  is  fully  unfolded  to  us 
by  copious  extracts  from  his  Diary 
and  by  scores  of  letters  to  his  most 
intimate  friends.  It  is  a  life  of 
winch  his  country  as  well  as  his 
family  may  well  be  proud.  It  is 
the  record  of  a  great  mind  devoted 
to  lofty  ends — of  an  intensely  affec- 
tionate nature  finding  his  greatest 
happiness  in  promoting  the  happi- 
ness and  comfort  of  those  dear  to 
him.     He  had  not  indeed  the  "  big- 


heartedness "  of  Norman  Macleod. 
His  sympathies  had  a  narrower 
range ;  and  he  was  more  reserved 
in  giving  expression  to  his  personal 
feelings.  No  doubt  the  early  train- 
ing and  the  subsequent  career  of 
the  great  Whig  statesman  would  in 
part  account  for  this  ;  but  from  his 
very  boyhood  we  find  intense  affec- 
tion for  his  own  family,  comparative 
indifference  towards  his  school  and 
college  companions,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  or  two.  It  continued  so 
through  life.  Almost  with  the  ex- 
ception of  his  father  and  mother,  his 
two  sisters  and  latterly  his  nephews 
and  nieces,  and  ]\Ir.  Ellis,  his  friend- 
ships were  of  a  semi-public  kind. 
He  contracted  a  warm  regard  for 
Jeffrey.  He  wrote  in  the  frankest 
terms  to  Macvey  Napier.  But  the 
origin  of  the  acquaintance  was  a 
literary  one;  and  the  continuance 
of  it  was  mainly  so.  He  seems  to 
have  kept  up  his  acquaintance  with 
his  college  friends,  not  so  much  for 
old  acquaintance'  sake  as  because 
they  were  of  the  same  college.  To 
be  a  fellow  of  "  Trinity "  was  the 
best  introduction  to  Macaulay.  On 
the  death  of  Wilberforce,  his  father's 
most  intimate  friend,  he  writes  to 
his  sister  in  a  strain  which  most 
people  would  consider  unpardonable 
levity :  "  There  are  not  ten  people 
in  the  world  Avhose  deaths  would 
spoil  my  dinner;  but"  (he  adds 
characteristically)  "there  are  one  or 
two  whose  deaths  would  break  my 
heart."  Macaulay  could  never  in 
any  country  or  in  any  age  secure 
the  personal  regard  which  his 
countrymen  so  willingly  yielded  to 
Norman  Macleod,  whom  they  affec- 
tionately called  Norman  Macleod, 
and  still  oftener  Norman — rarely 
Macleod  or  Dr.  Macleod. 

Macaulay's  reputation  as  an  ora- 
tor, politician,  and  administrator,  is 
fast  fading  from  the  public  mind. 


220 


THE  GAEL. 


July,  1876. 


Both  he  and  Norman  Macleod  were 
born  Tories,  and  both  became 
Liberal,  with  this  difference,  that 
Macaulay's  liberaUty  appeared  to 
have  kept  pace  with  the  accepted 
political  dogmas  of  the  Whig  party, 
while  Norman  Macleod  looked  at  all 
political  questions,  whether  ecclesi- 
astical or  civil,  from  a  large  catholic 
point  of  view  quite  irrespective  of 
party  considerations.  Macaulay 
was  essentially  a  }>arty  man.  A 
Whig  he  became  at  Cambridge,  and 
a  Wldg  he  remained  to  the  end. 
Whether  if  he  had  lived  he  could 
have  managed  to  keep  pace  with  the 
progressive  views  of  that  party  during 
the  last  twelve  years  or  not  it 
would  be  difficult  to  say.  Probably 
he  coidd  manage  at  all  events  not  to 
break  with  them.  He  showed  him- 
self once  superior  to  party  ties. 
He  differed  from  the  government  of 
which  he  was  a  member  upon  the 
terms  upon  which  it  was  proposed 
to  emancipate  the  slaves,  and  he 
placed  his  resignation  in  the  hands 
of  the  Prime  Minister.  But  filial 
affection  rather  than  intellectual  or 
moral  conviction  prompted  this 
course.  He  could  not,  he  said,  go 
against  the  wishes  of  his  father  upon 
this  question.  His  services  to  his  party 
as  speaker  and  writer  were  great, 
and  they  were  duly  appreciated. 
He  rose,  at  an  early  age,  with  no 
influence  but  what  his  own  talents 
and  industry  secured  for  him,  to 
high  office  in  the  State.  His  pro- 
motion was  well  deserved.  Macaulay 
was  fully  conscious  of  his  own  powers, 
and  he  was  ambitious  of  political 
distinction.  But  among  the  states- 
men of  England  never  did  man 
more  resolutely  preach  and  practise 
the  duty  of  maintaining  the  political 
character  free  from  reproach.  He 
was  a  poor  man  and  out  of  office 
he  could  not  remain  in  Parliament. 


He  felt  that  in  the  judgment  of  less 
scrupulous  men  he  would  be  re- 
garded as  a  self-seeking  politician,  a 
mere  place  -  hunter,  and  the  very 
suspicion  of  being  so  regarded,  even 
by  men  whom  he  despised,  made 
him  unhappy.  He  had  a  perfect 
horror  of  getting  into  debt.  We  find 
him  when  a  prominent  politician  ob- 
liged to  sell  the  medals  he  won  at 
Cambridge.  With  only  seven  hun- 
dred pounds  in  the  world  and  with 
his  father  and  sisters  to  look  after  he 
resigns  his  office  rather  than  offend 
his  father.  With  the  highest  offices 
in  the  State  within  sight,  he  accepts 
of  an  appointment  in  India  and  coolly 
makes  up  his  mind  to  an  exile  there, 
until  he  can  save  some  thirty  thous- 
and pounds,  and  be  independant  for 
the  rest  of  his  life.  His  speeches, 
minutes,  despatches,  and  reports, 
will  be,. for  long,  models  for  imitation 
to  British  orators  and  administra- 
tors ;  but  we  hope  that  long  after 
his  speeches  and  circulars  shall  have 
been  superseded,  his  lofty  public 
integrity  will  remain  to  stimulate, 
to  guide,  and  to  encourage  young 
men  who  enter  the  House  of  Com- 
mons conscious  of  great  powers  and 
possessed  of  little  money. 

Macaulay  enjoyed  exceedingly  the 
excitement  of  political  life.  He 
enjoj^ed  and  valued  highlj'  political 
power.  But  literature  was  his  first 
and  last  love.  His  early  articles  in 
the  Edinburgh  Ikvieiv  brought  him 
prominently  before  the  world  and 
secured  for  him  a  seat  in  Parliament. 
During  the  exciting  days  of  Catholic 
Emancipation,  Reform  Bill,  and 
Emanci]>ation  of  Slaves,  literature 
was  partly  forsaken  but  not  by  any 
means  forgotten.  In  India  the 
old  passion  returned  in  full  force ; 
and  after  his  return  from  India  his 
love  of  literature  and  literary  dis- 
tinction   increased   with   increasing 


July,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


221 


years.  He  took  to  politics  merely 
to  strengthen  his  party  and  longed 
for  an  opportunity  to  give  up 
political  life  altogether.  By  litera- 
ture he  won  a  reputation  Avhich 
might  satisfy  even  his  high  aims, 
and  rank  and  fortune  which  far  ex- 
ceeded his  highest  expectations  in 
this  regard.  He  tells  us  that  in 
writing  his  history  he  had  the  year 
2000  and  even  3000  m  xiew.  Be- 
fore the  nearest  to  us  of  these  epochs 
will  have  arrived,  the  history  of  the 
period  which  Lord  Macaulay  made 
his  own  will  be  re-written.  Further 
research  among  the  materials  which 
he  so  diligently  ransacked  will  prob- 
ably modify  many  of  hi;^  statements, 
and  already  many  of  his  most 
favoured  doctrines  are  being  su- 
perseded ;  but  even  in  the  year  3000, 
Macaulay's  History  of  England  will 
be  read  with  interest  and  admira- 
tion by  many  and  especially  by  the 
.young.  Lord  Macaulay  had  many 
of  the  highest  qualifications  of  an 
historian.  He  read  incessantly.  He 
had  a  marvellous  memory.  He 
could  live  in  the  past.  He  bore 
an  active  part  in  the  government  of 
the  Empire  both  in  this  country 
and  in  Lidia.  He  took  great  pains 
to  ensure  accuracy  in  matters  of 
fact.  No  man  of  his  age,  or  perhaps 
of  any  age,  could  surpass  him  in 
lucidity,  force,  and  grace  of  style. 
But  other  elements,  not  less  neces- 
sary, were  wanting.  He  would  be 
the  philosophic  statesman  and  his- 
torian ;  but  a  philosopher  he  was 
not.  He  appeared  to  he  wholly  un- 
able to  shake  himself  utterly  free 
from  party  ties  and  party  prejudices. 
His  sympathy  was  intense  but 
narrow.  The  evil  effects  of  this 
ment;d  deficiency  found  but  too 
ample  scope  in  the  portion  of  the 
History  of  England  v/hich  he  under- 
took to  write.  Within  the  sphere 
of  -general  literature   it   found  less 


room  to  operate.  And  accord- 
ingly in  many  of  his  essays,  and 
especially  in  his  "  Lays  of  Ancient 
Rome,"  the  finer  and  nobler  qualities 
of  the  man  are  not  brought  into 
unworthy  contact  with  the  prejudiced 
party  politician.  Besides,  the  very 
brilliancy  of  his  style  and  the  in- 
ordinate value  he  attaches  to  pointed 
and  graceful  .sentences  appear  to  us 
to  detract  from  the  value  of  his 
history,  while  these  qualities  en- 
hance the  reputation  of  the  essayist. 
The  history  of  Macaulay  is  a  pano- 
rama of  highly  finished  pictures. 
No  man  took  greater  pains  to  se- 
cure that  each  paragraph  was  fault- 
less in  matter,  and  especially  in 
form  ;  but  the  impression  doubtless 
remains  that  the  picture  is  too  highly 
wrought  and  that  the  fidelity  of  the 
sketch  is  not  seldom  sacrificed  to  its 
literary  beauty.  Macaulay's  devotion 
to  the  correct  and  beautiful  and 
pointed  in  expression  appears  in- 
cessantly throughout  his  works,  and 
often  in  the  most  curious  ways.  Fox, 
the  founder  ofthe  Quakers,  is  censured 
not  so  much  for  his  false  doctrine 
as  for  his  biid  English.  Queen 
Mary's  letters  are  so  well  expressed 
that  they  deserved  to  be  well  spelt. 
The  missionaries  of  India  are  roundly 
rebuked  for  a  variety  of  faults,  and 
not  the  least  their  "bad  grammar." 
"  The  Protestant  operatives  of  Dub- 
lin call  for  impeachments  in  ex- 
ceedingly bad  English."  While  his 
history  is  being  published,  and  while 
he  is  agitated  with  hopes  and  fears 
as  to  the  result,  his  diary  shows  the 
value  he  puts  upon  "  good  writing." 
Jeffrey's  remark  upon  his  first  con- 
tribution to  the  Edinburgh  Beview 
was  the  only  commendation  on  his 
literary  talent  whicli.  he  v>'as  ever 
knownto  repeat:  "The  more  I  think, 
the  less  I  can  conceive  where  you 
picked  up  that  style." 

It  would  be  impossible  in  a  review 


THE  GAEL. 


July,  1876. 


of  Macaulay's  life  and  works,  how- 
ever brief,  which  is  meant  to  be  read 
by  Highlanders  to  overlook  the 
judgment  which  he  uniformly  passed 
upon  our  people,  our  language,  and 
our  institutions.  That  judgment 
was  unfavourable  in  the  extreme. 
It  is  now  shown  to  the  world  to 
have  been  grossly  exaggerated.  By 
our  countrymen  it  was  justly  re- 
sented as  an  unmerited  attack  upon 
a  brave  people  and  various  theories 
have  been  framed  to  account  for  the 
studied  reproach  which  was  cast 
upon  the  Celtic  race  by  one  who 
derived  his  name,  half  his  blood, 
and,  as  we  judge,  more  than  half 
his  nature  from  the  Highlands  of 
Scotland.  Norman  Macleod  was  a 
Highlander  of  the  Highlanders.  He 
believed  that  he  owned  an  old  Nor- 
wegian name ;  but  he  also  believed 
that  his  name  and  his  blood  were 
enriched  by  the  intermixture  of  the 
Scandinavian  and  the  Celtic.  A 
Scottish  Highlander  he  was;  and  a 
Scottish  Highlander  he  was  proud 
to  be  called.  Lord  Macaulay  would 
rather  ignore  his  Highland  connec- 
tion. He  would  wish  to  connect 
the  Macaulay  born  in  England  in 
the  year  ISOO  with  some  Olaus  of 
Norway  born  heaven  knows  where 
or  when,  and  altogether  overlook 
the  intervening  period  when  the 
Macaulay  s  lived  in  the  Lews. 
His  biographer  goes  back  to  the 
great-grandfather  of  the  historian 
who  was  minister  of  Tiree  and 
afterwards  of  Harris,  and  mentions 
a  tradition,  evidently  without  be- 
lieving it,  that  the  son  of  the 
minister  of  Harris,  afterwards  the 
minister  of  Inveraray  and  Cardross 
and  the  peer's  grandfather,  gave  in- 
formation to  the  authorities  which 
almost  led  to  the  capture  of  young 
Charles  Stewart.  Lord  Macaulay 
must  have  been  avvare  of  this  cur- 
rently reported  tradition.     Whether 


he  believed  it  or  not  we  do  not 
know ;  whether  it  was  true  or  not 
we  do  not  care  ;  and  whether,  had 
he  believed  it,  the  belief  would  have 
affected  his  judgment  upon  our 
countrymen,  it  would  be  vain  to  in- 
quire and  ungenerous  without  evi- 
dence to  assume.  That  judgment 
was  unjust  and,  in  an  historian, 
unpardonable.  Lord  Macaulay 
prided  himself  upon  being  an 
Englishman.  So  he  was  —  born, 
bred,  and  educated.  Norman  Mac- 
leod prided  himself  upon  being  a 
Highlander;  and  so  he  was — born, 
bred,  and  in  great  part,  as  he  him- 
self with  pride  acknowledges,  edu- 
cated. Our  readers  will  smile — 
Norman  Macleod  would  laugh,  and 
Macaulay  Avould  frown — when  we 
assert  that  Macaulay  was  the  more 
typical  Celt  of  the  two.  We  are 
convinced  that  it  is  to  the  Cel- 
tic feature  of  his  character  that 
we  owe  the  unmeasured  reproach 
which  he  constantly  heaped  upon 
our  countrymen  in  Scotland  and  in 
Ireland.  In  personal  appearance 
Macaulay  resembled  our  people 
more  than  Norman  Macleod.  Short, 
thick-set,  of  upright  carriage,  of 
incessant  activity,  he  resembled  the 
typical  Islesman  far  more  nearly 
than  the  large  and  latterly  unwieldy 
physique  of  the  great-hearted  Nor- 
man. His  mind  was  certainly  more 
fashioned  after  the  Celtic  type  than 
Macleod's.  More  intense  and  narrow 
than  sympathetic  and  catholic — of 
wonderful  activity,  requiring  only 
example  and  guidance  and  stimulus 
to  instil  habits  of  perseverance  and 
application — a  passion  for  the 
beautiful  and  the  pointed  in  ex- 
pression which  is  apt  to  supersede, 
in  spite  of  the  severe  training  of  an 
English  university,  strict  fidelity  to 
fact — a  loyalty  to  party  scruples  and 
party  ties  which  continually 
threatens  to  warp  the   clear  judg- 


July,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


223 


meut  of  the  man — a  something 
approaching  to  vindictiveness  when 
his  personal  feelings  are  strongly  j 
aroused  against  an  opponent  as  in 
the  case  of  Croker,  or  against  an  j 
ally  who  does  not  use  him  well,  as  in  i 
the  case  of  Brougham  ; — in  all  these  , 
traits,  as  well  as  in  many  minor 
traits,  we  recognise  the  Celtic 
character  far  more  truly  than  in  the 
large,  loving,  humorous,  and  sympa- 
thetic Norman  Macleod.  j 
That  Lord  Macaulay  had  almost 
a  personal  antipathy  to  the  Celtic 
race  his  writings  unfortunately  but 
too  clearly  attest.  In  the  famous 
description  which  he  gives  of  the 
Highland  army  under  Dundee,  and 
of  the  state  of  the  Highlands  at  the 
time,  there  is  much  that  is  only  too 
true.  But  the  picture  as  a  whole  is 
a  gross  caricature.  He  shows  the 
complete  ignorance  that  prevailed 
in  England  regarding  the  language 
and  institutions  and  manners  of 
the  Highlanders  of  that  day.  He 
undertakes  to  Avrite  the  history  of 
the  Highlanders  and  of  the  Irish. 
"  He  reads  tw'enty  books  to  write  a 
sentence ;  he  travels  a  hundred 
miles  to  make  a  line  of  description," 
says  Thackeray,  with  pardonable 
exaggeration.  He  would  undertake 
to  learn  any  language  in  four  months. 
And  he  sits  down  to  censure  ordinary 
Englishmen  in  the  year  1689  for 
their  ignorance  of  the  Highlanders 
of  their  day  and  to  instruct  all 
future  generations  upon  the  state  of 
the  Highlands  at  that  time.  How 
does  he  proceed  ?  He  takes  the 
very  course  he  censures  in  others. 
He  takes  some  of  his  facts  from 
half-informed  and  prejudiced  op- 
ponents. He  draws  upon  his  im- 
agination for  the  rest.  The  language 
which  his  grandfather  preached,  the 
only  language  w'hich  his  forefathers 
kneAv,  he  considers  beneath  contempt. 
In  that  language  the  poems  of  John 


M'Donald  (Iain  Lòm),  who  wit- 
nessed the  battle  of  Inverlochy  and 
who  gave  a  graphic  description  of 
j  men  and  events  of  his  day,  were 
published  ten  years  before  he 
j  wrote  and  could  be  had  for  a 
,  few  shillings ;  but  Macaulay  never 
heard  of  Mackenzie's  "  Beauties  of 
Gaelic  Poetry."  The  Duchess  of 
Argyle  befriended  his  great-grand- 
father in  the  first  decade  of  the 
i  eighteenth  century.  During  the 
last  years  of  his  life  he  lived  next 
door  to  the  Duke  of  Argyle,  and  was 
'  an  intimate  friend  of  the  family. 
Throughout  his  history  he  must  use, 
for  literary  effect,  the  Gaelic  name 
of  his  Grace,  and  he  borrows 
"Maccallummore"  from  Sir  Walter 
Scott.  The  Duke  does  not  point 
out  the  mistake.  This  is  a  small 
matter  ;  but  had  Croker  been  guilty 
I  of  a  similar  blunder,  half  the  lib- 
'  raries  of  Europe  would  have  been 
ransacked  in  order  to  heap  contempt 
and  ridicule  upon  the  pretender  to 
accurate  scholarship. 

It  would  be  tedious,  and  it  is  un- 
pleasant, to  examine  in  detail  the 
charges  Lord  Macaulay  brings  against 
the  Celtic  people.  The  picture  is 
unfair,  misleading,  and  one-sided, 
more  than  absolutely  false.  He 
delights  in  speaking  of  the  dominant 
race  and  the  inferior  race.  He 
j  quotes  freely,  where  authority  can 
[  be  procured,  unfavourable  judgments 
I  by  other  men.  Favourable  judg- 
ments he  does  not  give.  He  does 
'  not  know,  and  perhaps  does  not 
want  to  know,  that  there  are 
materials,  valuable  and  reliable, 
scanty  though  they  be,  both  in  this 
country  and  especially  in  Ireland, 
written  by  men  who  were  neither 
prejudiced  nor  ill-informed,  without 
a  careful  study  of  which  no  one  can 
write  the  history,  much  less  paint 
the  life  of  the  Highlanders  and  the 
Irish.      But  even  were  he  as  well- 


224 


THE  GAEL. 


July,  1876. 


informed  as  he  was  ignorant  of  our 
people  and  their  scanty  literature, 
it  is  doubtful  whether  Macaulay 
could  faithfully  pourtray  the  Celtic 
character.  His  Celtic  nature  was 
against  him.  Born,  bred,  and 
educated  in  England,  he  was  more 
English  than  the  English.  His 
literary  and  Parliamentary  career 
identihed  him  with  Edinburgh  ;  but 
he  could  hardly  be  said  to  know  or 
appreciate  the  character  of  tlie  Low- 
land Scotchman.  He  looked  upon 
life  and  society  on  the  continent  of 
Europe  so  far  as  he  knew  them  with 
the  self-satisfied,  contemptuous  gaze 
of  a  half-educated  Englishman,  In 
judging  of  men  and  measures  he 
could  hardly  divest  himself  of  the 
trammels  of  party.  So  far  as  can 
be  seen,  it  was  impossible  for  him  to 
extend  his  sympa'Jues  beyond  the 
narrow  limits  of  what  he  considered 
to  be  his  own  country.  To  an 
English  Whig  of  the  nineteenth 
century  of  this  mental  calibre  the 
Highland  character  of  the  seven- 
teenth and  eighteenth  centuries  was 
a  sealed  book.  The  state  of  the 
Highlands  in  1689  and  the  massacre 
of  Glencoe  are  among  the  most 
brilliant,  considered  as  literary  por- 
traitures, of  Macaulay's  many 
brilliant  efforts.  And  it  is  interest- 
ing and  curiously  suggestive  to  note 
that  the  picture  is  valued  by  Mac- 
aulay himself  for  its  artistic  finish 
and  not  for  its  historical  accuracy. 
We  find  in  his  diary  (vol.  ii.  p.  278) 
"  My  account  of  the  Highlands  is 
getting   into  tolerable  shape.      To- 


morrow I  shall  begin  to  transcribe 
again,  and  to  polish,  What  trouble 
these  few  pages  will  have  cost  me. 
The  great  object  is  that  after  all  this 
trouble,  they  may  read  as  if  they 
had  been  spoken  off,  and  may  seem 
to  flow  as  easily  as  table  talk.  We 
shall  see."  Beyond  the  leading  facts 
the  historical  value  of  these  famous 
descriptions  is  next  to  zero. 

This  unfavourable  phase  of  his 
nature  apart,  Lord  JNIacaulay's 
character  is  a  noble  character ;  and 
his  life  is  intensely  interesting.  The 
biographer  has  done  his  work  well. 
Inheriting  the  literary  gifts  of  his 
uncle,  Mr.  Trevelyan  has  produced 
an  admirable  biography.  There 
was  abundance  of  material  ready  to 
his  hand,  and  he  selected  and 
arranged  it  with  the  skill  of  a 
master.  In  his  letters  which  were 
carefully  preserved  by  admiring 
friends,  and  in  his  diary,  with  some 
interruptions,  faithfully  kept,  Mac- 
aulay's character  is  fully  unfolded. 
And  the  life  and  character  are  one 
that  need  not  fear  the  face  of  day. 
A  life  of  hard,  incessant  work  ;  and 
a  character,  a  little  vain  perhaps 
and  not  free  from  prejudice,  but 
frank,  open,  manly,  kind,  and  noble. 
We  Highlanders  would  wish  that  he 
knew  us  better  and  judged  us  fairer. 
We  are  proud  of  him  nevertheless. 
Would  that  each  generation  would 
produce  one  of  our  name  such  as  he 
to  adorn  the  society,  the  literature, 
and  the  statesmanship  of  England, 
even  though  he  would  judge  us  un- 
justly as  Lord  Macaulay  did. 


THE  CELTIC  MAGAZINE. 

We  have  to  thank  the  publishers,  Messrs.  A.  &  W.  Mackenzie,  Inverness,  for  the 
eight  b.ick  numbers  of  this  promising  young  candidate  for  Celtic  favour  and  patronage. 
The  lirst  numbers  of  this  Magazine  appeared  when  the  editor  of  The  Gael  was  absent 
in  Canada,  and  hence  the  reason  of  its  not  having  received  the  right  hand  of  fellowship 
by  an  earlier  notice.  The  Celtic  seems  to  be  pushing  on  bravely ;  and  the  editor,  Mr. 
Alexander  Mackenzie,  deserves  great  credit  for  the  array  of  t.alent  he  has  managed  to 
gatiier  round  him.  Ceud  mile  failte  ma  ta,  agus  buaidh  'us  piseach  le  MacCoinnich  '.«  an 
t-Sealtaig. 


Aisr 


G^^IDHEA^L 


Mar  ghath  soluis  do  m'  anam  fein 

Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fhalbh. " — Oisean. 


V.  Leabh.]       CEUD  MHIOS  AN  FHOGHAIR,  1876.  [56  Am. 


LITREACHAS  NAN  GAIDHEAL. 
III.     NA    LAOIDHEAN, 

Dugliall  Biichannan. 

Am  measg  nam  Bard  Gaidliealacli 
a  sgriobh  Laoidhean  cha  'n  'eil  aon  a 
f  liuair  apus,  a  reir  mo  bheachd  fein, 
clia  'n  'eil  aon  a  thoill,  cliti  clio  ard 
ri  Dnghall  Buchannan.  Tha  atli- 
aiTacli  barail  mu  thimchioll  co  am 
Bard  is  urramaiche — seachad  air 
Buchannan — am  measg  Ughdar  nan 
Laoidhean  Gaidhealach.  Bheir  aon 
bhreitheamh  an  t-urram  do  Mhac- 
Ealair,  aon  eile  do  Mhac-Griogair. 
'S  e  Laoidhean  Phadruig  Ghrannd 
is  taitniche  le  moran  d'ar  luchd- 
duthcha  anns  an  rioghachd  so  agus 
gu  sonruichte,  a  reir  gach  fianuis  a 
tha  againn,  ann  an  rioghachdan  cèin. 
Agus  cha  'n  'eil  teagamh  nach  faigh- 
ear  moran  an  da  chuid  anns  an 
rioghachd  so  agus  taobli  thall  a' 
chuain  a  gheibh  barrachd  toilinntinn 
agus  buannachd  spioradail  le  bhi 
leughadh  agus  a'  seinn  Laoidhean  a 
rinneadh  le  Ughdair  eile.  Ach  tha 
mi  meas  gu'n  aontaich  an  roinn 
mhor  d'ar  Sluagh  anns  gach  cearn, 
agus  gu  h-araid  a'  chuid  is  tuigsiche 
dhiu,  'n  a  radh  nach  'eil  agus  nach 
robh  Bard  Spioradail  d'ar  cinneadh 
air  a'  bheil  iomradh  againn  a  choim- 
easar  ri  Dughall  Buchannan. 

Is  minic,  a  reir  mo  bheachd-sa,  a 
bhabrethar  Sluaigh  cli  gu  sonruichte 
mu  thimchioll  nam  Bard  a  bha 
toillteanach  air  urram  ;  agus  cha  'n 
iongantach  ged  bhiodh  a'  chuis  mar 


so.  Cha  'n  eil  moran  cunnairt  gu'n 
teid  aon  aig  a'  bheil  inntinn  f  hallain 
agus  cluas  cheolmhor,  co-dhiu  tha 
no  nach  'eil  a  bheag  de  f  hoghlum 
aige,  am  mearachd  ann  a  bhi  'tagh- 
aclli  anorain  no  na  laoidh  is  taitniche. 
An  fhad  so,  is  e  breth  an  t-sluaigh 
a  sheasas.  Ach  is  ni  eile  a  bhi 
sonruchadh  an  aite  air  am  measar 
ughdar  na  laoidh  no  an  orain  toill- 
teanach am  measg  Baird  a  dhuthcha. 
A  chum  breth  chothromach  a  thoirt 
air  a'  chuis  so,  feumar  gun  teagamh 
in  n  tin  n  f  hallain  agus  cluas  cheolmhor, 
ach  cha  'n  fhoghainn  so.  Feumar 
eolas  air  Baird  do  dhuthcha ;  agus 
feumar  gu  sonruichte  comas  inntinn 
a  dh'f  haodas  tighinn  air  duine  gu 
nadurra,  ach  a  nochdar  mar  is  trice, 
tha  mi  meas,  'n  am  measg-san  a 
ghiullaichd  gu  maith  na  buaidhean 
a  bhuilicheadh  orra — is  e  sin  comas 
a  bhi  sealltainn  cha  'n  ann  a  nihain 
air  aon  laoidh  no  air  aon  oran  ach  air 
saothair  a'  Bhaird  thar  cheann, — 
comas  a  bhi  cur  fa  chomhair  na  sùl, 
mar  gu'm  b'ann,  aigan  aon  amtoradh 
inntinn  a'  Bhaird,  a  chum  agus  gu'm 
faic  thu  ann  an  aon  sealladh  na  bu- 
aidhean a  bhuineas  dha  mar  tha  iad 
air  an  nnchdadh  'n  a  shaothair, — an 
neart  agus  an  anmhuinneachd,  an 
gloir  agus  an  naire.  Is  ann  a  mhain 
an  uair  a  tha  thu  comasach  air  so  a 
dheanamh  mu  thimchioll  gach  Bard 
fa  leth  a'd  dhuthaich  a  tha  thu  com- 
asach air  aon  Bhard  a  choimeas  ri 
Bard  eile  agus,  le  breth  thuigsich, 
aite  dligheach  fein  a  shonruchadh  do 
gach  aon.  Feudaidh  do  bharail  a' 
15 


226 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


blii  mearaclidach,  oir  co  a'  bharail  a 
tha  'n  comhnnidli  fior;  ach  is  ann 
a  mhain  an  uair  a  tha  i  air  a  togail 
air  a'  bliunait  so  a  tha  i  earbsach. 
Air  a  thomhas  leis  a'  mheigh  so,  is  e 
mo  bheachd  gu'n  toill  Dughall 
Buchaiman  aite-toisich,  cba  ^n  ann  a 
mhain  am  measgUglidair  nan  Laoidh 
ach  am  measg Bhard  n a  Gaidheal achd . 
Bha  breth  ar  Sluaigh,  mar  thuirt 
mi,  air  uairean  cli  mu  thimchioll 
nam  Bard  a  bha  toillteanach  air 
urram  ;  ach  'n  an  dilseachd  do 
Dhughall  Buchannan,  co-dhiu  a 
bhuineadh  iad  do'n  Ear  no  do  'n  lar, 
do'n  Tuath  no  do'n  Deas,  co-dhiu 
bha  iad  sean  no  òg,  foghkiimte 
no  aineolach,  bha  'm  breth  gun 
amhurus  cothromach  agus  ceart. 
Tha  e  air  aithris,  le  Mr.  Mac-na-Cear- 
dadh,  anns  an  leabhar  thaitneach 
a  cliuir  e  mach  anns  a'  bhliadhna  a 
dh'fhalbh  mu  bheatha  agus  mu 
shaothair  Dhughaill  Buchannain, 
mar  dhearbhadh  air  cumhachd  an 
duine  thairis  air  inntinnean  an  t- 
sluaigh  a  chuala  a  ghuth,  gu'n  robh 
Dughall  a'  searmonachadh  air  la 
araid  do  dhà  chinneadh  aig  an  robh 
a  leithid  de  naimhdeas  d'a  cheile 
agus  nach  faodadh  iad  tighinn  cuid- 
eachd  gun  aimhreit  a  bhieatorra; 
gu'n  do  sheas  Buchannan  air  cloich 
ann  am  meadhon  aibhne  le  buidh- 
eann  air  gach  taobh  de'n  abhainn ; 
gu'n  do  labhair  an  searmonaiche  le 
leithid  de  chumhachd  agus,  aig  crich 
na  seirbhis,  gu'n  do  ghlac  na 
naimhdean  lamhan  a  cheile  agus 
gu'n  do  sgaoil  iad  'n  an  cairdean. 
Lean  cumhachd  a'  Bhaird  thar 
inntinnean  Ghaidheal  gus  an  la 
'n  diugh.  "Air  dha  bhi  marbh,  tha  e 
fathasd  a'  labhairt."  Le  Laoidhean 
Dhughaill  Buchannain  'n  an  laaihan, 
tha  gach  comh-thional  Gaidhealach 
deas  gus  an  eud,  's  am  farmad,  's  an 
coimheachas  a  dhi-chuimhneachadh ; 
agus  mur  crlin  iad  e  'n  a  Righ  nam 
Bard,  aidichidh  iad  gu  leir  gur  e, 
gun  teagamh,  Bard  nan  Laoidh. 


Eugadh  Dughall  Buchannan  bho 
pharantan  diadhaidh,  mar  tha  e 
fein  ag  innseadh,  ann  an  Sgireachd 
Bhailechuidir,  anns  a'  bhliadhna 
1716.  Bha  athair  ann  an  doigli 
chothromach  gun  bhi  saoibhir.  Mu'n 
robh  Dughall  ach  sè  bliadhna  dh'aois 
chain  e  'mhathair.  Fhuair  e  deagh 
sgoil,  oir  tha  e  air  innseadh  dhuinn 
gu'n  deachaidh  e  mach  a  theagasg 
cloinne  'n  a  dhara-bliadhna-deug. 
Thug  e  dearbhadh  air  buaidhean 
àrd  0  oige.  Tha  e  fein  ag  innseadh, 
le  bròn  ro  mhor,  gu'n  robh  a  thlachd 
ann  an  òrain  f  haoin ;  agus  tha 
iomradh  gu'n  do  rinn  e  òrain  e  fein, 
agus  gu'n  do  chruinnich  e  roinn  de 
sheana  Bhardachd  a  dhuthcha.  Ma 
tha  so  fior,  tha  chuid  so  de  shaothair 
gu  brath  air  chall.  A  reir  a  chunnt- 
ais  fein,  bha  e  aingidh  thar  tomhais. 
Dh'iunnsaich  e  'n  t-saorsainneachd 
'n  a  oige,  agus  chuir  e  seachad  treis 
d'a  shaoghal,  ann  an  caochladh 
aitean,  aig  a  cheird.  An  uair  a  bha 
e  cuig-bliadhna-fichead  a  dh'aois 
fhuair  e  ann  an  tomhas  saorsa  o'n 
staid  mhuladaich  anns  an  robh  e  le 
ana-creidimh,  le  aingidheachd,  agus 
le  uamhas  mu  thimchioll  cor  anma, 
A  so  suas  bha  e  cho  comharraichte 
airson  a  naomhachd  agus  a  bha  e 
roimhe  sin  airson  aingidheachd. 
Chuir  e  seachad  moran  d'a  nine  a' 
dol  0  àite  gu  àite  a  dh'  eisdeachd 
mhinistirean  ainmeil.  Chaidh  e  gu 
Cambuskmg  a  dh'  eisdeachd  Mhr. 
Whitefieid.  Phòs  e  anns  a'  bhliadhna 
1 749.  Mu  thri  no  ceithir  de  bhliadh- 
nachan  'n  a  dheigh  so,  fhuair  e  'n  a 
mhaighstir-sgoil  ann  an  Eaineach, 
agus  da  bhliadhna  'n  a  dheigh  sin 
'n  a  cheisteir,  le  ughdarras  o'n 
Eaglais  a  bhi  teagasg  an  t-sluaigh. 
Bha  6  'n  a  chleachduin  aige  a  bhi 
toirt  cuairt  air  feadh  roinn  mhor 
de'n  Ghaidhealtachd  's  an  t-samh- 
radh  a'  searmonachadh  aii  t-Soisgeil. 
Chaidh  ainm  mar  fhear-teagaisg  am 
fad  's  am  farsuingeachd.     Bha  e  'n 


Ceud  JIhios  an  Fhoghair,  1376. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


227 


a  dheagh  Sgoileir  Gaidhlig.  Thug 
e  cuideacbadh  luachmhor,  tha  e  air 
aithris,  do'n  Ollamli  Stiubhart, 
ministeir  Chillfhinn,  ann  an  eadar- 
theangacliadli  an  Tiomuaidh  Nuaidli 
gu  Gaidhlig.  Bha  e  ann  an  Dun- 
eideann  mu'n  chuis  so  anns  a' 
bhliadhna  1766.  Shearmo.naich  e 
do  Ghaidheil  a  bhaile  nahoir  sin  an 
uair  a  bha  e  fuireach  ann.  Chruinn- 
ich  e  comh-thional,  agus  dh'f  heuch- 
adh  ri  fhaotainn  mar  mhinisteir 
thairis  orra.  A  chum  ullachadh 
airson  an  dreuchd  so,  thug  e  bliadhna 
na  dha  anns  an  Oil-thigh ;  ach  cha 
do  rinneadh  ministeir  de  Dhughall 
Biichannan.  Chair  e  mach  na 
Laoidhean  anns  a'  bhliadhna  176G, 
agas  dcà  bhliadhna  'n  a  dheigh  so, 
mu'n  robh  an  duine  urramacb  ach 
aim  an  treine  a  neirt  agus  ann  am 
meadhon  aois,  ghearradh  air  falbh  e, 
ann  an  Eaineach,  le  fiabhras  tròm. 

Tha  deich  -  agus  -  cuig  -  fichead 
bliadhna  o'n  a  chuir  Dughall  Buch- 
annan  a  mach  na  "  Laoidhean." 
Chaidh  an  clo-bhualadh  o'n  am  sin 
uair-thar-fhichead, — urram  nach  d'- 
f  huair  leabhar  Gaidhlig  eile  a  mach 
bho  uaSgriobturean  agus  bho  Leabhar 
Aithghearr  nan  Ceist.  Dh'eadar- 
theangaicheadh  do'n  Bheurla  na 
"  Laoidhean  "  le  triuir  dhaoine  fogh- 
luimte — Mr.MacGriogair  nach  maire- 
ann  a  Eaineach  ;  Mr.  Forbes  nach 
maireann,  ministeir  Shleibhte  ;  agus 
Mr.  Mac-na-Ceardadh,  ministeir  na 
li-Eaglais  Shaoir  anns  a'  Cheann- 
mhoir.  Athuilleadhairso,  chuireadh 
uair  'us  uaiijaon  no  dhcà  de  na  Lao- 
idhean ann  an  roinn  's  a'  Bheurla. 
Chunnaic  ar  luchd  leughaidh  an 
"Claigeann"  air  a  thiunndadh  gu 
blasda  do  rann  Bheurla  le  Professor 
Blachk.  Thugadh  seachad  uair  'us 
uair  cunntas  air  eachdraidh  beatha 
Dhughaill  Buchannain,  Gheibhear  j 
an  cnnntas  is  fearr  agus  is  earbs- 
aiche  anns  an  leabhar  luachmhor  a 
chuir  Mac-na-Ceardadh  a  mach  an 


uiridh.  Chlo-bhualadh  anns  a' 
bhliadhna  1836  "Beatha  agus  lom- 
pachadh  Dhughaill  Buchannain,  air 
a  sgriobhadh  leis  fein."  Cha  'n  'eil 
teagamh  nach  e  Buchaunan  fein  a 
sgriobh  an  cunntas  so,  ged  nach  'eil 
sgeul  a  nis  mu'n  doigli  air  an  do 
glileidheadh  an  sgriobhadh  gun 
chall.  Tha  eachdraidh,  mar  a 
sgriobh  e  fein  i,  a'  criochnachadh 
anns  a'  bhliadhna  1750.  Tha  'n 
eachdraidh,  cho  maith  ris  na  Laoidh- 
ean, 'n  a  dearbhadh  maireannach  air 
airde  'bhuaidhean  agus  air  doimh- 
neachd  eolais  air  a'  Ghaidhlig.  Ach 
is  e  eachdraidh  anma  a  mhain  a  tha 
ann,  agus  cha  'n  e  eachdraidh  a' 
chuirp  no  inntinn.  Tha  iomradh 
gu'n  do  chain  e  'mhathair  'n  a  she 
bliadhna  ;  gu'n  robh  e  teagasg 
cloinne  'n  a  dhara-bliadhna-deug  ; 
gu'n  d'iunnsaich  e  'n  t-saorsainn- 
eachd ;  gu'n  robh  e  ann  an  caoch- 
ladh  aitean — an  Srileadh,  an  Dun- 
breatunn,  agus  an  Duneideann,  air 
cheann  gnothuich ;  gu'n  d'  eirich 
moran  d'a  chairdean  le  Tearlach 
Stiubhart,  agus  gu'n  do  cliuireadh 
cuid  diu  gu  bàs ;  gu'n  robh  bean 
"ghraidh"  agus  "leanabh  taitneach" 
ciige ;  gu'n  robh  e  'n  a  òige  toigheach 
air  orain  agus  air  ceol.  Ach  tha 
Buchannan  a'  toirt  seachad  an  fhios- 
rachaidh  so  mu  thimchioll  fein  a 
chionn  gu'n  robh  buaidh  shonruichte 
aig  na  nithean  so  thairis  air  staid  a' 
chridhe  agus  anma  anns  an  am  anns 
an  do  thachair  iad.  Annta  fein, 
mheasadh  e  iad  mar  a  mheasadh  e 
gach  ni  talmhaidh  eile  "  'n  an  call 
airson  ro-oirdheirceis  eolais  losa 
Criosd  a  Thighearna." 

Chaidh  an  eachdraidh  so  a  sgriobh- 
adh, a  reir  coltais,  anns  a'  bhliadhna 
leis  a'  bheil  i  ag  criochnachadh. 
Tha,  co-dhiu,  an  t-Ughdar  de  dh'aon 
inntinn  an  am  a  sgriobhaidh,  o  thois- 
each  gu  deireadh.  Ma  tha  'm  beachd 
so  fior,  chi  sinn  gu'n  robh  Dughall 
Buchannan  a'  cur  earbsa  mhor  as  a 


228 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


mheodhair.  an  uair  a  tha  e  toirt 
cunntas  mion  dliuiun  mu  f  haireaclid- 
■uinean  fein  ficliead  bliadhna  air  ais. 
A  ris,  is  ann  le  suil  a'  Chriosduidh, 
ceum  maitli  air  agliaidh  air  slighe 
na  naomliaclid,  a  tlia  e  sealltainn  air 
tograidhean  agns  air  faireacliduinean 
an  oganaich.  Bha  a  clmimhne  laidir 
— tha  dearbhadh  gu  leoir  air  so;  cha 
do  sgriobli  e,  tha  mi  lan-chreidsinn, 
focal  nach  robh  e  fein  dearbhta  as 
gu'n  robh  e  fior  ;  ach  cha  'n  eil  mi 
gun  amhurus,  na'm  biodh  eachd- 
raiflh  Dhughaill  Buchannain  againn 
bho  aon  d'a  chomh-aoisean  d'am 
b'aithne  gu  maith  e,  nach  biodh 
atharrachadh  mor  eadar  i  agus  an 
eaclidraidh  a  sgriobh  Dughall  fein. 
Tha  6  air  aithris  gu'm  bu  duine 
blath,  caoimhneil,  surdail  e ;  ach 
cha  'n  'eil  dearbhadh  air  so  'n  a 
eachdraidh  mar  a  sgriobh  e  fein  i. 
Feudaidh  sinn  co-dhiu  a  radh  nach 
'eil  againn  ach  cuid  d'a  bheatha  agus 
aon  taobh  d'a  nadur  amis  an  eaclid 
raidh  so.  B'e  so  an  aon  taobh  ann 
am  beachd  an  Ughdair  air  am 
b'airidh  iomradh  a  dlieanamh.  Tha 
mi  meas  gu'm  bu  mhearachd  so  ann 
an  aidmheil  Dhughaill  Buchannain  ; 
agus  gu'n  tug  am  mearachd  a  mach 
toradh  trom  'n  ar  duthaich.  Chuala 
sinn  o  fhear-teagaisg  ard  o  chionn 
ghoirid  :  "Cha'n  'eil  buaidh  's  am 
bith  olc  mur  cuir  thu  gu  bull  olc  i." 
B'fhearr  le  Buchannan  a  bhi  creid- 
sinn,  leis  na  Manicheans  o  shean, 
gu'n  robh  Matter,  mar  theirear  's  a' 
Bheurla,  'n  a  ghne  fein,  olc.  Ach 
cha  'n  e  mo  liui  no  mo  thoil  a  bhi 
toirt  breth  air  fallaineachd  no  mi- 
fhallaineachd  aidmheil  no  teagaisg 
Dhughaill  Buchannain. 

Cha  'n  eil  mi  meas  gu'n  leugh 
neach  eachdraidh  Dhughaill  Buch- 
annain mar  a  sgriobh  e  fein  i  gun 
fhaicinn  gu  soilleir  gu'm  bu  duine  e 
aig  an  robh  nadur  'us  buaidhean 
neo-chumanta,  —  duine  a  bhiodh 
comhariaichte  am  measg  sluaigh  cia 


air  bith  'inbhe  no  'dhreuchd  no 
'dhuthaich.  Bho  leanabaidheachd 
bha  cor  anma  a'  cur  curam  ro  mhor 
air ;  bha  fein-f hiosrachadh  geur  aige 
air  miannan  agus  tograidhean  laidir 
agus  truaillidh ;  an  uair  a  bheireadh 
e  srian  d'a  anamiannan  bha  fhair- 
eachduinean  craiteach  thar  tomhais. 
Tha  6  toirt  a'  chunntais  a  leanas  air 
staid  inntinn  an  uair  a  bha  e  mu 
sheachd  bliadhna  dh'aois  :  "An  sin 
thoisich  an  Tighearna  air  m'  fhios- 
rachadh  le  seallaidhean  uamhasach  ; 
aislingean  anns  an  oidhche  a  chuir 
eagal  ro  mhor  orm.  Bhruadair  mi 
gu'tric  gu'n  tainig  latha  Bhreathan- 
ais,  agus  gu'n  robh  losa  air  teaclid 
anns  na  neoil  a  chum  breth  a  thoirt 
air  an  t-saoghal,  agus  gu'n  robh  gach 
uile  shluagh  air  cruinneachadh  fa 
chomhair  a  chathrach,  agus  gu'n  do 
thearb  se  iad  'n  an  dcà  bhuidheann 
— a  h-aon  air  a  laimh  dheis  agus  an 
t-aon  eile  air  a  laimh  chli ;  agus 
chunnaic  mi  mi  fein  maille  ri  buidh- 
eann  eile  air  mo  dhiteadh  a  chum 
losgadh  siorraidh."  Bha'n'sealladh 
so  cho  trie  fa  chomhair  suil  Dhugh- 
aill Buchannain,  'n  a  chodal  's  'n  a 
dhusgadh,  agus  gu'm  feudar  a  radh 
I  gu'n  robh  "  Latha  a'  Bhreitheanais" 
sgriobhta  air  clàr  inntinn  o  oige. 
Thug  e  e  fein  thairis  do  gach  gnè 
peacaidh  ach  cha  robh  sith  aige  'n 
a  aingidheachd.  Air  uairean  rach- 
adh  aige  air  a  choguis  bheo  a  mhuch- 
adh;  air  uairean  bha  i  mar  gu'm 
b'ann  'n  a  codal;  ach  a  nis  's  a  ris 
dh'eigheadh  i  mach  le  guth  ard, 
bagarrach ;  agus  bhiodh  cor  an  duine 
da  rireadh  eagalach. 

'S  e  mo  bheachdgu  bheil  samhladh 
mor,  anns  a  chuid  so  d'a  bheatha  co- 
dhiu,  eadar  Dughall  Buchannan  agus 
da  dhuine  ainmeil  eile — Gall  agus 
Sasunnach— ^Mrws  agus  Btmyan. 
Euuadh  an  triuir  ann  an  inbhe  iosail 
— a^dhà  dhiu  co-dhiu  bho  pharantan 
I  diadhuidh.  Bha  aig  an  triuir  aign- 
idhean  laidir,  duilich  a  cheaunsach- 


Ceud  Miios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


229 


adh;  a,2;u3bhaiad  gu  leir'n  am  Baird. 
Bhaiad'nandaoinefearail,cumhachd- 
ach,  misneashail.  Rugadh  iad  air- 
son  teagasg  sluaigh.  Bhuilicheadh 
tnigse  nadurra  agus  buaidhean  inn- 
tinii  orra  thairis  air  an  torahas  a  tha 
air  a  bhuileachadh  air  clann  nan 
daoine.  Tha  iad  gu  trie  air  an  leag- 
adh  cho  iosal  rig  an  lar  le  'n  ana- 
mianiia  do -shasui elite,  agus  'n  an 
amhghar  tha  iad  a'  deanamh  boidean 
ath-leasachaidh  airson  an  am  ri 
teachd.  Tha  dhà  dhiu  fa-dheoidh  a' 
faotainn  buaidh  ach  eha  'n  ann  gun 
stri,  gun  iomadh  tuisleaebadh  'lis 
tiiiteani  ghoirt.  Tha  seann  aingidh 
ann  an  Dim-breatunn  a'  cronachadh 
Dhughaill  Buchannain  airson  a 
theangaidh  thoibheumaich,  'S  e  'n 
tilleadh  a  bu  mhòdhruigh  aìvBuni/an 
a  fhuair  e  riamh  boirionnach  mi- 
bheusach  a'  criothnaehadh  roimh 
mhioiinan  uamhasach.  Ach  tha 
dealachadh  mor  eadar  ceard  Bhed- 
ford  agus  maighstir-sgoil  Raineach. 
Is  gann  a  fhuair  Bunyan  riamh  làn- 
chunihachd  thairis  air  a  spiorad 
lasaraeh, — lean  ni-eigin  de'n  t-saigh- 
deir  ris  g'a  ehrieh.  Aeh  tha  Dughall 
Bucliannan  g'a  ehradh  fein  a  chionn 
gu'n  do  mhiannaieh  e  dioghaltas  a 
thoirt  a  mach  air  na  daoine  a  ehuir, 
le  fianuis  bhreige,  a  ehairdean  gu 
bàs  airson  an  dilseachd  do  Thearlach 
Stiubhart. 

Cha  'u  eil  mi  meas  gu'm  biodh  e 
freagarrach  air  aon  eh  or  a  bhi  coim- 
eas  Dhughaill  Buchannain,  mar 
Bhard,  ri  Baird  ainmeil  dhuthchann- 
aibli  eile.  Chunnaic  mi  ami  an  aon 
leabhar  Blilton  na  Gaidhealtachd  air 
a  radii  ri  Buchannan.  Sgriobh 
Dughall  iomadh  sreath,  agus  rann 
no  dhà,  a  bhiodh  'n  an  urram  do 
Mhilton  an  nair  a  b'airde  a  ghleus ; 
ach  saoilidh  mi  gu  rooli  Buchannan 
dill  air  bhi  cho  fada  air  deireadii  air 
Milton  ann  am  buaidhean  nadurra 
agus  a  bha  e  ann  •  am  foghlum  agus 
ann    am    fiosrachadh.       Ni    mo   a 


choimeasar,  mar  Bhard,  Buchannan 
ri  Burns;  ged  bha  an  dithis  dhaoine 
ann  an  doigh  no  dhà  gle  eholtach  ri 
cheile.  Ann  an  clarsaich  Dhughaill 
bha  tend  no  dhà  as  nach  tug  e  fein 
ceol  agus,  a  reir  mo  bheachdsa,  is 
call  mor  so  d'a  dbuthaich  gus  an  la 
diugh ;  ach  saoilidh  mi  nach  robli 
ann  an  clarsaich  Bhuchannain  a 
liugha  tend  agus  a  bha  ann  an 
clarsaich  Bhurns,  agus  gur  gann  a 
bha  anns  na  teudan  a  bha  innte  ceol 
cho  binn.  Cliaill  sinne  mar  shluagli 
uair  'us  uair  urram  a  bha  dligheach 
dhuinn  le  cion  a  bhi  ag  agradh  ar 
làu  choir  fein  ;  chaill  sinn,  ma 
dli'  fhaodte,  cliu  a  bhuineadli  dhuinn,, 
ann  am  beachd  choigreach,  \& 
bhi  ag  iarraidh  tuillidh  's  a  choir. 
Ma  dh'  iarras  sinn  aite-suidhe  do 
Dhughall  Buchannan  le  Milton  no  le 
Burns,  iarraidh  sinn,  tha  mi  mens, 
urram  air  nach  airidh  e;  agus  is  e  's 
dòcha  gu  faigh  sinn  aite  is  isle  gu 
mor  na  bheireadh  a  thoillteanas 
dligheach  a  mach  dha. 

Ach  ged  nach  'eil  e  freagarrach  a 
bhi  'coimeas  ar  Bard  ri  Baird  dhuth- 
ehannaibh  eile,  tha  e  fior  f  hreagarr- 
acli  a  bhi  'g  a  choimeas  ri  Baird  a 
dhuthcha  fein.  A  mach  o  Oisean, 
's  e  Mac-Mhaighstir-Alastair  agus 
Donnachadh  Ban  Mac-an-t-saoir,  a 
reir  barail  a  mhor  ehuid  d'ar  sluagh, 
priomli  Bhaird  na  Gaidhealtachd. 
Blieir  cuid  an  ceum-toisich  do'ii 
DomhiiuUach ;  bheir  buidheann  is 
lionnhoire,  cho  fad 's  is  aitliue  dhomli, 
an  ceum-toisich  do  Mhac-an-t-saoir  ; 
ach  ann  am  beachd  an  t-sluaigh  thar 
cheann,  'siad  so  an  da  Bhard 
Ghaidhealach  is  ainmeile  a  sheinii  o 
linn  Oisein.  Tha  mi  meas  gu'n 
abair  roinn  mhor  de'n  t-sluagh  gur 
iadEobDonn  agus  Dughall  Buchann- 
an an  ath  chaigeann.  Eugadh  an 
ceatlirar  Bhard  so  dlii  air  an  aon  am. 
Bha  Dughall  Buchannan  mu  she- 
bliadhna-deug  na  b'oige  na  Mac- 
Mhaighstir-Alastair,    da    bhliadhna 


230 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


na  b'oige  na  Rob  Donn,  agus  ochd 
bliadhna  na  bu  shine  na  Donnachadh 
Ban.  Mu'n  bhliadhna  1750  blia'n 
ceathrar  dhaoine  so  anu  an  treine  an 
neirt,  an  corp  agus  an  inntinn,  a' 
seinn  ann  an  Gaidhealtachd  na  h- 
Alba  ;  agus  aidichear  air  gach  lairah 
nach  facas,  o'ti  linn  Oiseinich  co-dhiu, 
dusgadh  cho  gloirmhor  am  measg  na 
ceolraidh  Gliaidhealaich  agus  a 
cliiteadh  an  sin. 

Ciod  a  b'aobhar  do'n  dusgadh  so  Ì 
Gheibhear  am  sonruichte  ann  an 
eachdraidhgachshiaighathacomhar- 
raichte  o'n  tim  a  chaidh  roimhe  agus 
o'n  tim  a  thig  'na  dheigh  airson  ghias- 
adagusbeothachadh  do-ghnathaiclite 
ann  an  inntinnean  an  t-sluaigh.  'N  a 
ieitliid  so  de  thim,  tha  'n  shiagh  ageir- 
igh,  mar  gu'mb'ann,os  cionn  an  com- 
ais  fein.  Tha  iad  a'  toii't  dearbhadh 
air  neart  cuirp  agus  inntinn  air  nach 
robh  fiosrachadh  aca  fein  no  aig  na 
cinnich  mu'n  cuairt  dhoibh  roimhe 
sin.  Tha  toradh  a'  ghhia?aid  so  'g 
a  nochdadh  fein  air  caochladh 
dhoighean.  Air  uairean  chithear 
an  shiagh  a'  doi  a  mach  a  cheann- 
sachadh  fearainn  ura;  air  uairean 
ag  eirigh  airson  chòraichean  ùra  'n 
an  duthaich  fein ;  agus  air  uairean 
a  faotainn  a  mach  innleachdan  lira 
a  chum  saoibhreis  agus  goireasan 
iia  beatha  so  a  mheudachadh  Agus 
ann  an  lorg  gach  dusgadh  de'n  t- 
seorsa  so  gheibh  sinn  na  Baird — fior 
theanganna  an  t-shiaigh— ag  eirigh 
agus  a'  seinn  le  caithream  agus  le 
cumhachd  nach  bu  ghnaths'. 

Cha  'n  'eil  eachdraidh  rioghachd 
no  cinneach  air  a'  bheil  eachdraidh 
againn  anns  an  t-seann  t-saoghal 
no  anns  an  t-saoghal  iir,  mar  their- 
ear,  nach  toir  dearbhadh  soilleir 
air  an  fhirinn  so.  "Ma  theid 
mise  leatsa  an  diugh  do'n  bhlàr, 
agus  gu'n  tuit  mi,  co  sheinneas  do 
chliu  am  maireach,"  arsa  Iain  Lorn 
ri  Alastair  Mac-Colla,  latha  Inbhir- 
lochaidh.  Leth-sgeul,  Iain,  leth- 
sgeul !      Cha   robh,   gun   teagamh, 


teangadh  cho  sgaiteach  no  cho  binn 
ri  d'  theangaidh-sa,  manntach  's  mar 
a  bha  i,  anns  a'  champ  no  anns  a' 
Ghaidhealtachd  an  latha  sin ;  ach  cha 
do  chuireadh  blàr  mor  riamh  nach  d'- 
f  huaradh  Bard  a  ghleidh  air  chuim hne 
e.  Cha  b'ann  le  tuiteamas  a  bha 
Daibhidh  'n  a  Bhard.  Cha  robh  ath- 
arrachadh  mor  a  thachair  anns  a' 
Ghreig  nach  deach  a  sheinn  Ic  Baird 
a  dh'eirich  anns  an  ath  ghinealach  no 
anns  a  ghinealach  sin  fein.  An  ni 
ceudna  annsan Roimh.  Ghleidheadh 
na  h-iunnsaidhean  garg  a  thug  na 
Uelsich  air  cuing  nan  Sasunnach  a 
bhriseadh  air  chuimhne  ann  am 
Bardachd  nach  di-chuimhnichear. 
'S  ann  bho  na  Crusaders  a  dh'eirich 
na  Iroubadours.  Thainig  na  Moors 
do'n  Spainnt.  B'e  toradh  a'  cliogaidh 
fuil  ùr,  neart  ùr,  Bardachd  nach 
cualas  a  leithid  's  an  rioghachd  sin 
roimhe,  Corr  agus  tri  cheud 
bliadhna  roimhe  so  chaidh  canainean 
agus  ealaidhean  na  Greige  a  theagasg 
ann  an  taobh-an-Iar  na  h-Eorpa. 
Tha  fios  againn  gu  leir  air  an  toi'adh 
a  thug  am  pòr  so  a  mach — co-dhiu 
ann  antomhas.  Dh'eirich  rioghachd- 
an  na  h-Eorpa  aig  an  aon  am,  mar 
gu'm  b'ann  as  an  codal.  Thug  cuid 
an  aghaidh  air  fearainn  ura  agus 
mar  so  f huaradh  a  mach  America. 
Dh'iarr  agus  fhuair  cuid  tuilleadh 
saorsa  'n  an  dachaidh  fein.  Thug 
cuid  lamh  air  ath-leasachadh  na  h- 
Eaglais.  Ann  an  Sasunn  dh'eirich 
Baird  nach  cualas  an  leithidean 
roimhe  no  'n  a  dheigh  anns  an 
rioghachd  sin  no,  ma  dh'fhaodte, 
ann  an  rioghachd  cile.  Agus  mar  a 
bha  e  anns  an  am  sin,  tha  e  gus  a 
nis.  An  diugh  is  e  cogadh,  am 
maireach  is  e  creidimh,  a  tha  dusgadh 
an  t-sluaigh.  Ach  cia  air  bith  an  t- 
aobhar  airson  an  cuir  Alastair  ]\Iac- 
Colladheth  a  chòta  an  diugh,  bithidh 
Iain  Lorn  ann  am  maireach  a  sheinn- 
eas a  chliu. 

Ciod,  ma  ta,  an  dusgadh  a  thainig 
air  Gaidhealtachd  na  h-Alba  ann  an 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhogliair,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


231 


toiseach  na  linne  a  clh'  f  halbh  ;  agus 
ciod  e  aite  Dluighaill  iJuchanuain 
am  measg  nan  triuir  Bhard  a  bu 
chomh-aoisean  dha  Ì  D.  M'K. 


AN"  DEALACHADH  GAIDH- 
EALACH. 

LE  PROFESSOB  BLACKIE. 

Eadar-theangaichte  le  mairi  nic  ealair. 

FONN. — "  Cuimhneachadli  air  cV  fhuran." 

'S  glan  dearrsadh  na  grein', 
'S  geal  cobliar  na  tuinne  ; 
'S  aotrom  neòil  a'  snàmh 

Os  cionn  àird'  nan  tulach. 
'S  caoin  a  sheideas  gaoth, 
Bho  bhaiT  fraoch  a'  bhruthaich  ; 
Raineach  's  itich  gi^ig', 

Ri  h-eibhneas  gu  subliacli. 
Tha  gach  ni  fo'n  ghr^in, 
Talamh  's  spèur  làn  aighir, 
'S  mise  'n  so  leam  f  hèin, 

Gun  mo  cheile  mar  rium. 

Bu  shunntach  sinn  an  raoir. 
"S  sinn  aig  taobh  an  teine  ; 
Siiil  ri  sitil  Ian  bàigh, 

'S  comunn  blàtla  's  gach  cridhe. 
Grain  thruais  'us  ghràidh, 
'G  an  seinn  ard  le  binneas — 
Do  neacli  aotrom  gàir', 

'S  do  'n  f  hear  chrionnta  gliocas. 
Nis  leam  f  hein  ag  caoidh, 
Talbh  nan  raon  gun  aighir; 
Thii  cho  fada  bhuam, 

B'e  mo  luaidh  'bhi  mar  riut. 

Ged  sheinneas  mi  dan, 

Cha  dean  sid  mo  mhealladh  ; 

'S  ged  a  ni  mi  gàir', 

Tha  mo  chridh'  fo  smalan. 
Mar  ghiuUan  tha  vai, 
'Bhios  gu  dlh  ri  feadail 
'Dol  seachad  air  cill, 

'S  e  air  chrith  le  h-eagal. 
Ged  's  aotromaid  am  fàsaci 
'Bhi  'seinn  dhàna-mulaid, 
Cha  tig  flùr  fo  bhlàth 

Gun  thu,  'ghraidh,  na  'chuideachd. 

'S  bòidheach  raineach  uaine, 
'S  àillidh  snuadh  a'  bhruthaich  ; 
Chi  mi  'n  gormbhrat  ard 

Troimh  na  neòil  gu  lurach  ; 
Shios  ud  anns  a'  ghleaun, 
'S  òrbhuidh  dreach  a'  choirce  ; 
An  iarmailt  uile  Ian 


De  reachd  fais  'us  toraidh. 
'S  ged  bu  pheacadh  e 
A  bhi  'n  so  fo  smalan. 
Gura  trom  mo  dheur, 

'S  gun  mo  cheile  mar-rium. 


BLAE  NA  CAGAILT. 

UILLEAM  NA  EEAIRTE  'S  A  BHEAN. 

Cha'n  'eil  iiair  a  theid  mi  gu  m' 
smaointeaii  iiach  bi  e  'cur  ioghnaidh 
nach  beag  orm  a  liuthad  ànradli  'us 
dia,chainn  a  tha  daoine  a'  tarrainn 
orra  fhein  le  druim  na  simplidh- 
eachd.  Tliug  mise  mi  fhein  ochd 
bliadhn'  diag  cho  mor  fo  mhaide-na- 
poite,  tha  mi  'creidsinn,  ri  fear  a 
tharrainn  spàl.  Riabh  bho  sheachd- 
ain-nam-pòg,  faodaidh  mi  a  ràdh 
nach  d'  thug  Meig  's  mi  fhein  latha 
shin  a'  ruith  leis  an  aon  ghlaic. 
Bho'n  nach  deachaidh  an  daol- 
chridhe  fhein  intite — bha  i  cho 
daobhaidh  dhr.  Chuir  i  buileach 
ceann  annam;  ach,  o,  air  a  shon  sin 
is  eudar  dhomh  'aideach  nacli  bu 
droch  bhean  i  na  'dòigh  fhein;  bha 
grunndakis  agus  thUhs  màthar  innte, 
's  bhaina  'deagh  cheann  dona  pàis- 
dean,  daonnan  ag  cumail  iomf huasg- 
hiidh  riutha  am  biadh  's  an  aodach 
cho  fad  's  a  leigeadh  ar  cothrora 
leatha.  Ach,  o,  bha  'n  fhàgail  ud 
fuaighte  rithe — bha  i  fuathasach 
dùr.  Cha  robh  seol  air  a  toileach- 
adh  a  dh-aon  dòigh  no  'dhòigh  eile; 
agus  cha  robh  uair  a  chhuniiinn  clag 
na  h-eaglais  a'  bualadh  nach  cuir- 
eadh  e  am  chuimline  cànran  a  teang- 
a — a'  ghhge-ghlaige,  'ghhge-ghlaige 
'trod  rium  gun  sgur.  Dh'  aon 
fliacal  deth,  bhrist  i  mo  chridhe,  's 
cha  'n  ann  aon  uair  a  dh'  òrdaich 
mi  mi  fhein  an  uchd  Abrahaim  cian 
bho  iomguin  an  t-saoghail  pheacaich 
so. 

Ach  mar  a  bha  mi  ag  ràdh,  tha 
feadhainn  gu  trie  a'  tarrainn  chrois- 
ean  orra  fhein  le  maoile.  Cha  ruig- 
ear  a  leas  'innse  dhòmhsa  gur  h-e 


232 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


fear  neochiontadi  socharach  a's 
fhèarr  a  tliig  romh  'n  t-saoghal; 
cha  'n  è,  's  drochuair,  clia  'n  è.  Tha 
fios  agam  air  sin  air  mo  chost. 
Agus  mar  is  fhaide  beò  mi  is  aim  is 
fhèarr  a  tha  mi  'tùrsaiim  mar  a 
thuirt  mo  sheaa-glioistidli  rium, 
eadar  fliealadhà  's  a  rireamli,  nacli 
h'  fhuilear  do  dhuine  beagan  de  'n 
donas  a  chumail  an  donais  bhuaithe. 
Is  e  sin  focal  clio  clio  firinneach,  ar 
leam,  's  a  chiiala  mi  riabh.  Is  beag 
a  shaoil  leam  's  an  am,  gu'n  laidh- 
eadli  e  clio  math  orm  fhein,  agus 
gu'm  feumainn  a  char  an  gnlomh  ; 
ach  faighidinn  bheag  agus  chitear 
mar  bu  dol  domh  fhein  's  do 
Mheig. 

Oidhche  dhubh  gheamhraidh  a 
bha  'sid,  is  math  is  cuimhne  leam  i, 
togar  mo  cheist  oirre  gu  bean-a'- 
cheannaiche  direacha  dh-aonghnoth- 
uch  a  throd  rithe  air  son  gràinnein 
de  mhin-chruithneachd  a  cheannaich 
mi  bhuaipe  latha  no  'dhà  roimhe  sin 
gu  glaodh  a  dhianamh  dhith,  ach 
nach  do  thuit  a  macli  tur  cho  math 
's  a  bha  diiil  againn,  a  rèir  na 
phàidh  mi  oirre.  Na  'n  cuireadh  i 
a  comhairle  rium  theirinn  rithe 
fuireach  aig  an  tigh  's  gun  e  'chur 
cualaig  oirre,  nach  robh  ann  ach 
luach  tliii  buinn-a-sia,  's  nach  b' 
fhiach  e  an  t-saothair  a  bhi  'bruidh- 
inn  idir  air.  Ach  eha  b'  ann  diubh 
sin  mo  Mheig,  cha  robh  cluas-èisd- 
eachd  aice,  agus,  mar  a  thuirt  mi, 
togar  oirre,  i  fhein  's  a  cleoca  sgcàr- 
laid  's  a  boineid-shioda  a  cheannaich 
i  ùr  iioblia  as  a'  bhùth  an  latha  sin 
fhein  air  a  ceann.  Ach  innsidh  mi 
an  toiseach  mar  a  bli'  eadar  i  fhein 
's  mi  fhein  oidhche  'n  càigh  ud. 

"  Nis,  a  Mheig  "  osani  fhein  's  mi 
'fiachainn  ri  aoigh  a  chur  orm  cho 
ciliin  tlàth  's  a  b'  urrainn  domh,  's 
a'  toirt  gnè  thogail  air  mo  churrac 
ruadh  ionann's  a'  toirt  modh  dhi, 
"  na  ma  fhiach  leat  e.  Cha  bu 
ghiamh  leam  air  rud  sa  bith  gu'n 


gabhadh  tu  ort  a  leithid  de  rud  cho 
ro  fhadharsach — deannan  am  bial 
builg — luach  dcà  bhonn-a-h-ochd. 

Ach  air  m'  fhalluinn,  b'  fhèarr 
dhomh  gu'n  robh  mo  theanga  fo  m' 
clirios,  mu'n  gann  a  bha  am  facal  a- 
mach  as  mo  bhial,  thug  mo  cliaomh- 
ag  togail  air  meadar  cluasach  Ian  de 
ghlaodh  a  bh'  agam  lamh  rium  los 
a  chur  ri  eide  de  dhroch  tharrainn  a 
bh'  agam  's  a'  bheairt,  agus  tilgear 
sid  a  bheò  bheum  orm.  Ach,  mu'n 
d'  thuirt  an  duine  coir  roimhe  so, 
mu'n  Fhreasdal,  's  e  na  'theinn  's 
'a'  bhaileachan  bhiastail  bhòstail ' — 
"Is  ann  na  'eisiomail  a  bha  sinn 
bho'n  a  thainig  sinn  do  Chille- 
Chuimein,"  is  amliuil  a  thachair 
dhòmhsa,  'an  àite  m'  eanchainn  a 
spòltadh  asam  mar  a  b'  ion  domh 
dùil  a  bhi  agam,  's  ann  a  bhuail  am 
meadar  thall  an  sgàthan  's  rinn  e 
còig  ciad  spealg  dheth.  Coma  ged  a 
theanc  mo  chnuac  cha  b'  e  sin  do  m' 
aodunn  e,  cha  robh  diar  a  bha  's  a' 
miieadar  nach  do  thaom  orm  's  an 
dol  seachad,  agus  'fhianuis  air  na 
ballaichean  mur  d'  rinn  e  beuban 
diam.  Am  fear  ud  mir  nach  d' 
thug  sid  teum  orm,  agus  mur  b'e 
gu'm  b'i  mo  bhean  i,  chuirinn  car 
na  'h-amhuich  air  cho  bheag  athaidh 
's  ge  bu  chearc  an  sgùmain  i.  Ach 
cha  do  chuir — bha  mise  fo  mhaide- 
na-poite,  's  bha  a  leithid  de  smachd 
aice  orm  's  nach  robh  de  innleachd 
am  eanchainn  na  chuireadh  eirbheirt 
annam  ceann  a  thoirt  di.  Chaidh 
mi  gun  mhath  sa  bith,  air  chor's 
nach  b'  urrainn  domh  ni  a  dhianamh 
ach  spliachdadh  mar  dhallaig  na 
'h-aodann,  's  ise  'cur  dhith  nan 
sgidealaichean  sin  rium  cho  neo- 
mhathasach  's  ge  bu  chaileag 
shearbhanta  mi.  Uair  no  dhà  dh' 
fhairich  mi  mo  dhiiirn  'g  an  teum- 
adh  gu  pailleart  a  thoirt  di,  ach  leis 
a'  gheilt  cha  robh  a  chridhe  aig 
'cluais-air-còta'  bid  a  ràdh.  Mar  sin 
thocr  i  oirre  air  cheanii  a  turuis  ga 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fboghair,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


233 


m'  f  hàgail-sa  'm  gluiracli  aig  taobh 
a'  ghealbhain  's  mi  'dheanamh  àth 
uo  muilinn  de'n  cbiiis. 

"  0,  '  Annag,"  osam  fhein  ri  m' 
nighinn  's  i  'càrainh  lèineige  le 
Deòrsachan,  "  nach  i  'bliaobh  do 
mbathair  1" 

'•  Cba'n  'eil  sinn  a'  leirsinn  a 
bbeag  dbe  'baobbalacbd,"  os  an  creut-  j 
air  dona,  "is  geal  a  tboill  sibh  na 
fhuair  sibh;  na  'm  biodb  duine' 
agamsa  dhianainn  an  diol  ciadna 
air,  acb  a  cbridbe  'bbi  aige  urad  's  a 
cborrag  a  chamadh  am  aghaidb."      I 

An  uair  a  cbuala  mi  so  bbo  m' 
fbuil  'us  m'  fbeòil  fhein  chaidh  mi 
ghm  am  bhreisHch — am  paisdein  sin  j 
a  dh'  altruim  mi  air  mo  ghlùn,  a  b'  | 
àbhaist,  an  uair  a  bha  i  na  'rud 
crion,  suidhe  lamb  rium  aig  a' 
bheairt,  agus  na  h-iteachain  a  lion- 
adh  le  '  làimheig  fhein — bha  e  na 
'rud  gle  dhiachainneach.  Thàinig 
taclidadh  orm,  agus  fhuair  mi  am 
braon  mor  ud  ag  cur  nan  car  dheth 
SÌOS  mo  leac— an  ciad  dhiar  a 
a  -fhHuch  i  bho'n  a  bha  mi  'm 
ghiullan  casruisgte  'dol  do'n  sgoil. 
B'  f  haoin  cànran  a  màthar  seach  so. 
Theid  aig  duine  air  cur  suas  le 
mùran  bbo  a  mhnaoi;  acb,  o,  cainnt 
ascaoin  bho  'urra-chloinne  ruigidh  i 
cridhe  duine  mar  ghàine  saiglide,  's 
cuiridh  i  gu  fàsgadh  cràiteach  dhiar 
e.  Cha  do  ghabh  mi  fearg  ris  a' 
chaileig,  bha  tuilleadh  's  sin  de 
dhuilgheadas  orm;  acli  thug  a'  chùis 
mo  shliilean  domh,  agns  chunnaic 
mi  nach  robh  na  bhami'fuhmg  bho  m' 
mhnaoi  ach  mar  shnàithinn  an 
coimeas  ri  ceirsle,  lamb  ris  na  bha 
mi  fulang  's  an  uair  sin. 

Dh'  fhairtlich  as  glan  orm  cur 
suas  ris  gacli  car  a  bh'ann  agus 
thugar  air  cheilidh  orm  air  mo 
choimhearsnach  Eobhan  Mor.  B' 
òLich  ro  thiirai],  sicir,  Eobhan,  agus 
b'  f hear-cèirde  dhomh  fhein  e.  Bha 
sgoil  aige.  agus  is  gann  rud  air  nach 
robh  fios  aige,  air  chor's  "u'n  robhas 


a'  sealltainn  air  gu  math  os  cionn 
chàich.  Cha  robh  tuaireap  a  bhiodli 
'an  Teanga-guu-urrainn  nach  rach- 
amaid  na  'r  ruith  a  chur  ar  comh- 
airle  ris;  agus  cha  mhor  nach  bu 
cho  math  leinn  a  chomhairle  ri 
comhairle  Mhr.  Fionnladh  fhein. 
Bha  e  na  bhrod  chunntair,  agus 
theireadh  feadhainn  gu'n  robh  e  cho 
oileinte  air  a'  chleit  ris  a'  mhaigbistir- 
sgoile.  Ach  coma,  mar  a  bha  mi  'g 
ràdh  thugar  ceum  air  cheilidh  air 
Eobhan  a  chur  mo  chomhairle  ris ; 
ach,  gonadh  ormsa,  ma  chunnacas 
duine  riabh  cho  feargach  ris  an  uair 
a  dh'  innis  mi  mo  dheireas  dha. 

"  'Uilleim  na  beirte,"  os  esan  's  e 
'toirt  eibh  as — agus  cha  bu  bbeag  e, 
"  cha'n  'eil  annad  ach  smear  na 
pleothaisg  —  eirpleach  truagh  fo 
mhaide-ua-poite.  A  staoin  bhochd, 
tha  thu  d'  chulaidh-mhagaidh  's  an 
diithaich,  's  cha'n  airidh  thu  air 
ainm  duine.  Fiach  an  cuala  tu 
sin  ?" 

"  U,  chuala  gu  math,"  osam  fhein, 
's  gun  mi  idir  ro  thoilichte  a  leithid 
de  dhroch  fhreagairt  fhaotainn  ged 
a  mhathainn  rud  da  nach  mathainn 
do  'n  a  h-uile  fear,  "  chuala  mi  gach 
smid  deth,  agus  gun  teagamh,  tha 
mi  fad  ad  chomaine  air  son  do  cho- 
fhurtachd." 

"Gun  ghuth  mor,  gun  droch 
fhacal,  'Uilleim,"  os  esan  air  a  mhin 
shocair — chunnaic  e  gu'n  do  chuir  a 
chainnt  miothlachd  orm,  "  na  gabh 
gu  h-olc  na  thuirt  mi  riut,  is  anu  a' 
fanaid  a  bha  mi.  Ach,  a  dh-innse 
na  firinne  dhut,  a  charaide,  tha  thu 
"■cur  suas  ri  aintighearnas  nach 
bu  choir  do  dhuine  cneasda  sa  bith. 
Nach  e  Breatunn  righeachd  na  saor- 
sa?  ISTach 'eil  mise,  's  tusa,  's  each, 
a  cheart  cho  saor  ris  an  diùc  ud 
shios  na  'chaisteal  soghail  ?  Agus 
I  am  beil  coir  aig  duine  sa  bith,  innis 
sin  domh,  'Uilleim,  air  ainneart  no 
aintighearnas  a  dbianamb  air  duine 
;  sa  bith  mar  a  tha  do  bhean  a'  dian- 


234 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  1S7 


amh  ortsa  Ì  Cha  chomliairlicli  mise 
dliut  d'  è  'nì  thu,  ach  innsidh  mi 
dhut  mar  a  dhianainn  f  heiii  na  'm 
biodh  mo  bhean  's  mo  nighean  ga 
m'  ghioUaclid  air  an  dòigh :  bhuail- 
inu  an  da  clmuaic  ri  clièile  's  cliuir- 
inn  glùn  orra.  Am  thigh  fhein  gu 
dilinn  bu  mhise  fear-an-tighe." 

B'  i  so  comhairl'  Eobhain.  Shaoil 
mi  gle  reusonta  i  ged  a  dh-f  haodadh 
i  'bhi  car  diiihch  a  chur  'an  cleachd- 
adh.  "  Ach  co  dhiù,"  osam  fhein 
rium  fhein,  "theid  mi  gu  m' 
smaointean  mu'n  chùis,  agus  co  aige 
'tha  'fhios  na'n  d'  thugainn  orm 
fhein  diachainn  a  thoirt  di,  nach 
rachadh  a'  chùis  learn  gu  tur.  An 
uair  a  thill  mi  dhachaidh,  's  e  an 
ciad  rud  a  rinn  mi  lamh  a  thoirt  air 
a'  bjiotull,  agus  Ian  miarain  a  ghabli- 
ail  deth  a  thoirt  misnich  dhomh  'an 
earalas  nach  biodh  onagaid  as  ùr 
eadar  mi  fhein  's  bean-an-tighe;  agus 
cuideachd  a  slioilleireachadh  m'  inn- 
tin  n — rinn  a'  bheairt  sin  domli — an 
uair  a  bheirinn  greis  mhor  a'  fighe  dh' 
fhàsadh  m'  inntinn  cho  math  ri  m' 
cholainn  car  tromsanach,  cadalach. 
'S  e  'bh  ann,  ma  ta,  gu'n  do  ghabh 
mi  diaran  's  gu'n  d'  rinn  mi  suidhe 
aig  taobh  an  teine  a'  feitheamh  ri 
Meig  bho  throd  ris  a'  mhnaoi  choir 
eile  bean-a'-cheannaiche  mu'n  deann- 
an  am  bial  builg. 

Bhuail  mo  chaomhag  a  stigh  le 
farum  cabhaige.  Bha  'h-aodunn 
cho  dearg  ris  a'  chorcan-choille,  's  a 
h-anail  na  'h-uchd,  's  i  buileach  colt- 
ach  ri  te  a  bhiodh  an  deaghaidh 
deannal  garg  a  thoirt  le  '  teangaidh. 
Ach  cha  b'  ann  idir  smuaireineach 
a  bha  i.  Is  ann  a  bha  i  '  sealltuinn 
cho  moiteil  ri  coileach-frangach.  Le 
dideig  a  ghoid  mi  eadar  mi  's  lias 
chunnaic  mi  gu'n  do  chlàd  i  bean-a'- 
cheannaiche — bean  shibhealta  gun 
ghò  nach  dianadh  gille  de  Mheig  air 
sglamhruinn.  Thòisich  i  air  spaid- 
seireachd  's  air  spagluinn  mu'n 
euchd  a  rinn  i  a'  ghlas-gliuib  a  chur  j 


air  a'  mhnaoi  eile,  agus  bha  i  cho 
Ian  as  agus  ged  a  chuireadh  an  righ 
iuchair  a  Chaisteil  air  a  bac-stic. 
Bha  'chilis  ag  cur  a  leithid  de  thàm- 
ailt  orm  's  gu'n  robh  mi  'n  impis  a 
bhi  air  an  dearg  chaothach,  agus 
thàinig  teum  fotham  uair  no  dhà 
facal  a  chur  a  stigh,  a  bhuidheachas 
sin  do'n  diaran  a  'h'  òl  mi,  ach  mu 
'n  gann  a  bhio>L.i  ;un  facal  thair  mo 
bhraighe,  thigeadh  am  meadar  's  an 
glaodh  am  chuimhne,  agus  thilleadh 
iad  sid  agus  stadadh  e  mar  chnàimh 
am  amhuich.  Tha  mi  'deagh- 
chreidsinn  mur  b'  e  an  creutair 
caileige,  Annag,  gu'm  bithinn  f  hath- 
ast  gun  diog  a  ràdh,  agus  gu'm 
biodh  comhairle  mo  ghoistidh  gun 
bhonn-stàth  dhomh.  Bha  ise  air  a 
lionadh  cho  mòr  le  euchd  a  màthar 
agus  nach  fhoghnadh  leatha  ni  no 
dad  ach  bun-sgeoil,  is  e  sin  a  h-uile 
car  mar  a  bh'  eatarra  'chlu  inntinn. 

"  Agus,"  OS  a'  chutag  ri  'mcàthair, 
"  an  do  thilg  sibh  oirre  gu'n  robh  i 
reamhar?" 

"  Rinn  mi  sin  agus  iomad  inisg 
eile,"  osa  Meig.  "  Thuirt  mi  rithe 
gu'n  robh  i  cho  dòmhail  ri  còmhla 
sabhuil  's  cho  leathunn  ri  cliathaich 
tighe.  'S  thuirt  mi  rithe,  cha'n  'eil 
annad  ach  an  triiilleach  cailliche,  an 
dallanach  gun  del  diat  ort,  thu  fhein 
's  an  sgonnaire  duine  sin  a  th'  agad." 

Ach  cha  d'  fhoghainn  so,  cha 
luaithe  a  sguir  i  na  chuir  an  stig 
ceist  eile  oirre  :  "Agus,"  os  ise, 
"nach  do  thilg  sibh  oirr  gu'n  robh 
a  h-athair  na  spiocairel"  "Thilg 
mi  sin  fhein,  a  cheist,"  osa  bean-an- 
tighe,  "  thnirt  mi  rithe  gu'n  robh  a 
h-athair  na  spiocaire,  leis  an  dubh- 
chrinegu'mmarcaicheadh  e  doLunn- 
ainn  air  c'  ainm-so-i,  gu'n  dianadh  e 
triubhas  dheth  a  balgan  agus  arm- 
adh  de  'n  gheir  aice." 

Cha  b'  urrainn  domh  cur  suas  le 
so  na  b'  fhaide.  Dh'  fhairich  mi 
nàdur  an  duine  na  'Ian  ire  ag  oibr- 
eachadh  's  an  taobh-stigh  dhiam,  's 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  187 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


235 


thàinig  ionaan's  teum  de'n  chaothach 
orm.  Mo  làmh-sa  dhut  gu'n  robli 
mac-na-bracha  —  gun  dearmad  air 
comhairle  mo  ghoistidli — ri  deagh- 
sheirbhis  a  nise.  Ghabh  mi  mire- 
chath,  's  dliLiin  mi  mo  dhùini  le 
neart  aingealtais,  's  tlirus  mi  muilch- 
innean  mo  leine — thuit  gu'n  robh 
mo  chòta  dliiain  's  am,  agus  am  prib- 
eadl)  nan  sùl  bha  mi  air  mo  chois 
bhàrr  an  tii-chasaich  air  an  robh  mi 
'm  shuidhe.  Blia  mi  air  bhall- 
cliritb,  ach  cia  dhiùbh  's  ann  le 
fiamh  no  le  feirg  no  le  buathadh  na 
deithse,  bbiodh  e  duilich  a  dhean- 
amh  a  mach.  Bha  conf  hadh  uamh- 
asacli  orm,  's  mi  clio  ascaoin  ri  famJi- 
air,  's  gabhar  ceithreamh  no  dbà  de'n 
'•'Oran  dhòchusach  " : 

0,  gabhaidli  mi,  gabhaidh  mi,  gabhaidh, 
Gabhaidh  mi  'n  t-òran  dòchusach. 

0,  galihaidh  mi,  gabhaidh  mi,  gabhaidh, 
Gabhaidh  mi  'n  t-oran  dòchusach. 

Thachair  ormsa  olc-anairidb, 
'X  latha  'chaidh  mi  pbòsadh  leat. 
O,  gabhaidh  mi,  &c. 

Comhlaieh'  ceann-ruisgii'  de  dhubh-chaile, 
'X  latha  chaidh  mi  phòsadh  leat. 
O,  gabhaidh  mi,  &c. 

".S  cha  do  ghuidh  i  tiirus  math  dhomih, 
'X  latha  'chaidh  mi  phosadh  leat. 
O,  gabhaidh  mi,  &c. 

Thuit  mo  bhoinneid  's  a'  stòp-cheatha, 
'X  latha  chaidh  mi  phosadh  leat. 
O,  gabhaidh  mi,  &c. 

Dhoirt  a'  cheanfhionn  a  cuid  bainne, 
'X  latha  chaidh  mi  phosadh  leat. 
O,  gabhaidh  mi,  &c. 

Chaidh  mo  lair  dhubh  leis  an  abhuinn, 
'X  latha  chaidh  mi  phosadh  leat. 
0,  gabhaidh  mi,  &c. 

Loisg  iad  mo  thigh-mòr  's  mo  shabhul, 
'X  latha  chaidh  mi  phosadh  leat. 
O,  gabhaidh  mi,  &c. 

Chac  na  cearcan  air  mo  chlaidheamh, 
'X  latha  chaidh  mi  phosadh  leat. 
O,  gabhaidh  mi,  &c. 

'S  dh'f haodainn  s'  'fhaicinn  nach  bu  rath  e, 
'X  latha  chaidh  mi  jDhòsadh  leat. 
0,  gabhaidh  mi,  &c. 


"Agus,"  osam  fliein,  "  tbilg  tliu 
inisgean  mar  sin  air  a'  bhoirionnach 
cbòir,  cbeanalta.  0,  'Mheig,  a 
Mheig,  nacli  'eil  nàir  ort  romhad 
fheinf' 

Dbianadh  e  feum  do  d'  chridhe 
fhaicinn  mar  a  spliac  i  'm  aodunn. 
Chaidh  i  car  na  'breathal,  agus 
sheall  dh'fhiach  am  bu  mhi  fhein 
no  mo  riochd  a  bh'  aice.  Ach  cha 
d'  thàinig  ach  balbhadh  air  a  droch- 
nàdur ;  bhrùchd  e  mach  na  'bhuid- 
ealaich  mar  thein-aighir  air  latha- 
breth  an  oighre,  agus  chunnaic  mi 
nach  robh  agam  ach  cruadhachadh 
ris  no  bhi  'm  chlùd-chas  gu  bràcli 
aice. 

"  An  robh  d'  athair  ag  cromadh 
air  a' bhotull '?"  os  ise  ri  'h-ighinn, 
"  tha  e  mar  gu'm  biodh  an  daorach 
air." 

"Dh'  òl  e  lànnacuaichetiotabeag 
mu'n  d'tliàinig  sibh  a  stigh,"  os  an 
droch  isein.  Mu'n  gann  a  bhruidh- 
inn  i  chas  Meig  rium  cho  neimheil  ri 
cat-fiadhaich,  's  thug  i  pailleart  's  an 
leth-cheann  domb,  's  leag  i  air  mo 
dhruim-direach  mi  air  teis-meadhon 
an  ùrlair.  An  uair  a  chunnaic  mi  an 
ire  gus  an  d'  thai  nig  gnothuicliean 
thuig  mi  gu  soilleir  nach  robh  ana 
domh  ach  gabhaii  air  m'  aghart,  gun 
diochuimhn'  dheanamh  air  comhairle 
Eubhain  mhòir,  no  air  mar  a  thuirt 
mo  ghoistidh  coir  e  nach  b'  f'huil- 
ear  do  dhuine  sgealb  de  'n  donus, 
fhein  fhein  gus  an  teicheadh  a 
chur  air.  Mar  sin  thrus  mi  na  bh' 
agam  fhein  de  mhisnich  agus  na  thug 
a'  chuach  dhomh,  agus  gabhar  na 
'dàil,  agus  thugar  dhi  deannal  nach 
d'  fhaair  bean  eile,  roimhe  no  na 
'dheaghaidh,  a  leitbid.  A  dh-aon 
fhacal  deth,  thachair  a  seise  oirre, 
agus  ghlaodh  i  air  ghaol  an  iochd, 
"  cobhair  ;  "  ach  so  cha  dianainn  gus 
an  do  gheall  i,  gu'n  tugadh  i,  anus  an 
liine  ri  tighinn,  meas  duine  dhomh, 
agus  gu'm  biodh  i  umhailte  dhomh 
anns  gach  ni  mar  a  thigeadh  do 
mhnaoi-phòsta. 


233 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mliios  an  Fhoghair,  1S76. 


Mu'n  gann  a  rinn  sinn  an  rèit  — 
mi  f  hein  agus  Meig,  co  a  bhuail  a 
stigh  ach  mo  ghoistidh.  An  uair  a 
chunnaic  e  Meig  ag  caoine  agus  Uill- 
eam-na  beairte  clio  frithearra,  bhuail 
e  bliasan  agus  cha  b'  ioglinadh 
dba. 

"  'Uilleim,"  OS  esan,  "  an  è  gu'm 
bheil  thu  d'  mhaighistir  ad  thigh 
f  hein  ! " 

"Gha'n  'eil  teagamh  air,"  osam 
f  hein  ri  m'  ghoistidh,  's  rinn  e  crath- 
adh-làmh  riuni  air  son  a  bhi  cho 
smearail,  agus  cho  matli  's  a  dh'  èir- 
ich  leam. 

Bha  gach  gnothuch  gu  math  f  hath- 
ast.  Phàidh  mi  le  riadh  na  bha  mi 
'n  ainf  beach  mo  mhnatha,  agus  thug 
mi  gu  staid  i ;  ach  bha  na  pàisdean 
agam  a  nis  ri  thoirt  gu'm  foireachd- 
ainn,  agus  ri  fhiachainn  daibh  gu'm 
bu  mhi  am  maighstir  cho  math  ri 
maighistir  am  am  màthar.  Na  bròin, 
bha  mo  chridhe  goirt  air  an  son,  cha 
d'  fhuair  iad  taghadh  an  oilein, 
air  chor  's  gu'n  robh  iad  a  cheart  cho 
suarach  umam  ri  fear  de  na  gillean 
a  bh'  agam  ag  ionnsachadh.  Is  e 
'bh'  air  ma  ta,  gu'n  d'  thug  mi  tarr- 
ainn  air  sgitirs  de  leathair  tairbh  's 
a  mheoir  cruaidhichte  's,  an  teine — 
gu  leasan  a  thoirt  daibh — agus  ghabh 
mi  do  Annaig  mu'n  amhuicli  e  gus 
an  robh  i  's  a'  sgriachail  agam.  Chuir- 
eadh  e  truas  air  duine  a  faicinn  a' 
leum  feadh  an  ùrlair,  agus  a'  ruith  g' 
a  dion  gu  'màthair.  Ach  tuille  cha 
robh  cobhair  ri  'faotainn  's  a'  chearn- 
aidh  sin ;  agus  's  e  bh'  ann  gu'm 
bu  bhuidhe  leatha  dol  airadàghlùn 
a  dh-iarraidh  mathanais  orm  ag  geall- 
tainn  i  fhein  a  ghiulan  's  an  nine 
ri  tighinn  mar  bu  chuibhe  do  nighean 
a  h-athar. 

'S  a'  cheart  'am  so  co  bhuail  a 
stigh  ach  Deorsachan  's  e's  a'  ghal  ag 
iarraidh  buntàt'-fhuair.  Cha  robh 
fios  aige  air  ni  de  na  thachair,  agus 
gun  teagamh  bha  dull  aige  amadan 
a    dhianamh  dhe  'athair  mar  a  b' 


àbhaist  da  riabh  bho'n  a  dh'fhàg  e 
a'  chreathal.  Chunnaic  mi  gu'm  b'e 
nis  an  t-àm  air  an  droch-nàdur.a 
chartadh  as  ;  's  thug  mi  tarrainn  air 
fear  nan  tri  miar,  's  thug  mi  ceum  a 
null  gu  greim  a  dhianamh  air,  agus 
diol  chàicli  a  thoirt  as.  ISheall  e 
mar  gu'm  biodh  gnè  'shanus  aige  air 
na  bha  'tighinn  agus  ruithear  a  null 
gu  'mhàthair  's  i  na  cruban  thall  an 
oisinn  a'  tiormachadh  a  sul  le  'h-apa- 
ran  stiallach  fhein.  Leis  an  eagal 
ghramaicli  am  balchan  ri  'òrios,  ach 
cha  do  theannirilcàmh-chuideachaidh 
a  thoirt  da,  chuir  mi  a  leithid  de  dh- 
fhiamh  oirre.  Mar  sin  spion  mi 
bhuaipe  e  's  chuir  mi  air  mo  ghlun  e 
's  dheis  'us  dhèis  mi  e  an  làthair  a 
mhàthar,  a  pheathar,  agus  mo  ghois- 
tidh. 

Sin  mar  a  fhuair  mise,  a  thug 
ochd  bliadhn'-diag  fo  mhaide-na-poite, 
an  làmh-an-uachdar,  agus  fear  sa 
bith  air  am  beil  a  bhean  na  'maide- 
mullaich  mar  a  bha  mo  Mheig  orm- 
sa,  b'  i  mo  chomhairle  dha  diach- 
ainn  a  thoirt  do'n  chleas  chiadna,  's 
cha  'n  'eil  teagamh  agam  nach  èirich 
leis.  Bhiodh  Eobhan  Mòr  an  còmh- 
nuidh  ag  ràdh  gu'm  bu  choir  do 
dhuine  a  bhriogais  fhein  a  chaith- 
eamh  ;  agus  is  urrainn  domh^a 
'chòmhdach,  bho'n  is  ann  agam  'tha 
'f  bios,,  nach  'eil  facal  na's  f  hirinniche 
ann  an  Leabhar  Mhic-an-Tòisich. 
Cha  'n  e  air  a  shon  sin  nach  do 
theann  Meig  uair  's  uair  ri  'seann- 
abhaistean  ath  -  nuadhachadh,  ach 
sheas  mi  gu  fearail  làrach  nam  bonn 
gus  mo  dheireadh  an  do  leig  i  'n  cabar 
air  an  t-slinnein,  agus  an  diugh  tha 
i  na  'mnaoi  cho  umhailte  's  a  th' 
eadar  so  's  Glaschu.  Thainig  ath- 
arrachadh  uamhasach  air  an  da 
phàisdè  cuideachd ;  tha  iad  na  'n 
cloinn  cho  dleasnach  's  is  ion  dùil 
a  bhi  ris's  an  t-saoghal  a  th'  ann. 
I  Air  an  aobhar  sin,  leanadh  daoine — 
I  biodh  iad  coir  no  siraplidh,  mo  dhòigh- 
I  sa,  aefus,  niu  'n  d'  thuirt  mo  "hoist- 


Ceud  Mliios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


237 


idh  e,  cha  cliluinnear  guth  tuille  air 
a  bhi  "  fo  mhaide-na-poite." 

Bad.  le  Greannan. 


SGIALACHD   NA    TEOIDHE. 

COMHEAG   AjaX   AGUS   HeCTOIR. 

Bho'n  Ghreu2:ais. 

Le  EoBHAN  MacLachainn. 

VII  DUAX. 

Labhair  e,  's  le  cuimse  chòrr 

Shaighd  e  fad-shleagh  mhòr  m'a  thiiairms  ' 

Mòr-sgiath  Ajax  bhuail  au  gath, 

Shàsaich  a  clialg-sgath  gu  crnaidh 

'An  seachdamh  fiUeadli  na  sg^ith, 

Ball-dion  an  treunair  neo-thaLs, 

Sgiath  nan  seachd-breith  seiche  bo 

B'e  'h-ochdamh  filleadh  còmhdacli  pràis. 

Ajas  uasal  thilg  sleagh  chòiT 

Air  targaid  chònard  an  laoich  thr^in  ; 

Shiubhail  an  gatb  ciiilg  le  maoim, 

'S  thorchair  grad  roi'  loinn  na  sgeith  ; 

'  X  a  ghrinn  chneas-leine  ghabh  sas  ; 

]\Iu'n  t-sea,ng  a  h-earrlainn  gu'n  reub  ; 

Direacli  mu'n  loch-lèin  bha'n  dail ; 

Ach  dh'  aom  an  Sàr  o'n  du'-è  ig. 

'X  sin  le  sleaglfan  fad  na'n  dòrn 

Dhlùtli  an  dìthis  mhòr  g-u  gleachd, 

]\Iar  leònxhain  ri  feòlach  clian, 

Xo  tiiirc  fhiadbaich  a's  garg  neart. 

Copan  sgiath  Ajax  gu'n  'bhiiail 

Mac  Phi-iam  gu  cruaidh  le  sleagh  ; 

Cha  do  dhiong  i  air  a'  phrais 

Liib  a  barr  air  ais  gun  bhlagh. 

Ach  Ajax  le  sitheadh-lèum, 

Ehuail  bèum  air  targaid  an  t-saoidh 

A  theab  a  diong,  a's  a  chuir  casg 

Air  astar  's  e  'teachd  le  maoim  : 

Thuit  am  buille  troin  gu  geur 

Jje  b^ud  air  muUach  a  chnuaic', 

Ghrad  spiit  an  fhuil  na  'dui  'lèum 

On  chreuchd  anns  na  sjieura  suas  ! 

Ach  sid  cha  d'  thug  air  an  treun 

Snaoidheadh  o  thèuchd  a'  chath  ; 

Cheum  e  air  'ais  air  an  fhonn 

'S  togar  clach  bharr  lòm  an  t-srath  ; 

Clach  chreimineach,  mhòr,  dhu  -chair 

Do  ghlac  an  cliar  'na  laimh  chruaidh  ; 

Tilgear,  is  buailear  an  sgiath 

Aig  Ajax,  mu  chioch  a  cuairt, 

(An  sgiath  mhòr  a  bh'  iar  a  dion 

TjC  seachd  fillt'  de  leathar  bhua) 

Sgaoil  am  buille  feadh  na  faich 

Trom-ghliongar  na  prais  le  fuaim. 

Ach  togar  Ajax  clach  ro-mhòr 

Is  caithear  air-s'  an  dòimeag  thròm, 

Buailear  le  srann-bhuille  gharg. 

Is  bruanar  a  thargaid  'na  pronn. 


Chiiirr  i  'ghlidnean,  's  shineadh  sios 

E,  leantuinu  r'a  sgiath,  air  Iar 

Ach  thog  Apollo  au  sonn 

Is  chuir  air  a  bhonu  gun  dail. 

'X  sin,  dòrn  ri  dòrn  le  luinn  ghèur 

Theannadh  iad  ri  chèile  leòn 

Mur  tigheadh  eatorra  na  maoir 

Teachdairean  f  òs  dhaoine  's  lòbh, 

Talthibius  o  shluagh  na  Gr^ig, 

Luchd  nan  leintean  praisich  trom, 

'S  o  fheachd  na  Tròi  Ida^us  coir, 

Dithis  fhear  bu  sheòlta  conn. 

Shin  gach  fear  dhiubh  so  a  cholbh 

A  dh'eadraiginn  colg  nan  sonn. 

Idadus  thuirt  briathra  'n  ttis, 

(Eòlas  nan  cùirtear  'na  cheann) 

"  A  chlann  ghaoil,  na  h-imribh  oath 

Xo  còmhrag  nan  gath  's  an  am  s' ; 

Is  ionmhuinn,  a  laoich,  sibh  faraon 

Do'n  dia  'cho-aomas  na  neòil  ; 

Fior  ghuineach  ur  call 's  an  streup, 

Mar  dhuinue  gu  Mir  is  eòl : 

'S  i  'n  oiche  nis  i  ;  is  ni 

Math  e  a  bhi  striochd  do'n  oich'." 

"  Aithn  do  Hector  sin  a  ràdJi 

Ida^uis,"  ors  Ajax  saoidh, 

"  Chionn  's  esa  'ghairm  chun  na  stri 

Gach  fear  bu  mhileanta  de'r  slògh  ; 

Tionnsgiiadh  e,  's  ma  ni  e  striochd 

Striochdamsa  's  gach  ni  dhuibh  fòs." 

Fhreagair  an  sin  Hector  mòr, 

Teannaiche  nan  comhrag  dian, 

"Ajax,  'bhrigh  gu'n  'bhuilich  lòbh 

Ortsa  morachd,  neart,  is  ciall, 

'S  til  a's  fèaiT  a  dh'  iomaireas  gath 

Measg  flathan  na  Greig  gu  tm- ; 

Gidheadh,  de'n  chath  is  de'n  streup 

Fosamaid  le  cheile  'n  diugh. 

'An  dèigh  so,  cathaidh  sinn  le  spàirn 

Gus  an  sgar  an  Dan  sinn  uaith' ; 

Gus  an  lann  sin  as  a  cheil' 

Xo  le  fear  gu'n  eirich  buaidh  ; 

'Si  'n  oiche  nis  i ;  is  ni 

Math  e  a  bhi  striochd  do'n  oich' ; 

Chum's  gu'n  aoibhnich  thus'  le  d'  làth'r 

Xa  Grèugaich,  'an  sgath  nan  long, 

'S  air  do  chàh-dean  's  do  luchd  gaoil 

Gu'n  togadli  tu  faoilt'  is  fonn  : 

Ach  mise,  feadh  cathair  mliòr 

Eigh  Priam  nan  còrr-bheairt  àidh 

Gu'n  aoibhneam  na  Tròidhich  iir, 

'S  ban-Troidhich  nan  stiùir-uheall  àiU, 

A  theid,  le  'n  dùi-achd,  a  m'  leth, 

Gu  h  ilmhail  do  thigh  nan  dia, 

A  ghuidhe  dhomh  buaidh  nam  blkr, 

'S  ath-thilleadh  skbhailt  gu  'm.  miann 

Ach  so,  ar  n-arma  mòr-bhiti 

Tiodhlaic'  mar  air  tùs  d'  a  chèil', 

Mar  so  gu'n  alsair  faJheòigh 

Fear  de  shiol  Thròi  's  na  Grdig  : 

Tre  fharmad  chòmhraig  na  sàir 

'Xan  inntinn  'gan  cnamh  gu  geur, 


238 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  1876- 


Ach  dhealaich  'rist  na  suinn  'nan  càird 
lar  deanainh  an  kird  na  rèit'." 
Mar  so  'nuair  labliair  am  flath 
Thug  e  seach  a  chlaidheamh  cruaidh 
(Cnaip  airgid  duailte  m'  a  dhos) 
Is  ma  -ris  grinn-chrios  is  truail : 
Thug  Ajax  dhàsan  crios  loinn 
'Ghabh  'fhaoileas  o  dhath  na  F^inn. 
Dhealaich  iad  ; —  ghabh  fear  gu  r^ith 
Far'  robh  shiagh  na  Greige  cruinn 
'M  fear  eile  gu  feachd  na  Tiòidh', 
'Bu  mhòr  sòhis  agus  sunnd 
'Nuair,  chnnnaic  iad  e  beò  gun  bh^ud 
O  neart  's  làmhachd'  Ajax  hith. 
Threòraich  iad  do'n  bhaile  'n  treun 
Do'n  d'  thug  iad  gèiU  e  'bhi  slhu. 
Thug  Grèugaich  nan  sàr  chas-bheirt 
Ajax  leò  as-teach  gun  dài] 
Gu  Agamemnon  an  righ 
'S  e  aigneach  do  bhrigh  buaidh. 
Ei  linn  doibh  a  bhi  'na  bhùth, 
Thug  am  Pritinr.s'  ma'n-ear  gu  hiath 
lobairt  a  chur  dhoibh  air  dòigh 
Do'n  dia  ro-thrdun  Cronos  aosd' :  &c. 


LITIR. 

A  Ghaidheal  runaich, — A  chion 
rud  is  fearr  no  is  frcagarraiche,  an 
gabh  tliu  ris  an  fhearas-bheoil  a 
leanas  ?  Is  e  do  charaid  Iain  Mac- 
illebliain  a  chuir  r'  a  cheile  na 
biiathran,  agus  chaidh  an  liubhairt 
do  Chomunn  Gaidhealach  Ghlaschu 
aig  an  ciad  choinnimh  mar  Chom- 
unn Fein-oileanachaidh,  toiseach  a' 
Gheamhraidh  an  uiridh.  Thiiirt  e 
fein,  aig  an  am  nach  robh  e  idir 
cho  ullamh,  le  cion  nine  agus  cion 
cothroim,  gu  a  smuaintean  a  chur 
am  briathran,  agus  a  bhriathran  a 
chur  an  ealpadh  a  cheile,  's  a  bu 
nihaith  leis — agus  tha  mi  a'  Ian 
chreidsinn  sin — coma-co-dhiubh,  fag- 
aidh  niise  an  sgriobhadh  agad  fhein, 
agus  caith  no  caomhain  e.  Ma 
chuireas  tu  an  sgioball  a'  Ghaidheil 
e,  agus  gu  'm  bi  Macil.'ebhain  diom- 
bach  riut,  fag  a'  choire  air  do  charaid 
dileas. 

Mac-Mharcuis. 

An  FheiU-Eatham,  1876. 


FEIN-OILEAN. 

LE  IAIN  MACILLEBHAIN, 

Tha  beachd  agam  air  iomradh  a 
chluinntinn  mu   mhinistear   Gaidh- 
ealach   a    bha    uair   a'   cuideachadh 
mihisteir    eile    aig    comunnachadh. 
Air  a  shlighe  dhachaidh  as  an  sgir- 
eachd  anns  an  robh  e  gu  a  sgireachd 
fein  bha  aige  ri  dol  thar  aisig.     An 
am  dol  thairis  anns  a'  bhata,  ars' 
esan  ri  fear  an  aisig,  "  Thusa  a  tha 
ag  aiseag  na  h-urad  de  mhuinntir  na 
sgireachd,  is  cinnteach  gu  'n  cuala  tu 
iad  a'  comhradh  an  am  dol  thairis 
mu  na  searmoinean  a  chuala  iad  re 
na  seachdain  a  chaidh  seachad.     An 
do  mhothaich  thu  ciod  a'  bharail  a 
bha  aca  air  mo  shearmoinean-sa  ì " 
"Ma  ta,   a  mhinisteir  choir,  a  dli- 
innseadh  na  firinn  duibh,  cha  robh 
ach  barail  gie  mheadhonacli — barail 
bhochd."     " Is  iongantach  leam  sin," 
ars'   am   ministear,    "agus   gu'n    d' 
fhuair  mi  fhein  ùr,  nobha,  a  Dun- 
eideann   iad  ! "       Is   mor   m'   eagal 
nach  bi  ur  barail-sa  air  an  t-searmoin 
agamsa   ach  gle   shuarach ;    cha  d' 
fhuair  mi  à  Duneideann  i,  agus  cha 
mho   is   urrainn   domh  a  radh   gu 
bheil  i  iir  no  annasach.     Na  'n  cuir- 
eadh  e  a'  bheag  rithe  ann  an  snas  no 
ann  an  cumhachd  a  radh  gu  'n  robh 
i  iir  anns  an  t-seadh  so — gu'n  deach  ■ 
aidh  a  cnr  an  ordugh   an  taobh  a 
stigh  de  dha  no  tri  laithean,  theirinn 
e  ;  ach  is  eagal  leam  gur  ann  a  bhiodh      i 
aithris  air  a  h-tiiread  anns  an  rathad      • 
so  a'  cur  an  ceill  duibh  roimh  laimh 
nach  bu  diith  dhi  gu  'm  b'  fhiach  i 
moran,  ma  chaidh  a  cur  r'  a  cheile 
'n   a  leithid  a  chabhaig.      Ach,  an 
deigh  a'  h-uile  rud  a  th'  ann,  is  e  so 
an  t-aon  seadh  anns  am  faod  mi  a 
radh  gu  bheil  i  ur.      Cha  'n  'eil  an 
steidh    itr,    agus    cha    mho    tha   an 
teagasg     no     na     comhairlean    iir, 
Faodar  a  radii   umpa  mar  thiiirt  a' 
chailleach   eile  a  mu  'n   mhinistear 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Flioghair,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


239 


iir,  a'  chiad  latlia  'chual  i  e,  agus  suil 
aice  ri  nid-eigin  annasach  uaith, 
"  Fhalbli,  fhalbh,  cha  robh  aige  acli 
seana  chaibideal  ann  an  leabhar  lob 
a  chuala  mi  o  chionn  leth-chiad 
bliadhna  !  "  Tha  mi  a'  cur  romham 
direach  paidirein  a  dheauamh.  mar  a 
b'  abhaist  duinn  an  uair  a  bba  sinn 
og,  a'  ruith  mu  na  bruthaichean ; 
agns  cha  'n  'eil  mi  ag  iarraidh  de  dh- 
urram  no  de  cliliu  anns  a'  chuis,  ach 
gu  'n  do  thrus  mi  na  flurain  aillidh, 
agus  gu  'n  do  cbeangaU  mi  iad  air 
sreing.  Is  le  daoine  eile  na  teagas- 
gan  agus  na  comhairlean — glieobh- 
adli  aon  air  bith  le  beagan  rannsach- 
aidh  no  smuaineachaidh  a  mach  iad 
air  a  shon  fein — cha  do  rinn  mise 
ach  an  tional  mar  a  b'  fhearr  a  dh' 
f  haod  mi  anns  an  nine  ghoirid  a  bha 
agam,  agus  an  cur  comhladh  gun 
mhoran  ceartachaidh  no  orduigh ; 
cha  leamsa  ach  "  an  gad  air  an  robh 
an  t-iasg." 

Tha  iad  ag  radh  gu  bheil  e  iomadh 
uair  na  's  duilgheadh  do  mhinistear 
amas  air  ceann-teagaisg  a  chordas 
ris  fein  na  tha  e  dha  an  t-searmoin  a 
chur  r'a  cheile  an  deigh  dha  amas 
air;  ach  bha  an  da  chuid  duilich 
dliomhsa.  Cha  robh  fios  ceart  agam 
ciod  mu  'm  bruidhninn  agus  cha 
robh  fios  agam  ciod  a  theirinn  an 
deigh  domh  amas  air  ceann-teagaisg ; 
cha  'n  'eil  mi  am  fhear-labhairt  deas- 
chainnteach  aig  am  sam  bith. 

Bha  amadan  aon  uair  a'  dol  a 
sgriobhadh  leabhair,  na'm  b'  f  hior  e 
f  hein,  agus  thuirt  e  mar  so,  "An  uair ! 
a  chuireas  mi  sins  a'  h-uile  ni  air  a ' 
bheil  f  hios  agam,  agus  a'  h-uile  ni , 
air  nach  'eil  f hios  agam,  ni  mi  i 
leabhar  mor."  Cha  'n  'eil  mo  | 
mhiannsa  an  drast  cho  farsaing  ri! 
sin ;  ma  theid  agam  air  beagan  de 
na  's  aithne  dhomh  agus  beagan  de  \ 
na  dh'  innis  daoine  eile  dhomh  a  I 
chur  mu'r  coinneimh  tha  mi  an  | 
dochas  gu  'm  bi  sibh  toilichte  ged  | 
leigeas  mi  tamh  do  na  nithean  sin 
air  naeh  'eil  f  hios  agam. 


Smaointich  mi  nach  biodh  e  as  an 
I  rathad  dhuinn,  no  air  chor  sam  bith 
mi-f hreagarrach,  na'n  seallamaid  car 
I  nine  gaoirid  air  a'  cheist,  Ciod  a 
\  chuir  a'  so  sinn  Ì  ciod  a  tha  sinn  a' 
cur  romhainn  a  dheanamh  an  so  bho 
'  sheachdain  gu  seachdain  ?  ciod  a' 
bhuannachd  ris  a  bheil  suil  againn 
le  bhi  a'  cruinneachadh  bho  am  gn 
am? 

Ciod,  ma  ta,  an  run  a  tha  againn 
's  an  amharc  ann  an  cruinneachadh 
an  so  mar  chomunn?  Ei  linn  ar  n- 
oige,  agus  ann  an  tomhas  mor  gus 
an  latha  'n  diugh  bha  agus  tha  e  'n 
a  chleachdamh  aig  ar  luchd-duthcha 
anns  a'  Ghaidhealtachd,  an  deigh 
dhaibh  obair  an  latha  chur  seachad, 
a  bhi  a'  cruinneacliadh  an  tighean  a 
cheile — mar  theireadh  iad  "  air 
cheilidh" — gus  na  feasgair  fhada 
Gheamhraidh  a  chur  thairis  ann  an 
comhradh,  ann  an  innseadh  sgeul- 
achdan,  cur  a  mach  thoimhseachan, 
ag  aithris  bardachd,  a'  seinn  oran 
binn,  boidheach,  agus  ann  am 
fearas-chuideachd  neo-lochdach  de 
gach  seorsa  .  Thar  leam  nach  'eil 
sinne  ach  mar  gu'm  b'  eadh  a'  cur  a' 
cheart  chleachdaidh  sin  air  aghaidh 
air  mhodh  eadar-dhealaichte,  no, 
mar  gu  'n  abramaid,  ann  an  doigli 
Ghallda.  Cha  'n  'eil  na  bailte-mora 
freagarracli  air  son  ceilidh  nan  tigh- 
ean, tha  sinn,  uime  sin,  a'  cur  romh- 
ainn tighinn  comhladh  an  so,  a  dh- 
aon  aite  air  a  bheil  sinn  uile  eolach, 
aon  uair  's  an  t-sea-chdain,  chum 
comhradh  taitneach  agus  tarbhacli  a 
bhi  againn  ri  cheile ;  chum  le  gacli 
aon  a  bhi  'toirt  a  lathair  gach  ni  a 
mheasas  e  bhi  chum  math  a  choimh- 
earsnaich,  agus,  leis  gach  aon  againn 
a  bhi  a'  cur  ar  n-oidheirpean  comh- 
ladh gu  each  a  cheile  'chuideachadh, 
gu  'n  toir  sinn  misneach  agus  togail 
d'  a  cheile  anns  an  ni  sin  a  bu  choir 
a  bhi  aig  gach  aon  againn  mar  a  run 
sonraichte — is  e  sin,  a  bhi  a'  cur  am 
farsaingeachd    ar   cuid  eolais,    agus 


240 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an 


'g  ar  togail  fein  suas  gu  inbh  is  airde 
aim  am  foghlaim  agus  ann  am  freag- 
arrachd  air  son  ge  b'  e  aite  anns  an 
tuit  ar  crannchur  's  an  t-saoghal. 
Is  e  so  ar  dleasuas ;  is  e  so  ar 
gliocas. 

Tlia  doigh  no  dha  anns  am  faod 
an  leithide  so  de  choinneamhan  a 
bin  ro  thaitneach  agus  ro  bhuann- 
achdar  dhuinn  ;  ainmichidh  mi  cuid 
diubh. 

An  toiseach,  ma  ta,  thar  leam  gu 
bheil  aon  mhathas  air  an  leithide  so 
de  choinneamhan,  agus  is  e  sin,  gu  'm 
faigh  sinn  eolas  air  a  cheile.  Cha 
ni  beag  so  idir ;  is  gann  a  tha  eolas 
ann  is  feumaile  do  dhuine  na  eolas 
air  a  cho-dhaoine.  Is  ann  le  tighinn 
'n  am  measg ;  le  còmhradh  riutha ; 
le  suil  gheur  a  chiimail  air  gluasadan 
diomhair  a  chridhe  fein  agus  air 
cleachdainnean  dhaoine  eile ;  le 
beachdachaidh  agus  co-choimeas  a 
a  dheanamh  air  na  naduir  fa-leth  a 
thachras  air,  a  gheobh  duine  an  t- 
eolas  sin  a  ni  freagarrach  e  air  son 
buntainn  r'a  cho-dhaoine  anns  an  t- 
saoghal,  aon  chuid  mar  f  hear-teagaisg, 
mar  mhaighstir,  mar  cbo-oibriche  no 
mar  sheirbhiseach,  Tha  eolas  ann 
a  gheobh  duine  le  e  fein  a  ghlasadh 
suas  mar  mhanach  ann  an  seomar  le 
'leabhar;  ach  biodh  solus  an  duine 
so  cho  farsaing  's  a  dh'  fhaodas  e 
air  nithean  coitchionn,  cha  'n  'eil 
ann  duine  is  neo-fhreagarraiche  gu 
daoine  eile  a  stiuradh  agus  am 
faireachdainnean  a  thuigsinn  na  am 
fear  sin  a  chiibas  suas  e  fein,  agus 
aig  nach  'eil  cothrom  air  tighinn  an 
caraibh  dhaoine  eile  chum  foghlum 
air  an  cor,  an  staid,  an  doilghiosan 
agus  an  aoibhneasan  f  haighinn  uapa 
fein  agus  o  bheachdachadh  air  an 
nadur  agus  an  suidheachadh  mar  tha 
e  ri  dhioghlam  bho  choluadar  cairdeil 
agus  caidreach  rintha  fein. 

Tha  fathast  seol  eile  anns  am  faod 
an  t-eolas  so   air   a   cheile   bhi   ro- 


gu  sonraichte  do  mhuinntir  og  an 
deigh  tighinn  bhar  na  duthcha,  Le 
bhi  frithealadh  air  an  leithide  so  de 
choinneamhan  tha  cairdeis  iomadh 
uair  air  an  deanamh  suas  a  mhaireas 
gu  am  bàis.     Nach  iomadh  gille  og, 
Gaidhealach   a    mheasadh    e   'n    a 
shochair  mhoir  na  'm  biodh  fhios 
aige  c'  aite  an  tachradh  e  air  oganaich 
eile  a  bha  aon  uair  mar  tha  e  fein, 
'n  an  coigrich  anns  a'  bhaile-mhor 
gun  fhios  ciod  an  taobh  a  thionnd- 
adh  iad.     Bheireadh  e  ni  air  bith 
air  son  ionaid  anns  am  faigheadh  e 
cothrom  air  eolas  a  chur  air  oganaich 
mheasail,  stuama,  ghlic  a  mhuinntir 
a  dhuthcha   a   sheoladh   e   agus   a 
bheireadh   cuideachadh   dha   gu    a 
rathad  a  dheanamh  am  measg  bhuair- 
easan  ioma-fillte   a'    bhaile-mhoir — 
aite  anns  am  faodadh  e  oidhche  chur 
thairis  air  cheilidh  le  'luchd-duthcha 
agus  anns  am  faigheadh  e  cothrom 
agus  cuideachadh  ann  a  bhi  'cur  am 
meud  agus  am  farsaingeachd  a  chuid 
eolais  air  nithean  an  t-saoghail,  agus 
gach  gne  f  hoghluim  a  bliios  feumail 
dha  'n  a  shlighe  troimh  'n  f  hasaich. 
Is  e  an  darna  ni  a  dh'  ainmaichinn 
anns  a  bheil  na  comuinn  so  buann- 
achdar,gu  bheil  iad'n  am  meadhonan 
chum  ar  treorachadh  gu  buil  mhath 
a  dheanamh  d'  ar  n-uine.     Is  gnoth- 
ach  cinnteach  e  gu  bheil  ar  n-uine 
'ruith  seachad  gu  bras,  (agus  tha  e 
mar   an    ceudna    fior   mu   mhoran 
againne  gu  bheil  gle  bheag  againn 
ri  sheachnadh  di  an  deigh  ar  n-obair 
latha)  ach  tha  e  cheart  cho  fior  gu'n 
ruith  an  uine  seachad  co  dhiubh  a 
bhuilicheas    no    a    mhi-bhuilicheas 
sinn  i — CO  dhiubh  tha  sinn  ag  obair, 
no  a'  cluich,  no  diomhanach.      Tha 
e,    uime  sin,    ro    fheumail    gu    'n 
deanamaid  a  bhuil  cheart  d'  ar  n- 
uine,  biodh  i  goirid  no  fada.      Cia 
miuig  tha  sinn  a'caitheamh  na  h-uine 
sin   ann    am   faoineis,   no   ann   an 
diomhanas,  no  ann  an  ana-measarr- 
achd  agus  ann  an  lundaireachd,  a 


C'eud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  1S76. 


AN  GATDHEAL. 


241 


bu  choir  a  bhi  cair  a  caitheamh  ann 
am  meudacliadli  ar  n-eolais  no  ann 
an  ruigsinn  air  ni-eigin  a  bhiodli 
feumail  dhuinn  ann  ar  caithe-beatha 
anns  an  t-saoglial.  Tlia  Donnacliadh 
Ban  ag  radii — 

' '  Sg^uir  mi  bhi  ga  m'  phianadh  o  'n  thug 

mi  'n  aire 
Gur  e  'n  duLae  diomhaÌQ  is  fhaide  mhair- 

eas," 

agus  ann  an  aon  seadh  tha  sin  fior, 
ach  ann  an  gnathachadli  ar  n-uine, 
cha  'n  ann  mar  sin  a  thachras — is  e 
an  didue  sin  is  fliaide  mhaireas,  an 
ti  a  ni  buil  mliath  d'  a  nine,  ge  b'  e 
air  bitli  cho  og  's  a  thig  am  bàs 
air. 

Anns  na  coinneamhan  so  tlia 
cuspairean  freagarrach  air  an  cur 
I'ar  comhair  a  clium  's  gu  'n  leag- 
amaid  ar  n-inntinnean  riutha,  agus 
tha  sinn,  uime  sin,  air  ar  cumail  bho 
sheacliaran  gun  fhios  again n  ciod 
air  am  beacbdaicheamaid. 

Is  e  an  treas  ni  a  dh'  ainmaicbinn 
gu  bheil  na  coinneamhan  so  a'  togail 
annainn  deigh  air  leughadh.  Mslv 
dh'  eireas  gnothaichean  suas  ann  an 
cursa  ar  rannsachaidh  mu  'm  feum 
sinn  barail  a  thoirt,  tha  sinn  air  ar 
co-eigneachadh  gu  dol  a  dh-ionnsaidh 
nan  tobraichean  sin  anns  am  faigh 
sinn  an  t-eolas  a  tha  feumail  agus 
freagarrach. 

Theirinn  anns  a'  cheathramh  aite 
gu  blieil  iad  feumail  a  chum  ar 
comasan-inntinn  a  gheui\achadh  agus 
a  chur  am  farsaingeachd.  Tha 
cuspairean  ùr  bho  am  gu  am  air  an 
cur  'n  ar  lathair — tha,  mar  gu  'm  b' 
eadh,  saoghal  iir  a'  fosglatlh  suas 
dhuinn-nitheaii  air  nach  do  bhreath- 
naich  sinn  riabh ;  agus  tha,  mar 
so,  togradh  air  a  dhusgadh  suas  gu 
ruigsinn  air  tuilleadh  agus  tuilleadh 
eolais,  agus  tha  ar  n-inntinnean  a' 
dol  am  farsaingeachd,  agus  o  latha 
gu  latha  a'  fas  na's  comasaiche  air 
buintiun  ris  na  nitheau  oirdhearc 
agus  maiseach,  tarbhach  agus  buaan- 


achdar  a  tha  air  an  toirt  f  ar 
comhair  ann  an  cursa  ar  leughaidh 
agus  ar  còmhraidhann  an  co-cheangal 
ris  na  coinneamhan  so. 

A  bharr  air  so  uile,  anns  na 
comuinn  so  tha  gach  aon  'n  a  fhear 
teagaisg  agus  'n  a  fhoghlumaiche 
uair  mu  seach — "  Beatliaich  thusa 
mise  'n  diugh,  agus  beathaichidh 
mise  thusa  am  maireach."  Tha  mar 
gu'm  b'ann  a'h-uile  fear  a' toirt  latha 
treabhaidh  d'  a  choimhearsnach,  agus 
a'  cur  na  h-oibre  air  a  h-aghaidh  gu 
h-aonsgeulach,  grinn. 

A  rithist,  leis  gu  bheil  aig  gach 
neach  ri  'sgeul  f  hein  innseadh  agus 
ri  a  bharail  a  thoirt  air  sgeul  a 
choimhearsnaich  agus  sin  anns  a' 
chainnt  is  freagarraiche  agus  is  snas- 
mhoire  is  urrainn  da,  tha  ar  comas- 
labhaist  air  a  leasachadh  gu  mor; 
tha  sinn  a'  fas  ann  am  misneich — 
cha  'n  'eil  sgath  oirnn  ar  guth  a 
leigeil  a  mach.  Ged  a  tha  an  comas 
so  iomadh  uair  nadurra  ann  an  cuid 
a  dhaoine,  cha  'n  'eil  e  ann  an 
coitchionnas  ri  ruigheachd  air  ach 
le  sior  chleachdainn. 

Anns  an  deasboireachd  a  tha  suil 
again n  a  bhios  a'  dol  air  a  h-aghaidh 
an  so  bho  am  gu  am,  anns  an  gabh 
aon  fhear  an  darna  taobh  agus  fear 
eile  an  taobh  eile  de  cheist  sa  bith 
mu  'm  faod  da  bharail  a  bhi  aig 
muinntir,  tha  sinn  a  faotainn  oilein 
iior  fheumail  ann  an  comas  air  com- 
annda  agus  riaghailt  a  chumail  air 
braisead  ar  naduir.  Agus,  mar 
Ghaidheal  aidichidh  mi  e,  cha  'n  'eil 
ni  ann  is  feumaile  do  m'  luchd- 
duthcha  no  is  mo  anns  a  bheil  iad  a' 
teachd  gearr  na  anns  a'  cheart  ni  so. 
Co  dhiubh  is  e  gu  bheil  an  fhuil  aca 
na  's  teotha  na  an  fhuil  aig  daoine 
eile,.  no  ciod  air  bith  is  aobhar  dha, 
cha  'n  'eil  daoine  ann  is  fuathaiche 
air,  agus  is  miosa  ghabhas  e,  an  uair 
a  theid  cur  'n  an  aghaidh  ann  am 
briathar  no  ann  an  gniomh,  na  na 
Gaidheil.  Cuireadh  neach  ann  an 
16 


242 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


ag  barail  a'  chuid  is  mo  de  Ghaidli- 
eil,  agus  ann  an  tiota  lasaidh  iad 
suas  aim  an  corruicli,  agus  measaidh 
iad  seanchus  an  neacli  sin  mar  tham- 
ailt  dliaibh  fein.  Tha  moran  feum 
againii  air  foighidinn.  Tlia  sinn  gle 
ealamh  gu  a  radii,  "  Tlia  da  thaobh 
air  Maol-Cliinntire,"  ach  cba  'n  'eil 
a  bbeag  againn  cbo  deas  gu  aideacb- 
adh  gu  bheil  iomadb  doigb  ann  gu 
amharc  air  cuisean,  agus  gu  'm  faod 
aon  duine  ni  'fhaicinn  ann  air  solus 
gu  tur  eadar-dbealaicbte  bbo  'n 
chrutli  aims  am  faic  duine  eile  e. 
Bidb  a'  bbraisead  so,  ma  ta,  air  a 
cur  air  srèin  agus  air  a  cumail  fo 
smacbd  anns  an  ionad  so.  Am  fear 
a  cbailleas  comannda  agus  cearmsal 
air  a  nadur,  caillidh  e  an  latba. 
Bidb  "  cotbram  na  Feinne"  aig  gacb 
neacb,  agus  clia  'n  fbaod  guth  mor 
no  drocli  fbacal  a  bbi  air  a  cbluinn- 
tinn  'n  ar  measg.  Cuiridh  a  b-uile 
fear  an  ceill  a  bbarail  gu  pongail, 
gun  umliail  gu  'm  faod  iomadb  aon 
a  bbi  a  latbair  aig  a  bbeil,  ma  db' 
fbaodteadh,  beaclidan  calg-dbireacb 
an  agbaidb  a  bbeacbdan-san.  An 
aite  bbi  'cur  churaidhean  an  agbaidb 
a  cbeile  mar  a  b'  abbaist  d'  ar 
sinnsre,  cuiridb  sinne  ar  leaclidan 
fa-leth  an  agbaidb  a  cbeile,  agus  cbi 
sinn  CO  beaclid  is  airidb  air  gabbail 
ris — biodb  ar  barailean  a'  cur  as  d'  a 
cbeile  am  feadb  a  bbios  ar  gaisgicb 
a'  glacadb  laniban  a  cbeile  gu  cair- 
deil  mar  nacb  biodh  acb  aon  bbeacbd 
'n  ar  measg  gu  leir.  An  aite  a'  b- 
uile  fear  a  bbi  a'  stritb  agus  a' 
guidbe  air  son  buaidli  dha  fhein, 
agus  a'  seinn  gu  caitbreamacb  agus 
gu  b-uailleil  an  uair  a  bbios  an  cath 
tbairis — 

"  Hi  riin  ho  rò,  liò  ro  leatha, 
Chaidh  an  latha  le  Clann-Domlmuill," 

biodbmaid  a'  guidbe  gu  'n  teid  an 
latba   leis   an  fhirinn,    agus   biodb 
Clann-Dombnuill  far  an  togair  iad. 
Bba  na  Gaidbeil  riabb  ainmeil  air 


son  an  gaisge  agus  cba  do  tbill  iad 
riabb  as  an  stritb  gun  urram.  Bba 
iad  dnineil  a  sbeasamb  an  còiricbean; 
a  tboirt  a  macb  tòracbd  air  son  an 
tamailtean,  no  a  cbogadh  as  letb  an 
uacbdran  agus  as  letb  a'  cbeartais. 
Choisinn  iad  onair  anns  gacb  teug- 
bboil,  agus  is  coir  dbuinne  an  ceum- 
annan  a  leantainn  ann  an  àrfhaicb 
na  beatba.  Ged  nacb  tarraing  sinn 
claidheamb  tba  catli  againn  r'"a  cbur 
cbo  matb  riutbasan  ;  agus  ged  nacb 
buidbinn  sinn  caisteal-daingnicb  no 
nacb  toir  sinn  leirsgrios  air  baile,  tba 
e  mar  fhiacbaibb  oirnn  an  cogadh 
siocbail,  neo-fbuilteacb  anns  a  bbeil 
sinn  a'  gabbail  cuid  a  gbiulan  air 
agbaidb  le  suil  ri  buaidb,  a'  cuimb- 
neacbadb  briatbran  an  duine  gblic 
— "  Is  fearr  an  ti  tba  mall  cbum 
feirge  na  gaisgeacb  ;  agus  an  ti  a 
riaglilas  a  spiorad  fein  na  esan  a 
gblacas  ard-bbaile." 


SOP  AS  GACH  SEID. 

larr  ni's  lugha  na  tha  agacl  agus  bithidh 
barrachd  agad  an  comhnuidh  na  dh'  iarras 
tu. 

Tha  gach  cumhachd  a'  sruthadh  o  r<5usan, 
agus  tha  e  cinnteach  gu'n  caill  e  a  neart 
anns  a'  cheart  tomlias  anns  an  claon  e  air 
falbh  o'n  bhun  as  an  d'thkinig  e. 

Feudaidh  tu  f  oghar  tàrbhach  eòlais  athion- 
aladh  trid  leabhraichean  a  leughadh,  ach 
ciiimhnich  gur  e  a  bhi  'smuaineacha  dh  a' 

ghuit-fhasganaidh. 

Is  amaideach  giulan  an  duine  sin  a  thuiteas 
gu  grad  ann  am  feirg. 

Cha'n  'eil  duiue  sam  bith  curamach  agus 
faiceallach  mu'n  ùine  aige,  nach  'eil  faiceall- 
ach  agus  cùramach  mu'n  chonaltradh  a  tha 
e'  cumail. 

Dean  suas  do  bharail  muthimchioll  duine 
o  na  buaidhean  inntinn  aige,  agus  cha'n  ann 
o'n  earradh  leis  am  bheil  a  air  a  sgeudach- 
adh. 

Is  searbh  an  obair  abhi  diomhain.  Cha'n 
'eil  ni  sam  bith  ann  a  dh'  fhàgas  duine  ann 
staid'  nis'  truaighe  na  bhi  diomhain.  TJha'n 
'eil  aobhar  truais  ann  a  ta  nis'  mo  na  daoine 
aig  am  bheil  iiine  'nan  laimh  fein,  agus  gu'n 
a  bhi  'faicinn  car  aca  r'a  dheanamh. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  1876 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


243 


AULD     LANG    SYNE 

Air  eadar-theangachadh. 

III. 

NA   L^UTHEIN    'dh'fHALBH. 

Air  furan  foil  an  iadh  na  neoil, 

'S  ui  's  mo  nach  canar  luaidh  ? 
Air  furan  foil  an  iadh  na  neoil, 
'San  latha  a  bhà  's  a  dh'fhalbh  ! 

An  latha  a  bha  's  dh'fhalbh  a  ghaoil 
An  latha  a  bha  's  a  dh'fhalbh  ; 
Leinn  gabhar  cupan  cairdeil  caoin. 
Ail-  sgath  an  la  a  dh'  fhalbh. 
Ruith  sinn  le  aighear  feadh  an  raoin, 

A  tional  ròs  nam  buadh  ; 
Ach  's  iomadh  airsneul  rinn  ar  claoidh 
O  'n  latha  'bha  's  a  dh'fhalbh. 


I. 

Na  Laitheax  Cian. 

'N  coir  seann  luchd  eoluis  dol  air  chhl 

'S  gu'n  tigh'n  gu  brath  gu  cuimhn'  ? 

'N  coir  seann  luchd-eolais  dol  air  chùl, 

'S  na  laithean'  bh'  ann  'o  chian  ? 

Luinneag — * 

Air  sgkth  nan  laithean  cian  ghraidh, 
Air  sgath  nan  laithean  cian  ; 
Gu'n  gabh  sinn  cupan  cairdeil, 
Air  sgath  nan  laithean  cian. 
Bhi'trusadh  neoinean  feadh  nam  bruach 

B'e  sud  aon  uair  ar  miann, 
Ach's  iomadh  ceum  sgith  shiubhail  sinn, 

O  laithean  bh'  ann  o  chian. 
Bha  sinn  araon  a'  cluich'  's  na  h-uillt, 

G«  oidhch  o  'n  chi  a'  ghrian, 
Ach  bheuchd  na  cuaintean  eadarainn, 

0  1  ithean  'bh'ann  o  chian. 
Sin  dhut  mo  lamh-sa  a  charaid  chaoimh 
'S  thoir  dhomhs'  do  lamh  gunghiamh 
'S  gu'n  gabh  sinn  tarruinn  fhialuidh, 

Air  sgath  nan  laithean  cion. 
'S  CO  cinnteach  's  a  bhios  tusa  stop, 

Bidh  m'  fhear-sa  air  bord  le  m'  mhiann, 
Is  gheibh  sinn  cupan  cairdeil, 
Air  sgath  na  laithein  cian. 

D.  Stetjakd. 
II. 
An  TIM  a  bh'ann  o  shean. 
An  t-eolas  sin  a  fhuair  sinn  òg, 

An  coir  a  chuir  air  di-chuimhne  ? 
'X  n  leig  sinn  dhinn  ar  comumi  graidh  ? 
'S  na  laithean  'bh'  ann  o  chianaibh. 
Air  son  na  tim  a  bh'ann,  o  shean 
Air  son  na  tim  o  chian  ; 
Gu'n  Ò1  sinn  cuach  de  mhac-na-brach, 
Air  son  na  tim  o  chian. 
Gur  trie  a  ruith  sinn  feadh  nam  bruach, 

A'  buain   nan  neoinein  sgiamhach  ; 
Ach  's  ioma  ceum  a  ghluais  sinn  sgith 

O  'n  tim  a  bh'ann  a  chianaibh. 
Bu  trie  a  lubairt  sinn  's  an  allt, 

'N  uair  bhiodh  an  Samhradh  grianach, 
Ach  sgar  an  cuan  'o  cheil  sinn 

O  'n  tim  a  bh'ann  o  chianaibh. 
So  dhuit  mo  lamh,  's  thoir  dhomh  do  lamhs' 

A  charaid  bhaigheil,  fhiachail, 
'S  gu'n  Ò1  sinn  cuach  air  cinneas  graidh 

Nan  laithean  bh'  ann  'o  chianaibh. 
Gur  cinnteach  gu  'm  bi  thusa  stop. 

'S  gheibh  thu  mo  stòp-s'  gu  fialuidh, 
'S  gu  toileach  caisgidh  sinn  ar  n-lot, 
Air  son  na  tim  o  chianabh. 

E.  Maclean. 


*Aii  "  Luinneag  "  gu  bhi  air  a  seinn  as 
deigh  gach  rann. 


Gu  sugrach  chluich  sinn  anns  an  aUt, 

'  Us  mac  nan  speur  Ian  h,igh, 
Ach  sgaradh  sinn  le  cuan  tha  garbh 

O  n'  latha  'bha  's  a  dh'fhalbh. 
'Nis  glac  mo  lamh,  mo  charaid  caomh 

'Us  sin  do  lamh  a  nail, 
Us  lionaidh  sinn  le  sunnt  a'  chuach 

Air  sgath  nan  latha  a  dh'fhalbh. 
Nis  dearbh  do  ghradh  gu  lurach  fial 

'Us  so  dhuit  fàilte  'us  bàigh  ; 
Leinn  òlar  cupan  cairdeil  caoin, 

Ail-  sgath  an  latha  a  dh'fhalbh. 

CONA. 
IV. 

NA   LAITHEAN   BH'  ANN  0  CHIAN. 

'N  teid  daimh  na  h-oig'  air  dhi-chuimhn' 
leinn 
'S  a  dhearmad  air  gach  rian  ? 
'N  teid  daimh  na  h-oig'  air  dhi-chiumhn' 
leinn 
'S  na  laithean  bh'  ann  o  chian, 

Air  sgath  na  tim  o  chian,  a  ghraidh, 
Air  sgath  na  tim  o  chian, 
Gu'n  òl  sinn  copan  caoimheil  fhath'st 
Air  sgath  na  tim  o  chian. 
Bu  trie  a  ruith  sinn  feadh  nam  bruach, 

A'  buain  nan  neoinean'  grinu, 
Ach  's  iomadh  ceum  bho'n  tim  a  bh'  ann 

O  chian  a  shiubhail  sinn 
Bu  trie  a  luidir  sinn  le  cheil' 

Gu  h-oidhch'  bho  eirigh  grian  ; 
Ach  cuaintean  eadarainne  bheuc 
Bho  'n  tim  a  bh'ann  o  chian. 

So  dhut  mo  lamh,  's  cia  dhomh  do  lamhs' 

Le  crathadh  cairdeil  dian, 
'S  gu'n  ol  sinn  deoch  de  shugh  a'  ghrain 

Air  sgath  na  tim  o  chian. 

'S  gur  cinnteach  gu'm  bi  sinn  an  drasd 
At  pinnt  an  neach  de  'n  fhion, 

S  gu'n  Ò1  sinn  copan  caoimheil  fhath'st 
Air  sgath  na  tim  o  chian. 

Macascuill 


244 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Ceud  Mhios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


Gleds  Eb. 


MO  EUN  GEAL,  DILEAS. 


.^3^-3^=^=^=^^^^=^^-=^=?^^ 


^^-'=^=^^t^^F 


rt=^W=ir- 


.D:m.s    I    d^rr^d^:*.! 


m.D:m.s    |     d^:r\d^:t.s 


l:-.T:d\f    |m:s.m:r.d    I  r:ni.S  :d\,l  I  s  :m  .d  :r  .,r  |  d:-.l 


Note. — I  surmise  the  first  stanza,  commencing  "Mo  run  geal,  dileas,"  from  wMch 
the  song  takes  its  name,  is  the  refrain  of  an  older,  or,  at  least,  a  different,  song ;  I  do 
not  think  it  is  of  a  piece  with  the  remaining  verses.  I  find  that  the  third  stanza,  "  Is 
truagh  nach  robh  mi  's  mo  rogha  cèile,"  also  finds  place  in  another  song  which  appears 
on  page  37  of  Sinclair's  "  Oranaiche";  but  which  song  has  the  better  claim  to  it  I  do 
not  presume  to  decide.  Perhaps  some  of  the  readers  of  the  Gael  can  throw  light  upon 
the  subject.  J.  W. 


Mo  run  geal,  dileas,  dileas,  dileas. 

Mo  rhn  geal,  dileas,  nach  till  thu  nail  ? 

Cha  till  mi  fhein,  a  ghaoil,  cha  'n  fhaod  mi, 
Oir  tha  mo  ghaol-sa  'n  a  laidhe  tinn. 

Is  truagh  nach  robh  mi  an  riochd  na  faoilinn 
A  shnamhadh  aotrom  air  bharr  nan  tonn; 

A's  bheirinn  sgriobag  do  'n  eilean  Ileach, 
Far  bheil  an  ribhinn  dh'  fhag  m'  inntiun 
trom. 

Is  truagh  nach  robh  mi  's  mo  rogha  cèile, 
Air  mullach  shleibhte  nam  beanntan  mor, 

'S  gun  bhi  ga  'r  n-eisdeachd  ach  eoin  an  t- 
sleibhe, 
'S  gu'n  tugainn  fhein  di  na  ceudan  pog  ! 

Thug  mi  corr  agus  naoi  miosan, 

Anns  na  h-innsean  a  b'  fhaide  thall ; 
'S  bean  bòidh'chead  d'  aodainn  cha  robh  ri 
fhaotainn — 
'Sged  gheobhainn  saor  iad  cha'n  fhanaiim 
ann. 

Tha  d'  anail  chubhraidh  mar  fhaile  ubhlan, 
A's  tha  do  shùilean  gu  meallach,  goim; 


Is  tu  bean-uasal  is  grinne  dh'  fhuaigheas; 
'S  ann  ris  a  fhuair  thu  do  thogail  og. 

Thug  mi  mios  ann  am  fiabhrus  claoidhte, 
Gun  dull  rium  oidhche  gu'm  bithinn  beo; 

B'e  fath  mo  smaointean  a  la's  a  dh-oidhche, 
Gu  'm  faighinn  faochadh  a's  tu  bhi  'm 
choir. 

Cha  bhi  mi  'strith  ris  a'  chracibh  nach  lub 
learn, 
Ged  chinneadh  ubhlan   air   bharr   gach 

geig; 

Mo  shoraidh  slan  leat  ma  rinn  thu  m'  f  hagail, 
Cha  d'  thainig  traigh  gun  mhuir-lan  'n  a 
deigh. 

Mo  mhionnan  bheir  mi  air  clar  a'  Bhiobuill 
Gur  h-i  an  fhirinn  a  th'  ann  am  bheul — 

Nach  teid  mi  sios  ann  an  leabhar  sgireachd, 
Le  te  gu  siorruidh  ach  thu  fein. 

Is  coma  learn  ged  a  shil  an  latha; 

Is  coma  leam  ged  a  laidh  a'  ghrian  ; 
'S  ceart  coma  leam  ged  a  robh  mo  leaba 

Gu  fada,  fada  's  an  airde  'n  iar ! 


THE     G^^EL, 


ENGLISH  DEPARTMENT. 


Vol.  V.  AUGUST  1876.  No.  56. 

THE  "GAIDHEAL." 

Maclaciilax  &  Stewaet  have  the  pleasure  of  announcing  that 
they  have  become  proprietors  of  the  "  Gaidheal,"  of  which  they 
have  for  some  time  been  the  publishers.  This  Magazine  is  novs^  in 
its  fifth  year,  a  longer  life  than  has  been  enjoyed  by  any  of  its 
Gaelic  predecessors,  not  even  by  those  which  had  the  advantage  of 
being  inspired  and  upheld  by  the  best  and  most  delightful  of  all 
Gaelic  writers,  Dr.  Norman  Macleod.  This  fact  is  one  of  numerous 
indications,  that  interest  in  the  Gaelic  language  and  literature  has 
of  late  years  greatly  increased,  instead  of  diminishing,  and  that 
there  is  now  a  discerning  public  to  appeal  to  in  support  of  a 
periodical  like  this,  such  as  the  "Teachdaire  Gaidhealach,"  and 
"  Cuairtear  nan  Gleann,"  looked  for  in  vain. 

The  claims  of  this  Magazine  on  all  who  care  for  Gaelic  are  very 
obvious.  It  is  the  only  periodical  of  which  contributions  in  that 
venerable  language  are  the  staple,  and  its  large  roll  of  subscribers 
at  home  and  abroad  sufticiently  testify  how  they  are  appreciated. 
A  knowledge  of  the  great  difficulties  under  which  the  "  Gaidheal  " 
has  hitherto  been  carried  on  has  rather  encouraged  than  deterred 
the  publishers  from  taking  it  in  hand.  Suffice  it  to  mention,  that 
the  spirited  gentleman,  Mr  Angus  Nicolson,  who  originally  started 
it  in  Toronto,  and  has  until  recently  retained  the  property  and 
editorship  in  his  own  hands,  found  it  absolutely  impossible,  owing 
to  his  more  important  duties  as  a  Canadian  Emigration  Agent,  to 
devote  that  personal  superintendence  to  the  publication,  which  is 
so  essential  to  the  success  of  such  an  enterprise.     Notwithstanding 


246  THE  GAEL.  August,  isre. 

the  drawbacks  arising  from  such  circumstances,  the  "  Gaidheal " 
has  not  only  maintained  the  character  with  which  it  started,  but 
has  steadily  advanced.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  remind  its  readers 
of  the  many  excellent  and  interesting  contributions  in  prose  and 
verse  which  have  from  time  to  time  been  communicated  by  some 
of  the  ablest  Gaelic  writers  and  scholars  in  our  country.  The  staff 
of  contributors  will  now  be  considerably  strengthened,  the  editorial 
charge  committed  to  eminently  competent  hands,  and  nothing  left 
undone  on  the  part  of  the  publishers  to  make  the  "  Gaidheal " 
worthy  of  the  place  to  which  it  aspires,  as  the  organ  of  Gaelic 
literature. 


CONTEIBUTOES  TO  THE  "GAIDHEAL." 

Professor  Blackie. 

Eev.  A.  Macgregor,  Inverness. 

Eev.  Dr.  M'Lauchlak,  Edinburgh. 

Eev.  Angus  M'Intyre,  Kinlochspelvie. 

Eev.  A.  Ste\vart,  Nether  Lochaber. 

Eev.  A.  Cameron,  Brodick. 

Eev.  Professor  Macgeegok,  Edinburgh. 

Eev.  Dr.  Masson,  Edinburgh. 

Eev.  E.  Blair,  Glasgow. 

Mrs.  Mary  Magkellar,  Edinburgh. 

Sheriff  NicoLSON,  Kirkcudbright. 

Donald  MacKinnon,  M.A.,  Edinburgh. 

John  Whyte,  Glasgow. 

D.  C.  Macpherson,  Advocates'  Library. 


August,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


>47 


ROEY  VIC  SAVAEI. 

All  persons  who  have  looked  into 
that  most  delightful  and  most  salu- 
brious of  all  books  that  have  been 
written  about  the  Highlands, — the 
Eeminiscences  of  a  Highland  Parish, 
by  the  late  Dr.  Noi-man  Macleod  (a 
man  who  had  only  one  fault,  that 
he  knew  little  Gaelic), — must  bear 
vividly  in  mind  the  description  of 
the  minister's  boatman,  Rory,  in 
one  of  the  opening  chapters.  The 
"whole  of  this  portraiture,  along  with 
the  description  of  how  he  rode  the 
billows  triumphantly  in  stormy 
weather,  is  one  of  the  finest  things 
in  any  language.  There  is  nothing, 
to  my  knowledge,  either  in  Virgil, 
or  Homer,  or  Walter  Scott  that  is 
superior  to  it.  In  a  note  to  his 
portraiture  of  this  rare  old  Skye 
polor,  the  writer  gives  the  Gaelic 
words  of  a  song,  composed  in  honour 
of  Rory,  by  the  minister  of  the 
parish,  the  well-known  father  of  the 
writer,  who  was,  like  the  son,  a 
a  most  genial  and  joyful  soul,  and 
superior  to  the  son  in  one  point, 
that  he  Avrote  the  most  beautiful 
idiomatic  Gaelic  both  in  prose  and 
verse.  A  Highlander,  indeed, — so 
lyrical  is  the  Celtic  race, — who  never 
wrote  a  song, — must  either  be  a 
very  utilitarian  person,  or  must 
have  Lowland  blood  in  his  veins ;  so 
it  is  only  natural  to  find  that  all  the 
Macleods,  who  are  genuine  High- 
landers, for  three  generations  have 
been  song-composers.  For  my  own 
pleasure,  and  also  from  the  respect 
I  bear  to  that  noble  kinship,  I 
dashed  off  one  morning  a  translation 
of  the  song  to  Rory,  which,  I  hope, 
may  give  some  innocent  pleasure  to 
certain  of  your  readers.  I  under- 
stand, from  the  Rev.  Donald  Mac- 
leod, Glasgow,  that  there  is  still  a 
Rory  to  perform  the  delicate  func- 
tion of  boatman  in  that  quarter ; 
and  it  is  ray  firm  intention,  at  pre- 
sent, to  shoot  across  the  sound  some 


I  day  before  winter,  and  make  his  ac- 
quaintance. In  the  meantime,  here 
goes  the  song  : — 

Long  life  to  the  boatman 
AVhose  eye  twinkles  brightly, 
So  trig  with  his  breeches, 
And  coat  fitted  tightly  ! 
His  clan  and  his  country 
Shine  forth  in  his  face, 
The  mist-mantled  isle. 
And  Sir  Norman's  proud  race. 
0  Angus  vie  Rory, 
Look  down  from  the  sky, 
"With  joy  to  have  fathered 
So  gallant  a  boy  ! 
In  Morvern  no  mother 
Can  boast  such  another 
As  Rory  vie  Savari  ho  i  ho  ro  ! 
No  clerk  in  the  country 
Can  foot  it  so  fleetly, 
AVhen  he  shoots  like  an  arrow 
Beyond  you  so  neatly  ! 
No  clerk  in  the  Synod 
Like  Rory  can  guide 
The  boat  through  the  swell 
Of  the  foam-crested  tide  ; 
When  the  tempest  swoops  down 
With  rude  bluster  and  blore. 
And  the  drift  and  the  mist 
Plide  the  rim  of  the  shore, 
What  matter?  we  never 
Catch  harm  with  so  clever 
A  Pilot  as  Rory  beag  ho  i  ho  ro  ! 
When  he  strikes  up  the  iorram, 
And  fires  with  new  spirit, 
The  mettlesome  lads 
Who  rejoice  in  his  merit, 
0  then  I'd  be  near  him, 
The  first  in  the  band. 
With  breath  in  my  breast. 
And  a  flask  in  my  hand. 
No  boatman  in  Morvern 
So  sweetly  can  pour 
His  "  Morag  "  while  deftly 
He  feathers  the  oar ; 
May  luck  never  leave  thee. 
May  harm  never  grieve  thee, 
Rory  vie  Savari  ho  i  ho  ro  ! 
John  S,  Blackie, 
Oban,  21  th  June. 


248 


THE  GAEL. 


August,  1876. 


CELTIC  SCOTLAND.* 

Under  the  above  title,  which  has 
been  so  happily  chosen,  Mr.  Skene 
proposes  to  write  the  History  of 
Scotland  from  the  earliest  times 
until  the  death  of  Alexander  HI. 
This  date  is  chosen  for  the  close  of 
the  history  not  because  the  Celts 
ceased  to  exist  or  to  make  their 
power  felt  at  that  remote  date,  bat 
because  with  Alexander,  or  rather 
Avith  his  grand-daughter,  the  Maid  of 
Norway,  "terminated  the  last  native 
dynasty  of  Scottish  monarchs  of 
Celtic  descent,  m  the  male  line,  and 
Scotland,  with  her  united  provinces, 
her  feudal  institutions,  and  her 
mixed  population,  now  became  a 
prize  to  be  contested  for  between 
the  English  monarch,  who  asserted 
his  right,  as  her  lord  paramount,  and 
the  various  Norman  barons,  who 
claimed  her  as  their  inheritance 
through  descent,  in  the  female  line, 
from  her  native  monarchs."  The 
work  will  be  completed  in  three 
volumes,  and  "  each  volume  may  be 
regarded  as  complete  in  itself,  so  far 
as  the  object  of  the  volume  is  con- 
cerned, and  will  be  issued  separately. " 
The  first  volume,  recently  published, 
treats  of  the  Ethnology  and  Civil 
History  of  the  different  races  which 
occupied  Scotland  ;  the  second  will 
deal  with  the  early  Celtic  Church  of 
Scotland,  audits  influence  on  the  lan- 
guage and  culture  of  the  people  ; 
Avhile  "  the  subject  of  the  third  and 
last  book  will  be  the  land  and 
people  of  Scotland.  It  will  treat  of 
the  early  land  tenures  and  social 
condition  of  its  Celtic  inhabitants." 

The  early  history  of  all  countries 


*  Celtic  Scotland  :  a  History  of  Ancient 
Alban.  By  William  F.  Skene,  Author  of 
"  The  Four  Ancient  Books  of  Wales."  Vol. 
I.  History  and  Ethnology.  Edinburgh: 
Edmonstone  &  Douglas,  Princes  Street, 
1876. 


is  wrapped  in  obscurity  and  fable. 
The  early  history  of  Scotland  is  no 
exception  to  the  rule.  The  peculi- 
arity of  its  history  is  that  the  ob- 
scurity is  more  impenetrable  and 
the  fable  more  intricate  than  that 
of  most  countries.  It  is  our  proud 
boast  that  we  are  an  ancient  nation 
which  never  was  conquered ;  but 
this  very  circumstance  has  contri- 
buted to  the  uncertainty  of  our  early 
history.  If  we  were  never  perman- 
ently subdued,  we  were  often  tem- 
porarily or  at  least  partially  so.  The 
original  inhabitants  of  Scotland, 
whether  in  consequence  of  their  re- 
ligious belief  or  from  whatever 
cause,  Avere  not  in  the  habit  of  com- 
mitting to  writing  a  narrative  of 
events  as  they  occurred.  The  in- 
vaders of  the  country  never  obtained 
a  permanent  footing  in  any  consider- 
able portion  of  it;  and,  accordingly, 
their  accounts  of  the  country  and  its 
inhabitants  are  less  full  and  accurate 
than  would  have  been  the  case  had 
Scotland  been  less  mountainous  and 
Scotchmen  less  resolute  than  they 
were  and  are.  The  History  of 
England  can  be  written  from  the 
invasion  of  Julius  Caesar,  with  toler- 
able fulness  and  acccuracy ;  and 
this  chiefly  because  first  the  Ro- 
mans, and  afterwards  the  Saxons,  and 
finally  the  Noimans,  not  onlysuces- 
sively  invaded  but  conquered  the 
country,  and  occupied  it  sufficiently 
long  to  regard  it  their  business  not 
only  to  make  but  to  write  its  his- 
tory. But  the  Romans  occupied 
only  a  small  portion  of  Scotland,  and 
even  that  portion  u]X)n  a  very  pre- 
carious tenure.  When  the  Irish 
colony  occupied  Argyll  and  were 
followed  by  the  mission  of  St.  Co- 
lumba  to  lona,  the  materials  for  a  re- 
liable history  of  Scotland  were  in  a 
fair  way  of  being  gathered  in  that 
remote  isle.  But  the  Norsemen 
overran  the  Hebrides,  sacked  lona, 


Au^ist,  1S76. 


THE  GAEL. 


240 


and  destroyed  for  ever  the  principal 
records  of  that  famous  monastery. 
The  Saxons  and  Danes,  on  the  east 
coast,  slowl}'-  but  surely  effected  a 
settlement  and  enlarged  their  terri- 
tories. These  and  the  original  in- 
liabitants  were  barely  consolidated 
into  one  nationality  when  that  long 
and  desperate  struggle  with  England 
commenced,  which  ended  so  glori- 
ously for  our  national  fame,  but  so  ' 
disastrously  for  a  detailed  and  re-  j 
liable  reconl  of  it.  The  material  for 
the  early  history  of  Scotland  is  not ' 
therefore  to  be  found  in  Scotland, 
but  among  those  nations  who  came 
successively  in  contact  with  us.  i 
Eomaus,  Irish,  Welsh,  Saxons,  and 
Danes  all  contribute  their  quota. 
There  are,  in  addition  to  this,  the 
traditions  and  legends  of  the  inhab- 
itants which  undoubtedly  contained 
a  germ  of  history ;  but,  unfortunately 
for  us,  these  have  been  so  elaborated 
by  our  early  Scottish  historians,  as  to 
be  rendered  absolutely  worthless 
except  when  supported  by  more  re- 
liable testimony — i.  e.,  except  when 
they  are  comparatively  useless. 

The    first   and   foremost   qualifi- 
cation of  the  Historian  of  this  period  | 
of  Scottish  History,  therefore  is  that 
he  will  make  himself  acquainted  with 
all  the  existing  material  bearing  upon 
the  subject ;  that  he  will  be  able  to 
distinguish  between  what  is  genuine 
and  what  is  spurious  of  this  material;  I 
and  that  he  will,  out  of  what  after  a 
rigid  examination  is  found  to  con- 
tain   what    may    be  reasonably  re- ! 
garded    as    historic    fact,    Avithout  \ 
passion    or    prejudice    or     precon-j 
ceived   theory,    endeavour  to  draw  | 
reasonable     inference    from    ascer- 
tained fact ;  and  thus    reconstruct,  | 
so   far   as  this  can  now    be    done, 
the    history    of    that    dark    time. 
There     are     other    requisites,    the  | 
presence  or  absence  of  which  in  our  ' 
Scottish    historian  as  in  other  his- 


torians will  render  his  work  all  the 
more  valuable  or  the  reverse ;  but 
the  one  qualification,  without  which 
other  qualifications  are  not  only  use- 
less but  absolutely  mischievous,  is 
thorough  mastery  of  the  scattered 
and  fragmentary  material  and  a 
jealous  caution  in  the  use  of  it.  We 
do  not  use  the  language  of  exaggera- 
tion when  we  say  that  Mr.  Skene 
possesses  this  qualification  in  greater 
measure  than  any  living  man.  Forty 
years  ago  he  wrote  an  Essay  on  the 
Highlanders  of  Scotland  which 
showed  great  research,  and  which 
made  use  for  the  first  time  of  the 
Norse  Sagas  to  illustrate  the  history 
of  Scotland.  He  has  long  since  out- 
grown many  of  the  opinions  ad- 
vanced in  that  juvenile  production; 
but  in  the  forty  intervening  years 
he  is  understood  to  have  read  and 
read  hard  in  the  subject.  Probably 
many  men  could  be  named  who 
know  the  Greek  and  Latin  authors 
who  describe  early  Britain  as  accu- 
rately as  Mr.  Skene  knows  them ; 
others  may  know  the  Irish  manu- 
scripts as  well;  others  the  Welsh 
literature;  others  the  Norse  Sagas  ; 
others  the  early  Scotch  ;  others  per- 
haps may  have  examined  the  feat- 
ures, antiquities,  and  topography  of 
Scotland  as  minutely;  but,  so  far  as 
our  knowledge  goes,  no  living  man 
knows  Greek  and  Latin,  Irish, 
AYelsh,  Norse,  and  Scotch  literature 
in  their  bearing  upon  the  early  his- 
tory of  Scotland,  combined  with 
Scottish  antiquities  and  topography, 
with  a  tithe  of  the  fulness  and  accu- 
racy which  Mr.  Skene  showed  in 
his  former  published  works,  and 
shows  in  the  present  volume  perhaps 
in  greater  degree  than  in  any  other. 
The  publication  of  "  The  Four 
Ancient  Books  of  Wales,"  "  The  In- 
troduction to  the  Dean  of  Lismora's 
Book,"  and  others,  stamped  Mr. 
Skene   as   beyond    comparison  the 


250 


THE  GAEL. 


August,  1876. 


foremost  Celtic  scholar  (to  use  the 
phrase  in  its  widest  sense)  in  Scot- 
land. The  present  work,  we  ven- 
ture to  say,  will  do  even  more  than 
confirm  his  title  to  that  proud  emi- 
nence. 

The  almost  marvellous  knowledge 
of  the  author  is  only  equalled  by 
the  painstaking  conscientiousness 
with  which  every  fact  is  weighed, 
and  the  judicial  calmness  with 
which  every  statement  is  advanced. 
The  living  generation  is  perhaps 
not  more  conspicuous  for  the  pro- 
gress which  we  have  made  in  the 
application  of  scientific  conceptions 
to  the  advancement  of  the  material 
prosperity  of  mankind,  than  it  is  for 
the  rigid  demands  we  make  upon 
our  historians  to  adhere  strictly  to 
fact.  To  the  future  historian  the 
present  age  will  present  the  almost 
irreconcilable  features  of  reckless 
daring  in  our  legislation  and  in  our 
commercial  undertakings,  and  at  the 
same  time  of  the  application  of  rules 
of  criticism  to  test  disputed  doctrines 
of  science  and  facts  of  history  un- 
equalled in  severity  at  any  previous 
time.  But  hitherto  it  would  almost 
appear  as  if  the  Celtic  dompan  had 
been,  as  it  were  by  pre-arrangement, 
excluded  from  the  field  within 
which  the  rigid  tests  of  modern 
criticism  had  to  be  applied.  The 
early  Scottish  historians  followed 
the  very  convenient  method  of  writ- 
ing history  by  imagining  it.  But 
even  those  of  later  date,  who  had  a 
perfectly  clear  conception  of  what 
history  ought  to  be,  and  who  were 
deeply  imbued  with  the  historic 
spirit,  appear  somehow  or  other  to 
have  freed  themselves  from  the 
trammels  of  fact  when  they  ap- 
proached the  domain  of  Celtic  his- 
tory. It  painfully  struck  us,  when 
reading  the  highly-finished  and,  so 
far  as  word-painting  goes,  brilliant 
picture  which  Macaulay  gives  of  the 


Highlanders,  that  the  footnotes 
Avhich  indicated  thf  authorities 
were  few  in  number  and  very  sus- 
picious in  character;  and  we  coniess 
that  we  were  not  much  reassured 
when  reading  the  life  of  that  distin- 
guished man  to  find  from  his  Diary 
that  the  historian  valued  the  picture 
for  its  literary  excellence  more  than 
for  its  historical  accuracy.  "  The 
great  object  is  that,  after  all  this 
trouble,  they  (viz.,  the  pages  contain- 
ing the  description)  may  read  as  if 
they  had  been  spoken  oif,  and  may 
seem  to  flow  as  easily  as  table-talk." 
(Lord  Macaulay's  Life  and  Letters, 
vol.  ii.  p.  278).  Mr.  Skene's  idea 
of  history  is  very  difi"erent  from 
this.  He  considers  that  it  is  as 
necessary  to  adhere  to  fact  and 
to  eschew  fine  writing  when 
describing  the  character  of  High- 
landers, as  when  describing  the  char- 
acter of  other  people.  In  his  Intro- 
duction, Mr.  Skene  passes  judgment 
upon  the  works  of  his  predecessors 
in  the  same  field.  The  essay  of 
Innes,  published  in  1729,  is  "admi- 
rable;" but  its  value  is  mainly  nega- 
tive. "He  assailed  the  fabulous 
history  first  put  into  shape  by  John 
of  Fordun,and  afterwards  elaborated 
by  Hector  Bocce,  and  effectually 
demolished  its  authority;  but  he 
attempted  little  in  the  way  of  recon- 
struction." "  Scotland  under  her 
Early  Kings,"  by  E.  W.  Robertson, 
is  "a  work  of  great  merit,  and  ex- 
hibits much  accurate  research  and 
sound  judgment;"  while  Eeeves' 
"admirable  edition  of  Adaranan's 
Life  of  St.  Columba  has  laid  the 
foundation  for  a  more  rational  treat- 
ment of  the  history  of  the  early 
Church  in  Scotland."  But  Lord 
Hailes commences  his  history  "with 
the  accession  of  Malcolm  Canmore, 
because  the  history  of  Scotland,  pre- 
vious to  that  period,  is  involved  in 
obscurity    and    fable;"    and  Tytler 


August,  187 


THE  GAEL. 


251 


abandons  the  early  history  as  "hope- 
lessly obscure."  The  most  elaborate 
attempts  by  predecessors  are  vitiated 
by  preconceived  theories.  Pinker- 
ton's  essay  is  described  as  "an  essay 
of  great  originality  and  acuteness 
....  (but)  the  value  of  the  work 
is  greatly  impaired  by  the  adoption, 
to  an  excessive  extent,  of  a  theory 
of  early  Teutonic  settlements  in  the 
country,  and  of  the  Teutonic  origin 
of  the  early  population,  and  by  an 
unreasoning  prejudice  against  every- 
thing Celtic,  which  colours  and 
biasses  his  argument  throughout." 
Chalmers'  "Caledonia"  is  equally 
unreliable,  and  from  the  same  cause 
operating  in  the  opposite  direction ; 
for  "where  John  Pinkerton  could 
find  nothing  but  Gothic  and  the 
Goths,  George  Chalmers  was  equally 
unable  to  see  anything  but  Welsh 
and  the  Cymry."  The  last  on  the 
list,  Mr.  Burton's  "  History  of  Scot- 
land from  the  Invasion  of  Agricola 
till  the  extinction  of  the  last  Jaco- 
bite Insurrection,"  is  the  most  pre- 
tentious of  them  all.  The  aiuthor 
claims  for  it  "  the  two  fundamental 
qualities  of  a  serviceable  history — 
completeness  and  accuracy,"  to  vfhich 
Mr.  Skene  rejoins  that  he  "  cannot 
recognise  it  as  possessing  either  char- 
acter, so  far  as  the  early  part  of  the 
history  is  concerned."  He  is  there 
fore  entitled  to  hold  "that  the  ground 
which  the  present  work  is  intended 
to  occupy  remains  still  unappropri- 
ated." 

All  previous  writers  are  more  or 
less  chargeable  with  a  defective 
knowledge  of  all  the  material  bear- 
ing upon  the  subject  and  by  conse- 
quence with  the  uncritical  use  of 
such  authorities  as  they  were  par- 
tially acquainted  with:  while  some 
of  them  exhibit,  on  one  side  or  the 
other,  such  unreasoning  prejudice  as 
to  make  it  matter  of  doubt  whether 
any  amoutt  of  knowledge  on  their 


part  would  secure  to  us  a  reliable 
narrative  from  them.  The  work 
before  us  cannot  be  charged 
Avith  the  one  fault  or  the  other. 
The  perfect  acquaintance  with  every- 
thing written  upon  the  subject  in 
whatever  language — the  critical  acu- 
men which  is  the  outcome  of  a  richly- 
furnished  and  acute  mind — the 
painstaking  conscientiousness  which 
grudges  no  labour,  even  in  the 
minutest  detail,  in  order  to  arrive  at 
the  truth  of  the  matter — and  the 
cautious  judgment  which  shrinks 
from  drawing  a  wider  conclusion 
than  the  ascertained  facts  fairly  sup- 
port— are  patent  upon  every  page. 
The  book  is  no  doubt  stiff  reading. 
It  is  pre-eminently  a  book  for 
scholars.  It  is,  moreover,  a  book 
which  no  Celtic  scholar  can  do  with- 
out. The  present  volume  extends 
to  some  500  pages  octavo,  beautifully 
illustrated  with  valuable  ma})S.  It 
is  much  in  want  of  an  index.  The 
table  of  contents  is  pretty  full;  but 
no  book  so  crammed  full  of  fact  as 
this  is  can  be  made  available  as  a 
book  of  reference  without  a  full  and 
carefully-prepared  index.  It  is 
written  in  a  plain,  almost  bald, 
style.  A  judicial  calmness — almost 
a  judicial  coldness — pervades  the 
whole;  but  the  narrative  is  clearly 
written,  and  the  argument  is  lucid 
throughout.  The  thorough  mastery 
of  his  subject,  as  compared  with 
previous  Scottish  historians,  has 
given  a  calm,  dignified  tone  to  the 
autho-r  v.'hich  shows  itself  in  a  pecu- 
liar manner  when  criticising  the 
deliverances  of  others.  Naturally, 
Mr.  Burton,  being  the  latest  as  well 
as,  in  recent  }ears,  the  most  confi- 
dent author  in  this  field,  comes  in 
for  the  greatest  share  of  comment. 
His  inaccuracies,  inconsistencies,  and 
blunders  are  pointed  out  frequently 
in  the  footnotes.  In  reading  these 
notesone  cannot  resist  comparingthe 


25f 


THE  GAEL. 


August,  187C. 


relationship  of  the  two  historians  to 
that  of  master  and  pupil  The 
clever  boy  of  the  school  presents  an 
exercise  to  the  master.  The  con- 
scientious master  feels  it  his  duty  to 
point  out  the  errors,  and  to  hint  at  the 
causes  of  them ;  but,  at  the  same  time, 
to  perform  this  disagreeable  task — 
Avhich  could  not  be  endured  from 
any  but  a  master — in  a  paternal  and 
kindly  way  so  as  not  to  damp  the 
spirit  of  the  boy.  "It  is  but  I, your 
master,  who  tell  you  of  these  errors, 
so  do  not  be  discouraged.  By  fur- 
ther study  and  reflection  you  will 
yourself  come  to  see  that  these 
alleged  facts  are  not  facts,  and  tliat 
these  rash  judgments  are  but  the 
offspring  of  ignorance  and  inexperi- 
ence, which  time  and  reading  will 
teach  you  to  retract  or  modify." 
For  example,  Mr.  Burton  more  than 
questions  the  historical  accuracy  of 
Tacitus,  in  whom  Mr.  Skene  is  a 
firm  believer:  "The  view  he  (Mr. 
Burton)  appears  to  hold,  that  it  (the 
life  of  Agricola)  was  written  more 
as  a  political  manifesto  than  as  a 
plain  historical  relation  of  facts,  has 
been  hastily  adopted  from  a  school 
of  German  critics,  whose  views  have 
not,  however,  met  with  acceptance 
from  the  sounder  class  of  them"  (p. 
27).  Again  (p.  22),  Mr.  Burton 
makes  the  statement,  that  "  a  prac- 
tice arose  among  British  writers  of 
calling  the  Scots  Attacotti,  whicli  has 
been  explained  to  mean  the  hither 
Scots  or  Scots  of  this  side."  Mr. 
Skene  adds  :  "  This  statement  is 
apparently  taken  from  Pinkerton, 
who  identified  the  Attacotti  with  an 
early  settlement  of  Scots  in  Argyll, 
solely  on  the  authority  of  Eichard 
of  Cirencester  (whose  work  Mr. 
Burton  denounces  as  a  forgery). 
The  opinion  is  quite  untenable,  and 
the  etymology  preposterous."  Again 
(p.  19G),  "Mr.  Burton  has  discussed 
this    question     (whether   the   Picts 


were  Teutons  or  Celts),  in  the  first 
volume  of  his  History  of  Scotland, 
p.  183,  but  in  a  very  unsatisfactory 
way.  He  has  dealt  Avith  it  as  if  the 
whole  materials  for  deciding  the 
question  Avere  contained  in  the  dis- 
cussion between  Pinkerton  and 
Chalmers,  and  writers  of  that  period, 
and  as  if  nothing  remained  for  him 
to  do  but  to  estimate  the  value  of 
their  respective  arguments.  He  con- 
tributes nothingadditional  to  the  solu- 
tion of  the  question."  Further,  (p. 
204),  "Mr.  Burton  makes  the  asser- 
tion that  the  Gaelic  of  Scotland  'was 
ever  called  by  the  Teutonic  Scots, 
Irish,  Ersch,  or  Erse.'  In  this  he 
is  mistaken.  It  was  not  so  called 
before  the  fifteenth  centnry,  but  in- 
vaiiably  'Lingua  Scotica,'  or  Scotch." 
Finally,  (p.  248),  take  the  following, 
"  Mr.  Barton  has  strangely  mis- 
represented the  Dalriadic  history, 
arising  probably  from  a  too  super- 
ficial examination  of  the  Irish  annals, 
and  a  Avant  of  acquaintance  with 
Irish  names  and  Avords,  Avhich  he 
rarely  gives  correctly.  In  vol.  vii., 
p.  289,  he  states  of  Aidan,  that  by 
his  descent  from  Riadha,  he  belonged 
to  the  race  of  tlie  Hy  Neill,  but  this 
is  a  mistake.  The  Dalriad  belonged 
to  an  entirely  different  branch  of  the 
Scots  from  the  Hy  Neill.  He  says 
that  Aidan  justified  St.  Columba's 
prophetic  fears,  by  emancipating  his 
territory  from  dependence  on  the 
monarchs  of  Ireland,  but  it  was  St. 
Columba  himself  Avho  effected  this 
emancipation  at  the  coimcil  of  Drum- 
ceat.  He  says  that  Domnall  Brecc 
contemplated  the  subjugation  of 
Ireland,  and  implies  that  the  Dal- 
riadic kings  put  forward  some  pre- 
tensions to  the  Irish  throne,  of 
A\ddch  there  is  not  the  least  trace. 
The  only  successor  of  Domnall  Brecc, 
Avhom  Mr.  Burton  notices  is  Eocha, 
or  Auchy,  as  he  calls  him,  son  of 
Aodhfin,   in   796,   a  fictitious   king 


August,  187 


THE  GAEL. 


253 


■vvlio  never  existed."  This  is  per- 
fectly of  a  piece  with  the  statements 
that  an  English  Quaker  invented  the 
kilt ;  that  James  MacPherson  taught 
Highlanders  to  appreciate  their  own 
scenery,  forgetting  that  Highlanders 
did  not  read  MacPherson,  but  read 
MacDonald,  Maclntyre,  and  Buch- 
anan, of  whom  Mr.  Burton  never 
heard  :  that  the  English  Ossian  is  a 
work  of  genius,  the  Gaelic  may  be 
meagre  prose  (for  all  Burton  knows 
or  cares),  although  the  Gaelic  text 
is  sold  throughout  Scotland  for  four 
shillings,  and  every  person  who 
knows  anything  of  both  versions,, 
declares  the  latter  the  superior  of 
the  two.  Thomas  Moore  wi'ote  the 
History  of  Ireland  in  1835,  and 
heard  of  Irish  manuscripts  for  the 
first  time  in  1839.  He  Avas  candid  j 
enough  to  say,  after  being  told  what 
the  manuscripts  were,  that  he  had  i 
no  right  to  have  undertaken  the  | 
History  of  Ireland.  Our  Scottish 
Historiographer  Eoyal  is  neither  so 
ignorant  nor  so  candid  as  the  Irish 
poet. 

Mr  Skene's  first  volume  is  divided 
into    nine   chapters    with    an    able 
introduction  of  twenty-eight  pages. 
Eight  of  these  chapters  relate,  in  a 
calm,  clear,  and  critical  manner,  the 
facts    of  the    civil   history  of  that 
early  age.     One,  the  fourth,  and  by 
far  the  most  interesting  of  the  whole, 
treats  of  the  ethnology  of  Britain. ! 
The    question   of  the  various  races ! 
who  occupied  Britain  is  handled  in  j 
the  same  clear  and  masterly  fashion.  | 
as  the  disputed  questions  of  sites  of  j 
battles  and  rights  of  rival  claimants. 
More   has   been  written  upon  this ' 
question  than  upon  any  other  ;  and 
the  writings  of  predecessors  are,  for 
obvious  reasons,  less  reliable  when 
dealing  with  ethnology  than  when 
dealing  with  history.     Here  legend 
and  language  are  tiie  chief  guides. 
But  legend  requires  to  be  sifted,  and 


language  requires  to  be  known.  To 
dig  out  the  fact  imbedded  in  both, 
careful  handling  and  severe  training 
are  indispensable.  The  temptation 
to  hasty  generalisation,  crude  theory, 
and  wild  speculation  is  peculiarly 
great.  Mr.  Skene's  concliLsions  are 
briefly  as  follows  :  Before  the 
historic  era,  a  race  of  men,  now  ex- 
tinct, peopled  the  British  Isles.  They 
were  of  the  Iberian  or  Basque  or 
long-skulled  race.  They  inhabited 
eaves  and  buried  their  dead  in  caves 
and  chambered  tombs,  where  their 
skulls  are  dug  up  at  the  present  day. 
They  ^vere  smaller  and  darker  than 
any  of  the  existing  races.  They 
may  be  identified  with  the  Silures 
and  the  tin  Avorkers  of  the  early 
Greek  and  Latin  writers.  Legend 
appears  to  connect  them  with  the 
"Firbolg"  of  Ireland,  and  Dun- 
f hirbolg  is  found  in  St.  Kilda.  Their 
language  has  disappeared;  but  "the 
Basque  word  for  water  is  Ur,  and 
analogy  would  lead  us  to  recognise 
it  in  the  rivers  called  Oure,  Urr,  L^re, 
CJrie,  Orrin,  and  Ore.  The  syllaljle 
II,  too,  enters  hirgely  into  the  topo- 
graphy of  the  Basque  countries ; 
and  the  old  name  for  the  island  of 
Isla,  which  was  {a7id  is,  in  Gaelic) 
lie,  and  wliich  legend  tells  us  was 
occupied  by  the  Firbolg,  is  probably 
the  same  word,  as  are  the  rivers  of 
that  name  in  Banfi"  and  Forfar,  and 
the  Ulie  in  Sutherland  (the  river  of 
Helensdale),  known  to  Ptolemy  as 
the  '  Ila.' " 

Within  the  historic  era  there  have 
been  four  peoples.  Britons,  Picts, 
Scots,  and  Saxons.  Three  of  these  pre- 
sent no  difiiculty  to  the  ethnologist. 
The  Saxons  were  the  last  to  arrive. 
AVe  have  them  and  their  language — 
now  the  ruling  race  and  language 
of  the  land.  The  Britons  and  Scots 
are  both  two  branches  of  the  great 
Celtic  family.  They  and  tiieir 
language  still  survive — the   former 


254 


THE  GAEL. 


August,  1876. 


in  Wales  and,  until  lately,  in  Corn- 
wall ;  the  latter  in  Ireland,  the 
Highlands  of  Scotland,  and  the  Isle 
of  Man.  But  the  Picts,  as  a  distinct 
race,  with  a  different  language,  if 
they  ever  were  a  distinct  race,  and  if 
they  ever  spoke  a  different  language, 
have  disap])eared  ;  and  the  question 
remains.  Who  were  the  Picts  ì  The 
question  was,  and  is,  keenly  debated 
in  tliis  country — none  more  so. 
Were  they  Teutons  or  Celts  Ì  and 
if  they  were  Celts,  to  what  branch 
of  the  existing  Celts — the  Welsh  or 
the  Gaelic — did  they  belong?  As 
we  all  know,  Pinkerton  violently 
contended  that  the  Picts  were  of 
Teutonic  origin  ;  Chalmers,  almost 
with  equal  vehemence,  insisted  that 
they  were  Celts  of  the  Welsh  branch. 
Skene  maintains  and,  as  we  think, 
proves  that  they  were  Celts  of  the 
Gaelic  branch.  The  argument  is 
three-fold.  Legend,  history,  and 
language  are  the  three  strands  of 
the  firmly-plaited  cord.  As  to  legend, 
which  Skene  carefully  analyses, 
there  were  two  families  of  the  same 
race  in  Ireland.  One  of  these,  the 
Cruithne,  is  identified  with  the 
Picts.  Historically,  the  statement 
of  Tacitus,  that  the  Caledonians 
were  of  German  origin,  is  based  not 
upon  their  language  but  upon  their 
physical  appearance  ;  "  but  it  is  now 
quite  established  that  there  was  no 
essential  diversity  in  this  respect 
between  the  German  and  the  Celtic 
races  viewed  as  a  whole."  On  the 
other  hand,  "throughout  the  Avhole 
of  the  Welsh  documents,  the  Picts 
are  usually  denominated  as  Gwyddyl 
Ffichti,  while  the  Irish  are  simply 
termed  Gwyddyl."  As  might  be 
expected  the  philological  argument 
is  the  most  important  of  the  three. 
The  Pictish  language  is  extinct ; 
but  during  the  whole  time  the  two 
peoples,'  Picts  and  Scots,  lived  side  j 
by  side  in  this  country  and  in  Ire- 


land the  Irish  annals  do  not  contain 
a  hint  that  they  spoke  a  different 
language.  On  two  occasions  St. 
Columba  had  to  employ  an  inter- 
preter among  the  Picts;  but  a  di- 
versity of  dialect  would  account  for 
this,  and  as  Mr.  Skene  points  out 
"  on  both  occasions  it  is  connected 
with  his  preaching  the  word  of  life." 
On  both  occasions,  also,  it  is  to 
be  observed,  an  interpreter  was  at 
hand.  The  saint  conversed  freely 
with  King  Brude,  "  with  Broichan, 
his  Magus  or  Druid,  and  with  the 
king's  messengers,  witliout  the  in- 
tervention of  an  interpreter."  The 
Picts  survived  longest  in  Galloway. 
A  detachment  of  them  Avas  present 
at  the  battle  of  the  standard. 
Buchanan  says  they  spoke  their 
"ancient  language"  in  his  day.* 
Dunbar,  the  poet,  calls  this  language 
"  Ersch,"  the  name  by  which  Scotch 
Gaelic  was  then  known.  A  list  of  the 
Pictish  kings,  historical  and  legend- 
ary, is  subjected  to  minute  analysis 
by  Mr.  Skene.  "  The  result  of  this 
analysis  is,  that  the  earliest  part  of 
the  list  is  purely  Irish  or  Gaelic  in 
its  forms,  and  that  this  Gaelic  part 
belongs  to  the  Northern  Picts  ;  that 
another  part  of  the  list  shows  Gaelic 
forms,  but  more  removed  from  the 


*  From  the  following  extract  from  a  let- 
ter which  appeared  in  the  Edinburgh  Baily 
Revieio  newspaper  after  the  above  pages 
were  written  and  signed  ' '  David  Lands- 
borough,  Kilmarnock,"  it  would  appear  that 
Gaelic  was  spoken  in  this  district  at  a  much 
more  rece  it  date  : — "  Having  heard  some 
years  ago,  an  important  statement  on  this 
subject  by  the  Kev.  James  Porteous,  Free 
Church  Minister,  Ballantrae,  I  have  com- 
municated with  him  for  its  repetition.  It 
is  '  Mr.  M  'Kissock,  farmer  in  Bridgend, 
Ballantrae,  who  died  twenty-five  years  ago, 
at  the  age  of  ninety-three,  was  a  membei'  of 
my  congregation,  and  was  specially  distin- 
guished for  piety  and  int'  lligence.  He  in- 
formed me  that  in  the  time  of  his  grand- 
father (probably  about  the  beginning  of  last 
century),  Gaelic  was  still  to  some  extent 
spoken  in  Glenapp.'  " 


August,  1876 


THE  GAEL. 


255 


Irish,  with  a  considerable  British 
element ;  that  this  part  of  the  list 
is  more  connected  with  the  Southern 
Picta  ;  that  the  British  element  is 
not  Welsh  but  Cornish,  and  belongs 
to  that  part  of  the  territories  of  the 
Southern  Picts  which  lay  between 
the  Tay  and  the  Forth." 

The  topography  of  the  country, 
when  examined  in  the  light  of  his- 
tory, and  tested  by  the  rules  of  sound 
philology,  tells  the  same  tale.  The 
topographical  words  popularly  taken 
as  test  words  to  distinguish  the 
country  of  the  Picts  and  Scots  aie 
pretty  summarily  disposed  of.  "  If 
we  draw  aline,"  says  Mr.  Taylor, 
"  across  the  map  from  a  point  a  little 
south  of  Inveraray  to  one  a  little 
north  of  Aberdeen,  we  shall  find 
that  (with  very  few  exceptions)  the 
luvers  lie  to  the  north  of  the  line, 
and  the  Abers  to  the  south  of  it. 
This  line  nearly  coincides  with  the 
present  southern  limit  of  the  Gaelic 
tongue,  and  probably  also  with  the 
ancient  division  between  the  Picts 
and  Scots."  But  what  are  the  facts  1 
"  South  of  Mr.  Taylor's  line,  there 
are  in  Aberdeen  thirteen  Abers  and 
twenty-six  Invers ;  in  Forfar,  eight 
Abers  and  eight  Invers ;  in  Perth, 
nine  Abers  _  and  eight  Invers ;  in 
Fife,  four  Abers  and  nine  Invers." 
Noi-th  of  the  line,  in  Argyll,  no 
Abers ;  in  Inverness,  Invers  and 
Abers  three  to  one ;  in  Eoss,  two  to 
one.  South  of  the  Forth  and  Clyde, 
no  Abers  in  Selkirk,  Peebles,  Ayr, 
Eenfrew,  Lanark ;  four  Abers  in 
Dumfries ;  six  in  Lothian  ;  none  in 
Galloway ;  nothing  but  Abers  in 
Wales ;  none  in  Cornwall.  But 
these  are  not  proper  test  words. 
They  are  common  to  both  branches 
of  the  language.  The  southern 
Picts  nsed  both  words,  "  Inver  being 
•generally  at  the  mouth  of  a  river, 
Aber  at  the  ford,  usually  some  dis- 
tance from  its  mouth."     The  present 


usage  of  Inver  accords  with  this 
view.  In  Gaelic,  it  expresses  the 
delta  or  shingly  beach  at  a  river 
mouth.  The  proper  test  Avords  are 
those  in  which  the  initial  letters 
characteristic  of  both  languages 
appear — P  and  C  ;  Gw  and  F.  To 
apply  this  test,  "  there  is  not  a  single 
Pen  north  of  the  Friths  of  Forth 
and  Clyde,  and  the  districts  occupied 
by  the  Picts  abound  with  Bens  and 
Cenns  or  Kins."  It  appears  to  us 
that  it  would  be  difficult  to  jiresent 
a  stronger  argument  than  that  pro- 
duced by  Mr.  Skene  to  show  that 
the  Picts  and  the  Scots  are  one  in 
language  and  lineage. 

The  appearance  of  the  succeeding 
volumes  will  be  looked  forward  to 
with  considerable  impatience  by  a 
very  select,  if  not  a  very  numerous, 
class  of  readers.  The  subject  of 
them  is,  if  possible,  of  greater 
interest  than  that  of  the  volume  be- 
fore us.  The  history  of  the  early 
Celtic  Church  and  of  early  Celtic 
Literature  in  Scotland,  written  by 
Mr.  Skene,  will  be  a  work  of  per- 
manent value.  What  his  verdict 
upon  the  debated  ecclesiastical 
questions  of  that  early  age  may  be, 
it  would  be  useless  to  speculate  upon. 
That  his  conclusion  will  be  supported 
by  an  array  of  fact  and  authority 
severely  examined,  and  by  solid 
I  argument  clearly  put,  we  may  afiirm. 
Upon  literary  questions,  and  espe- 
cially upon  the  quaestio  vexata  of 
Celtic  literature — the  authenticity 
of  the  Ossianic  poems — we  are  not 
left  so  much  in  doubt  as  to  what 
Mr.  Skene's  verdict  Avill  be.  The 
present  volume  is  ominously  silent 
upon  the  matter ;  but  the  introduc- 
tion to  the  book  of  the  Dean  of 
Lismore,  and  later  utterances,  leave 
no  room  to  doubt  that  Mr.  Skene's 
matured  judgment  is  that  there  is 
no  historical  evidence  of  the  ancient 
authorship  of  these  poems,  Avhile  the 


256 


THE  GAEL. 


August,  1S76. 


absence  of  such  evidence  is  strong 
presumptive  proof  of  their  modern 
authorship.  But  whatever  the  ver- 
dict, we  may  expect  a  learned,  calm, 
and  exhaustive  treatment  of  the 
whole  question,  such  as  we  have  not 
hitherto  had. 

We  Celts  are  not  only  a  pugna- 
cious race  ourselves,  but  we  are  the 
cause  of  the  pugnacity  in  others  as 
well.  For  a  long  time  we  were 
formidable  foes  and  for  as  long  a 
time  troublesome  subjects.  Our 
intellectual  and  moral  qualities  are 
widely  different  from  those  of  our 
southern  neighbours,  and  are  little 
understood,  and  less  appreciated,  by 
a  considerable  portion  of  them. 
Accordingly,  when  our  tumultuous 
history  came  to  be  told  it  was 
merely  a  repetition  of  the  process  by 
which  the  history  was  made.  The 
weapons  of  war  alone  were  changed. 
Instead  of  swords,  pens ;  instead  of 
blood,  gall.  As  might  be  expected, 
Ave  fared  worse  in  the  war  of  words 
than  in  the  conflict  of  swords.  Not 
that  we  diJ  not  shout  loud  enough 
and  use  language  sufficiently  energetic 
to  express  our  opinion  of  our 
neighbours;  but  there  were  fewer 
tongues  to  swell  the  cry,  and  there 
was  the  additional  annoyance  that 
our  choicest  epithets  were  unin- 
telligible to  those  for  Avhose  benefit 
they  were  uttered.  The  cut  of  a 
sabre  is  recognised  and  duly 
appreciated  all  the  word  over;  but 
the  most  pointed  Gaelic  epigram 
falls  harmless  upon  English  ears. 
Accordingly,  to  the  average  English 
mind,  the  brutal  insults  of  Pinkerton, 
the  polished  sarcasms  of  Macaulay, 
and  the  coarse  sneers  of  Burton,  came 
to    be    regarded    authentic    Celtic 


history  and  correct  descriptions  of 
the  Celtic  character.  The  labours 
of  Philo-Celts,  on  the  other  hand, 
were  not  calculated  to  shake  the 
public  confidence  in  the  judgment  of 
the  writers  we  have  named.  The 
Saxon  portion  of  them  wrote  almost 
as  intemperately  as  the  most  ruthless 
Miso-Celt  in  the  land.  Those  of  our 
own  people  wrote  under  a  two-fold 
disadvantage.  They  had  not  the 
learning  of  their  opponents.  They 
were  smarting  under  the  taunts  of  the 
"  stranger," — taunts  all  the  more 
galling,  inasmuch  as  the  stranger  had 
become  the  master — too  keenly  to  ex- 
amine with  patience,  or  to  answer  with 
temper,  the  cliai'ges  brought  against 
their  people.  Adjectives  and  inter- 
jections were  employed  instead  of 
facts  and  arguments. 

Against  such  a  method  of  writing 
history  the  work  of  Mr.  Skene  is  a 
noble  protest.  To  us  Highlanders 
it  is  a  work  of  incalculable  value. 
It  serves  as  an  encouragement  to 
those  among  us  who  are  doing  their 
best  to  present  the  history  and 
character  of  the  Celt  in  a  truer  light 
before  the  world  than  has  hitherto 
been  done ;  but  it  serves  also  as  a 
warning.  While  it  shows  that  to 
the  intelligent  Southron  truth  upon 
this  question, asupon  otherquestions, 
is  acceptable,  it  shows  also  that 
truth,  and  truth  alone,  will  pass 
current  for  any  length  of  time 
among  men.  It  invites  us  to  be 
students  ;  it  warns  us  against  being 
declaimers.  When  the  great  work 
of  Mr.  Skene  is  completed  the  task 
of  the  first  occupant  of  the  Celtic 
chair  will  be  considerably  light- 
ened. 


a:n- 


g^^idhe:a_l 


Mar  ghath  soluis  do  m'  anamfein 

Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fhalhh." — Oisean. 


V.  Leabh. 


DARA  MIOS  AN  FHOGHAIE,  1876. 


[57  Air. 


COMHUADH 

EADAR    MURACHADH    BaN    AGUS 
COINNEACH   ClOBATR. 

MUR. — An  tu  a  th'ann,  a  Choinn- 
ich,  is  tu  a  rinn  a'  mhoch-eirigh,  is 
cinnteach  nach  robh  thu  fein  agus 
Morpheus  reidli  an  raoir,  an  uair  a 
dhealaich  sibh  co  tràth ;  acli  tliig 
air  d'  aghaidh  dli'ionnsuidh  an  teine, 
air  do'n  mhaduinn  a  bhi  fuar. 

Coin. — Mi  fein  agus  Morpheus 
rèidh  an  raoir !  Cha'n  f  haca  mise 
crèutair  beò  o'n  dhealaich  sinn  air 
feasgair  an  dè  gu  bhi  aon  chuid 
rèidli  no  aimhreiteach  rium ;  cha'n 
fhaca  gu  firinneach.  Ach,  a  Mhur- 
achaidh,  co  e  Morpheus,  oir  cha 
chuala  mi  guth  air  fear  'ainme 
riamh  ì 

M. — Tha  mi  ga  d'  chreidsinn,  a 
charaide  choir,  ach  comadh  sin  is 
CO  dhilibh,  greas  a  steach  dh'ionns- 
uidh  a'  ghealbhoin,  agus  dean  do 
gharadh,  gus  an  èirich  bean-an-tighe, 
oir  dh'fhàg  mise  i  ga  'deasachadh 
fein. 

C. — Gle  mhaith,  gle  mhaith,  a 
Mhurchaidh,  ach  co  e  Morpheus  air 
an  d'  thug  thu  iomradh  1  An  e  sin 
an  gàidsear  ùr  a  thàinig  air  an 
t-seachdain  so  chaidh  do  Bhaile- 
Chlachain  1 

M. — Cha  robh  mise  ach  ri  faladhà, 
a  Choinnich ;  ach  ged  nach  tig  e 
dhuinn  a  bhi  'labhairfc  air  nithibh 
faoine  mar  sin  air  maduinn  la  an 
Tighearna,  fendaidh  mi  innseadh 
dhuit  gur  6  Morpheus  dia  a'  chadail 


agus  nam  bruadar,  oir  biodli  fios 
agad  gu'n  robh  diuthan  aig  na  cinn- 
ich  0  chèin  air  son,  ach  beag,  nan 
uile  nithe,  agus  mar  a  thubhairt  mi, 
b'e  Morpheus  an  dia  sin  aig  an  robh 
cumhachd  fois  na  h-oidhche  a  thoirt 
seachad  no  a  dhiùltadh ;  agus  an 
uair  a  thug  mi  an  aghaidh  ort,  gu'm 
b'i  mo  bharail  nach  robh  thu  fein 
agus  Morpheus  rèidh  an  raoir,  bha 
mi '  ciallachadh  le  sin  nach  d'  f  huair 
thu,  a  reir  coslais,  deagh  chadal  air 
duit  an  leabadh  f  hàgail  co  moch. 

C. — Tha  mi  ga  d'  thuigsinn  a  nis, 
a  Mliurachaidh,  ach  feumaidh  tu  an 
deigh  so  cleachdanna  saobh-chrcàbh- 
ach  sin  nan  cinneach  a  mhineachadh 
dhomli,  oir  a  reir  mo  bheachd-sa, 
tha  iad  ro  chianail.  Tha  fios 
again  n  uile  nach  'eil  ann  ach  an 
t-aon  Dia  beò  agus  fior,  agus  aige- 
san  tha  cumhachd  thairis  air  la  agus 
oidhche,  agus  air  gach  atharrachadh 
agus  ciiis  a  tliig  gu  crich. 

M.— Ro  fhior,  a  Choinnich,  ach 
ma  chaomhnar  sinn,  feudar  uair- 
eigin  an  deigh  so,  iomradh  a  thoirt 
air  cleachdannaibh  èugsamhla  nan 
cinneach  Grèugach  agus  Ròimheach 
o  shean,  a  thaobh  lionmhoiread  nan 
dia  d'an  robh  iad  a'  toirt  gèill.  Is 
e  ar  dleas'nas,  gidheadh,  an  diugh, 
sinn  fein  limhlachadh  ann  an  làthair 
an  Ti  Uile-bheannuichte  sin,  o'm 
bheil  ar  beatha,  ar  bith,  agns  comas 
ar  gluasaid  againn;  agus  aig  an  am 
iomchuidh,  bheir  sinn  uile  an  eaglais 
oirnn  a  dh'eisdeachd  sheann  Mhaigh- 
stir  DòmhnuU,  an  duine  coir,  o'm 
faigh  sinn  deagh  shearmoin. 
17 


258 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  llios  an  Fhoghair,  1876 


C. — Tha,  sin  uile  ceart  agus  freag- 
arrach,  a  Mburacliaidh,  agus  is  mòr 
am  beannaclid  dhuit  fein,  agus  do 
d'  theaghlach  gu'm  bheil  tigh  an 
Tigliearna  co  goirid  o  làimh,  agus 
gu'm  bheil  comus  agaibli  èisdeachd 
ris  an  t-soisgeul  air  a  shearmonach 
adh,  a  tliaobh  astair,  gach  sàbaid  's 
a  bliliadhna.  Tha  monad h  mòr 
eadar  an  Goirtean-Fraoich  agus  an 
eaglais,  a  tha  sè  mile  air  falbh ;  agus 
ri  droch  la,  an  uair  a  bhios  a'  ghaoth 
agus  na  siantan  a'  seideadh,  cha'n 
nrrainn  duinn  ar  sron  a  chur  a  mach 
air  dorus,  agus  is  mòr  an  call  e. 

M. — Is  mòr  gu'n  teagamh,  ach 
cha  ruig  neach  sam  bi  a  leas  diiil  a 
bhi  aige  gach  uile  shochair  agus 
bheannachd  a  shealbhachadh  ^s  an 
t-saoghal  so.  Ge  b'e  ciod  an  aid- 
mheil  d'  am  buin  sluagh,  agus  ge 
b'e  ciod  an  eaglais  anns  am  bheil 
iad  a'^  sleuchdadh  do'n  Ti  a  chrvith- 
aich  iad,  is  mòr  am  beannachd 
dhoibh  na  tighean-aoraidh  aca  a  bhi 
goirid  o  làimii.  Than  eaglais  gun 
teagamh  'am  fagiis  duinne  an  so, 
agus  tha  sinn  taingeil,  ach  tha'n 
tigh-sgoile  fad  as  nainn  a  nis. 
Thàinig  riaghailtean  iira, — tighean- 
sgoile  ùra  mar  chaistealan, — agus 
Maighstirean-sgoile  ùra, —  òganaich 
ghobach,  ghallda,  och  mo  chreach! 
Thilg  iad  gu  làr  an  deagh  thigh- 
sgoile  ud  a  bha  re  cheudan  bliadhna 
anns  a'  chlachan  ud  shuas,  agus 
shuidhich  iad  e  air  Cnoc-a'-chatha,  a 
tha  cuig  mile  Albanuach  air  falbh. 
Ach  tha'u  la  a'  dol  seachad,  a 
Choinnich,  feumaidh  sinn  ar  dleas'- 
nas-maidne  a  dheanamh,  an  uair  a 
chruinnicheas  bean-an-tighe  a'chlann 
agus  na  seirbhisich  a  steach. 

C. — Tha  sin  ro  fhreagarrach,  oir 
is  feairrd  gach  la  deagh  thoiseach,  a 
Mhurachaidh,  agus  le  sin,  bithidh 
diiil  nach  miosa  a  theid  a'  chuid  eile 
dhe'n  La  leinn. 

M.- — Bha  thu  riamh  dèigheil  air 
a'     Ghaelig,     a     Choinnich,     agus 


ealanta  air  a  leughadh,  uime  sin, 
aithris  an  cèud  salm,  agus  cuidich- 
idh  sinn  uile  leat  chum  a  sheinn. 

C — Cha'n  'eil  deagh  chàil  no 
deagh  ghuth  agam,  a  charaid  ion- 
mhuinn,  ach  ni  mi  mo  dhichioll. 

I.  SALM. 

'S  beannuicht'  an  dnine  sin  gu  sior, 

Nacli  gluais  an  comhairle  dhroch  dhaoin; 
Is  fòs  nach  seas  an  slighe  fhiar. 

Nam  peacach  dalma  agus  faoin: 
'S  an  caithir  luchd  na  fanoid  dein' 

Nach  suidh;  aeh  aig  am  bheil  do  ghna, 
A  thlachd  'an  lagh  lehòbhaih  thr^in 

A'  smuaineach'  air,  gach  oidhch'  is  la. 

Bidh  e  mar  chraoibh  tha  'fas  a  suas, 

Aig  sruthaibh  uisg',  gn  brioghmhor  glas; 
A  bhios  le  meas  a'  lùbadh  nuas, 

'N  a  h-àm;  's  cha  shearg  a  duilleach  as; 
'S  air  uile  dheanadas  thig  rath; 

Cha  bhi  mar  sin  na  h-aingidh  thruagh; 
Ach  mar  am  moll  a  sgapas  plath 

De'u  ghaoith,  a  null  'sa  nail  gu  luath. 

Cha  sheas  na  h-aingidh,  uime  sin, 

Am  breitheanas  an  latha  mhòir; 
No  de  na  peacaich  bhaotha,  gin, 

'N  coimh-thional  ait  nam  firean  coir; 
Oir  slighe  dhireach,  ghlan,  nan  saoi, 

Do  Dhia  tha  aithnichte  air  fad; 
Ach  slighe  chàm  nan  daoine  daoi, 

Lom-sgriosar  i  fa  dheòidh  gu  grad. 

M. — Is  gleusda  a  rinn  thu,  a 
Ghraidh  nam  fear,  leugh  a  nis  an 
caibideal  òirdheirc  sin,  an  t-ochdamh 
de  litir  an  Abstoil  chum  nan  Eòimh- 
each,  agus  co'-dhùnaidh  mi  fein  le 
facal  no  dhcà  urnuigh. 

C. — Tha  mi'n  dòchas  gu'm  faigh 
d'  aslachadh  èisdeachd,  fhir  mo 
ghraidh,  agus  gu'n  sealbhaich  sinn 
uile  na  beannachdan  aimsireil  agus 
spioradail  sin  a  tha  an  Ti  a's  Airde 
deas  agus  deònach,  a  bhuileachadh 
orra-san  uile  a  tha  umhal  da. 

M. — Mar  sin  bitheadh  e,  a 
Choinnich,  ach  a  nis  feumaidh  sinn 
a  bhi  ga  'r  deasachadh  fein  air  son 
na  h-eaglaise,  oir  tha  'n  uair  a  dluth- 
achadh  ruinn. 

C. — Siubhiamaid,  ma  ta,  agus 
gabhamaid  cèum  socaireach,  stòldta. 
Tha  mi  'faicinn  gu'm  bheil  an  sluagh 


Dara  Mios  an  Fliogliair,  1S7C. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


259 


cag  cruinneachaclh,  agus  tha  mi  ag 
clainntinn  a'  cbluig. 

M. — Lean-sa  raise,  a  Choinnich, 
agus  gheibh  thu  suidlieachan  freag- 
arrach.  Sin  agad  am  ministear  coir 
feiu  a  'dol  a  steacli. 

An  dè'gh  na  searmoin  ràinig  iad 
dachaidli,  Ian  riaraichte  leis  na 
chual  iad,  agus  an  deigh  beagan 
uine,  tbubbairt 

C. — Nach  gleusda  Maigbstir 
Dòmbnull  f  batbasd,  a  Mburacbaidb, 
tba  a  gbutb  co  glan,  fonnmbor, 
làidir  's  a  bba  e  riamh,  agus  gun 
teagamb,  cba'n  'eil  e  òg. 

Zvl. — Tba  e  direacb  tri  ficbead 
agus  ceitbir  deug  an  earraicb  so 
cbaidb,  agus  tba  e  fatbasd  gu  calma, 
ti'ciin.  Gun  teagamb,  feudar  a  radb 
m'atbimcbiollgu'uibbeil  a'  "cbraobb- 
Almoin  fo  bblàtb,"  aeb  ciia'n  'eil  an 
"  leumuacb-uàine  na  'eallaicb"  dba 
fatbasd.  Gu  ma  fada  a  cbaombnar 
ann  an  neart  e  os  ar  ceann,  oir  cba'n 
f burast  a  leitbid  fbaotuinn  an  Ik  a 
sliiubhlas  e. 

C. — Tba  mi  ga  d'  cbreidsinn,  a 
Mburacbaidb,  oir  cbòrd  e  gu  tagbte 
rium  fein  an  diugb,  agus  is  e  a  db' 
fbeudadb. 

M. — Faiceam  a  nis,  fbir  mo 
cbridbe,  co  dbe  'n  ditliis  againn  a's 
mo  aig  am  bbeil  a  nis  air  cbuimbne 
dbe  'n  deagb  sbearmoin  a  cbuabi 
sinn  an  diugb. 

C— Is  fburast  a'  cbeist  sin 
fbuasgladb,  a  Mburacbaidli,  ged 
tba  deagb  bbeacbd  agamsa  air  gacb 
ni  a  cbuaLa  mi.  Cha  d'eisd  mi 
riamb  roimh  ri  searmoin  o'n  steidb- 
tbeagaisg  cbòudna,  Kom.  xiii.  7, 
"Air  an  aobbar  sin,  tbugaibli  do  na 
b-uile  an  dligbe  fein." 

M. — Gle  cbeart,  a  Choinnich, 
agus  is  soiUeir  a  mbinich  an  duine 
coir  an  aitlme  cbudtbromacli  sin  aig 
an  Abstol,  na'n  tugamaid  gu  ciirani- 
acb  dbacbaidb  dbuinn  fein  e. 

C — Feucb  a  nis,  a  Mburacbaidb, 
am  bbeil  cuimbn'  asiad  air  cinn  na 


searmoin,  no'n  seòl  air  an  do  roinn 
e  a  tbeagasg. 

M. — ^Tba  deagb  bbeacbd  agam 
air  an  t-searmoin  o  thus  gu  deis. 
Db'  fbeuch  e  an  toiseach,  an  seòl 
air  an  robh  an  t- Abstol  ag  cur  an 
cèiU  gacb  iimblacbd  agus  dleas'nais 
a's  coir  duinn  a  cbur  an  gniomb  do 
na  b-uaclidaranaibh,  agus  do  na 
cumbacbdaibb  a  ta  'riagbladb  os  ar 
ceann.  Mbinich  e  a  ris,  mar  tba  e 
mar  fbiacbaibb  oirnne  a  bhi  iimhal 
do  lucbd-riagblaidb  na  tire,  o'n 
Bbanrighinn  air  an  righ-cbaitbir, 
sios  chum  an  neach  a's  ilse  d'ar 
riagblairibb,  oir  is  ann  le  Dia  a  db' 
òrduicbeadb  iad  uile.  "  Air  an 
aobbar  sin,"  deir  Pol,  '•  thugaibb  do 
na  b-uile  an  dligbe  fein."  An  deigh 
do'n  mbinistear  labbairt  gu  soilleir 
rau  tbimcbioU  umblacbd  do  uach- 
daranaibh  saogbalta,  tbubbairt  e 
gu'm  feudar  na  briatbran  a  gbabbail, 
agus  a  mbineacbadb  ann  an  seadh 
ni's  farsuinge,  agus  a  thoirt  fanear 
gu'm  bbeil  iad,  mar  an  ceudna,  a' 
sparradh  oirnn,  an  toiseach,  a 
dbligbe  fein  a  thoirfc  do  Dbia,  aig 
am  bbeil  a  f  breasdal  os  ceann  'oibre 
gu  leir.  Is  e  Dia  ar  n-Ard-Uach- 
daran  siorruidh  agus  Uile-Chumh- 
acbdach,  uime  sin,  faigheadh  esan  a 
dbligbe  fein.  Dbasan  tba  eagal 
dligbeacb.  Biodh  eagal  De  air  na 
h-uile.  Tba  esan  'na  aobbar  eagai'l 
do'n  aingidh.  Tha  eagal  dligbeacb 
do  Dbia,  oir  is  Uaciidaran  Uile- 
chumbachdach  e,  Tha  eagal  dligb- 
eacb do  Dbia  air  sgatli  a  cheartais, 
a  gbliocais,  agus  a  gliraidb.  Tba 
taingeileacbd,  creideamb,  agus  limh- 
lacbd  dligbeacb  do  Dbia  air  son 
gacb  cothroim,  socbair,  maitbeis, 
trocair,  agus  toilinntinn  a  ta  sinne 
gu  mi-airidh  a'  sealbbachadb  uaith- 
san.  Nocbd  an  searmonaiche  a  ris, 
gu'm  bbeil  gacb  umblacbd,  urram, 
agus  aoradh  dligbeacli  do'n  Tigh- 
earna  Dia.  do  bhrigh  gu'm  bbeil  e  Uile- 
ghlic,    Uile-làtbaireach,  Uile-fhiosr- 


260 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Flioghair,  1878. 


ach,  Uile-cliumhaclidach,  Uile- 
tlirocaireach,  agus  Uile-cheart. 

"  O  doimhne  saibhreis,  araon 
gliocais  agus  eòlais  Dè !  Cia  do- 
rannsacliaidh  a  bhreitlieanais,  agus 
do-lòrgachaidh  a  shlighean." 

Acii  thug  am  ministear  fa'near, 
's  an  dara  àite,  gu'm  bheil  e  mar 
fhiachaibli  oirnn  an  dlighe  fein  a 
thoirt  do  dliaoinibh,  araon  anu  an 
nitliibh  aimsireil  agus  spioradail. 
Thugaibh  an  dlighe  fein  do  rahinis- 
teiribh  soisgeil  Chriosd.  Eisdibh 
r'an  teagasg  agus  bithibh  glic,  agus 
na  diiiltaibla  e.  Na  bithibh  a'  labh- 
airt  gu  h-olc  mu'n  timchioll,  oir  is 
seirblusich  Dhe  iad.  An  àite  sin 
glaodhaibh  a  mach,  "  Cia  sgiamhach 
cosa  na  muinntir  a  ta  'searmonachadh 
soisgeil  na  sithe,  a'  toirt  sgeil  aoibh- 
neich  air  nithibh  maithe." 

Nochd  am  ministear,  'san  treas 
àite,  gu'm  feum  sinn  an  dlighe  fein 
a  thoirt  da'r  n-iochdaranaibh,  's  e 
sin,  dhoibhsan  a  ta  ann  an  inbh  ni's 
isle  anns  an  t-saoghal,  na  tha  sinn 
fein.  Na  deanaibh  tàir  air  na  bochd- 
aibh,  ach  bithibh  iriosal  agus  caird- 
eil  riutha.  Na  biodh  uaill  agus 
gloir  dhiomhain  'n  ur  cridhe,  a 
chionn  gu'm  bheil  sibh  ann  an  staid 
ni's  àirde  na  iadsan  a  ta  bochd.  'N 
aou  fhocal  tha  e  dligheach  dhuibli 
gràdh  a  thoirt  do  na  h-aile,  biodh 
iad  àrd  no  iosal,  beartach  no  bochd, 
cairdeil  no  nàimhdeil,  cràbhach  no 
ciontach.  Dh'iarr  Criosd  sin  a 
dheanamh,  oir  thubhairt  e, — "Aithne 
nuadh  tha  mi  'toirt  dhuibh,  gu'n 
gràdhaich  sibh  a'  cheile,  mar  a 
ghràdhaich  miss  sibhse,  gu'n  gràdh- 
aich  sibh  fein  a'  cheile  mar  an  cèud- 
na. 

Cho'  -  dhhm  an  searmonaiche 
urramach,  le  bhi  'sparradh  air  an 
t-sluagh  eisdeachd  ri  Dia,  agus  cha'n 
ann  ri  dnine.  Leanaibh,  ars'  esan, 
eiseimpleir  Chriosd,  agus  cha'n  e 
eiseimpleir  dhaoiue  peacach.  Thug 
Mac   Dhia   an   dlisrhe   fein   do    na 


h-uile,  deanaibh-se  an  ni  ceudna. 
Guidhibh  air  son  gràis  chum  gu'n 
dean  sibh  ar  dleas'nas  do  Dhia,  d'ar 
co-bhràthairibh,  agus  dhuibh  fein. 
Gabhaibh  comhairle  Chriosd,  creid- 
ibh  ann,  "  agus  thugaibh  do  na 
h-uile  an  dlighe  fein." 

C. — Ochan!  a  Mhurachaidh,  bn 
tu  fein  an  duine!  Cha  mhòr  nach 
d'  aithris  thu  an  deagh  shearmoin  a 
chual  thu  an  diugh  focal  air  an 
fhocal.  Ged  bu  leam  fein  air  ball 
an  Goirtean-Fraoich,  bheirinn  seach- 
ad  e  air  son  a  leithid  de  chuimhne 
agus  de  thuigse  a  bhi  agam  's  a  ta 
air  an  suidheachadh  's  a'  cheann 
ghreannach  sin  agad  fein,  a  Mhur- 
achaidh. Ochan!  bheireadh  gun 
teagamh.  Ach  feumaidh  mi  a' 
chuid  as  feàrr  a  dheanamh  dhe  na 
feartan  faoin'  a  bhuilicheadh  orm, 
agus  a  bhi  taingeil. 

M. — Seadh,  seadh,  a  Choinnich, 
is  deagh  chomharradh  air  duine  a 
bhi  ga  'irioslachadh  fein,  agus  tha 
deagh  f  hios  agamsa  air  gacli  cumh- 
achd  cuirp  agus  inntinn  a  bhuineas 
duit,  agus  cha  shuarach  iad.  Cuir- 
sa  gu  deagh  bhuil  iad,  agus  èiridh 
tu  suas  ann  an  eolas  agus  an  tuigse 
chum  inbhe  a  ni  measail  thu  am 
measg  do  luchd-eolais  air  gach 
taobh.  Ach  a  nis,  a  charaid,  tha  e 
'  fas  anmoch,  uime  sin,  bheir  sinn 
Dàsan  a  tha  ga  'r  cum  ail  suas,  ar 
n-iobairt-fheasgair  le  taingealachd. 
Gabh  an  leabhar  mar  a  rinu  thu  's 
a'  mhaduinn.  Lèugh  agus  seinn  an 
ceathramh  Salm  thar  an  fhichead. 

C. — Cha  mhaith  air  an  obair  sin 
mi,  a  Mhurachaidh,  ach  mar  a 
thubhairt  mi  's  a'  mhaduinn,  ni  mi 
mo  dhichioll. 

XXIV  SALM. 

'S  le  Dia  an  talamli  'us  a  Tan, 

An  domhan  's  na  bheil  ann, 
Oir  'n-aghaidli  bhriseadh  stigh  nan  cuan, 

Shuidhicli  6  e  gu  teann, 

Is  shocraich  'n-aghaidh  tbeachd  nan  srutL. 
Co'm  fear  gu  tulaich  Dhe 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhogliair,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


261 


Th(5id  suas  '  Is  cò  a  sheasas  fòs 
Na  'ionad  naorah  gu  r^idh  ? 

'N  ti  'gam  bheil  lamhan  neo-chiontach 

'Us  cridhe  glan  na  'chliabh  ; 
'Anam  nior  thog  ri  diomhanas, 

'S  nior  thug  mionn  cealgacli  riamh. 

Gheibh  esan  beannachadh  gu  saor, 

O'n  Tighearna  do  ghnkth  ; 
'Us  fireantachd  faraon  o'n  Dia 

A  ta  na  'shlainte  dhk. 

Is  I  so  ginealacb  na  droing' 

Air  iarraidh  ta  an  tòir  ; 
Ta  'g  iarraidh  d'  aghaidh  dheah-aich  fein, 

'Dhè  lacoib  mar  is  coir. 

Togaibh  a  gheatachan  lu-  cinn, 

'Us  (^iribh  suas  gu  h-àrd, 
O  dhorsa  siorruidh  'lis  a  steach 

Thig  K.igh  na  glòir'  d'a  kit. 

Co  è  so  Kigh  na  gloir,  co  è  ? 

An  Tighearn  làidir  trt^un, 
lehòbhah  neartmhor,  craaidh  'an  cath, 

Bheir  buaidh  a  mach  dha  fein. 

M. — Blieirinn-sa  duals  nach  bu 
blieag  clo'ii  ti  a  theagaisgeadh  mi,  a 
Clioinnich,  chum  seann  '^Bhanrjor" 
a  slieina  co  mills,  biun,  agus  firlnn- 
eacli  's  a  rinn  thiisa  e.  Tha  deagh 
ghuth  agad,  agus  tha  do  chàil-chlùll 
reldh  agus  ro  thaltneach.  Ach  a  nls, 
fhlr  mo  chrldhe,  tha'n  t-am  againii 
ar  leapannan  a  thoirt  oirnu,  oir 
tha  e'  dlhthachadh  air  meadhon- 
oidhche.-  Deagh  thàmh  dhuit,  a 
ghràidh  nam  fear,  agus  tha  dòchas 
agam  nach  cuir  "  Morpheus  "  buaireas 
no  bruaillean  sam  bith  ort  an  nochd. 
Uime  sin,  oidhche  mhaith  dhuit. 
Beanuachd  leat. 

Alasdair  Euadh. 


AX  GAIDHEAL  AIR  LEABA.-BHAIS. 

Fad'  air  falbh  bho  thir  nan  ard-bheann, 

Tha  mi  'm  fhograch  an  tir  chein; 
Am  measg  choigreach  's  fad  bho  chaird- 
ean, 

Tha  mi  'm  laidhe  so  learn  fein. 
Tha  mo  chridhe,  briste,  brhite,— 

Saighead-bhàis  a  nis  am  chom; 
An  uine  ghearr  mo  shuil  bidh  dùinte, 

'S  aig  a'  bhas  mi  'm  chadal  trom. 


'S  trie  ag  eirigh  suas  am  chuimhne, 

Albainn  aillidh,  tir  nam  beann; 
Chi  mi  sud  an  Ifeanag  uaiue, — 

A's  am  bothan  anns  a'  ghleann. 
Tha  gach  ni  fo  bhlàth  gu  h-ùraidh, 

Aig  an  allt  "tha  cronan  fann, 
Air  a'  ghaoith  tha  faile  cubhraidh, 

Tighian  bho  fhlùrain  nach  'eil  ganu. 

'S  ann  a  sud  a  fhuair  mi  m'  àrach, 

'S  mi  neo-lochdach  mar  na  h-uain; 
Ach  's  lorn  a  dh'  fhagadh  nis  an  larach, 

Bho  na  sheol  mi  thar  a  chuain. 
Thar  leam  gu'n  cluinn  mi  guth  nan  smeor- 
ach, 

'Seinn  gu  ceolar  feadh  nan  crann; 
'S  oran  binn  nan  uiseag'  boidheach, 

Ard  's  na  speuran  os  mo  cheann. 

Chi  mi  chill  aig  bun  a'  bhruthaich, 

Taobh  an  uillt  'tha  ruith  gu  Ihgh'r, 
'S  trie  a  bha  mi  sud  gu  dubhach, 

Caoidh  nan  cairdean  tha  fo'n  ùir. 
Mo  mhathair  's  m'  athair  tha  'n  an   sin- 
eadh, 

'N  cadal  siorruidh  anns  an  uaigh; 
'S  chaidh  mo  chopan  searbh  a  lionadh 

'N  uair  a  d'  fhag  mi  'n  sin  mo  luaidli. 

'Nis  cha  lèir  dhomh  tir  nan  ard-bheanu, 

Air  mo  shuil  t!ia  ceo  air  fas; 
Am  measg  choigreach  's  fad'  o  m'  chah'd- 
ean, 

Tha  mi  feitheamh  air  a'  bhds. 
Thusa,  spioraid  bhochd,  tha  'n  daorsa, 

Aoh  cha  'n  fhada  bhios  tu  ann; 
Thig,  a  Bhàis,  a's  thoir  dhomh  saorsa, 

Beannachd  leat,  a  thir  nam  beann ! 


Glaschu,  1876. 


H.  W. 


SIR  FALBE-0-COEN". 

SGEULACHD  BHO'N  SGIATHANACII 
ATHOLACH. 

Uair  's  gu'n  robh  bha  la  anbarr- 
achfiadhaichanns  a'  Ghaidhealtachd, 
ann  an  àite  nach  ainmichear,  's  a  h- 
uile  gin  a  bha  'tighinn  a  stigh  air 
chèilidh  do  thigh 's  an  robh  cailleach 
niiiòr  aig  oir  an  teine,  ag  radh  gu  'm 
b'  e  so  an  latha  fiadhaich,  'us  their- 
eadh  i  ris  a  h-uile  aon  a  thigeadh  a 
stigh,  "Is  beag  sin  aig  an  fhear 
bhuidhe  aig ceann  Drochaid-nan-teud 
a  nochd,"  'us  mu  dheireadh  thainig 
Sir  Falbh-0-Còrn  a  stigh  agus  thuirt 
e  (lu.  'm  b'  i  so  oidhche  'n  fhamhair. 


262 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  ISIios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


TliLiirt  a'  chailleach  ris  mar  a  b' 
àbhuist,  "  Is  beag  sin  aig  an  f  hear 
bhuidhe  aig  ceaiin  Drochaid-nan- 
teud."  An  sin  thiiirt  Sir  Falbh-o- 
Còrn,  "  Tha  mise  'cur  mar  chroisean 
's  mar  gheasan  orm  fhein  mar 
naoi  mnathan-sitli  siublial  sitli 
seachranaicli,  nacli  ith  's  nacli  òl  mi 
ni  gus  am  faic  mi  am  fearbuidlie  aig 
ceann  Drocbaid-nan-tend." 

An  sin  thuirt  a'  chailleach  ris, 
"Togdhiatdo  gheasan,"  'us  thuirt 
Sir  Falbh-o-Corn  nach  togadh. 

An  sin  chaidh  Sir  Falbh-o-Còrn 
na  'chulaidh-chath  's  na  'chruaidh- 
chòmhraig.  'S  e  bu  chukidh-chatha 
's  bu  chruaidh-chòmhraig  dhà,  sgiath 
bh'jcaideach,  bhacaideach  mhin- 
dhearg  air  a  thaobh  cli,  air  am  bu 
lionmhor  dealbh  leomhain,  agus 
dealbh  liopaird.  Ghearradh  i  naoi 
naoinear  a  null,  'us  naoi  naoinear  a 
nail  's  glilacadh  e  fhein  's  an  làimh 
chiadna  i  rithist.  An  sin  ràinig 
an  gaisgeach  an  cuan,  'us  chuir 
e  a  lamh  dheas  ann  an  toiseach 
na  birlinn,  'us  tharrainn  e  mach  air 
an  fhairge  i.  An  sin  thog  e  na 
siiiil  bhreac  bhaidealuch  ri  aghaidh 
nan  crann  fada,  fiodhanta,  feargach  ; 
cha  robh  crann  ga  'Itibadh,  seòl  ga 
'reubadh,  ag  caitheamh  na  fairge 
fulcanaich,  falcanaich,  leothar 
dhearga,  leothar  ghuirme  Lochlann- 
aich ;  tri  troidhean  's  a'  ghrunnd, 
tri  troidhean  eadar-dha-lionn,  tri 
troidhean  dh'  iasg  na  tuinne,  a 
tomhas  os  cionn  a  beòil,  a'  bhiasd 
bu  mhutha  ag  itheadh  na  bèisde  bu 
lugha,  's  a'  bhiasd  bu  lugha  'dianamh 
mar  a  dh'  fhaodadh  i.  An  sin  bha 
righeachd  na  doimhne  moire  'dol  as 
an  t-sealladh,  na  h-Eirionn  a'  tighinn 
a's  t-sealladh.  Mu  dheireadh  ràinig 
an  gaisgeach  tir,  'us  chuir  e  a  lamh 
dheas  an  toiseach  na  birlinn  'us 
tharrainn  e  a  seachd  fad  fhein  air 
talamh  tioram  i.  An  sin  chaidh  an 
gaisgeach  a  rithist  na  'chulaidh- 
chatha  's  na  'chruaidh-chòmhraig,  's 


dh'  fhalbh  e  leis  na  ceumannan 
moiteil,  toirteil,  laidir,  's  cha  bu 
lugha  am  meal  teine  a  chuireadh  e 
bho  bhun  gach  lùdaig,  no  bhàiT  gach 
òrdaig  na  maol-chnoc  slèibh,  's  gu 
'm  b'  fhearr  do  namhaid  a  sheachn- 
adh  na  tachairt  ris  's  a'  cheart  am. 
A'  triall  da  mar  sin  faicear  a'  tighinn 
ag  gearradh  shùrdag  am  fiidarlach 
sleomhain  buidhe  ud  agus  's  an 
tachairt  chuir  na  laoich  fàilt  air  a' 
cheile  gu  fitheach,  fothach,  fearg- 
ach gu  fuilteach,  nimheil  borb- 
ach. 

Tri  dhitheachan  chuireadh  iad 
diubh  dlieth  'm  fionnadh,  dheth  'm 
fait,  's  dheth  'm  feòil  an  t-àrd  athar 
's  an  iarmailt.  An  sin  dhianadh  iad 
a  bhogain,  a  bhogain,  a  chreagain,  a 
chreagain,  a  thobraicliean  fior-uisge 
an  aodimn  gach  creagain.  An  uair 
a  b'  fhaide  rachadh  iad  fotha,  ruig- 
eadh  iad  na  sùilean,  's  an  uair  bu 
lugha,  ruigeadh  iad  na  glùinean. 

An  sin  chuimhnich  Sir  Falbh-o- 
Còrn  gu  'n  robh  e  fada  bho  'chàirdean 
's  an  uchd  a  naimhdean,  's  thug  e 
togail  shunntacli  shuigeartach  do  'n 
bhodach  's  bhrist  e  a  ghàirdein  fotha 
'us  aisne  os  a  chionn,  's  an  sin  thuirt 
e,  "  Do  bhàs  air  do  mhuin,  a  bhod- 
aich,  ciod  è  d'  èiric  ? "  "  Is  mor  sin 
's  cha  bheag  e "  os  am  bodach — 
"  Ciste  òir  's  ciste  airgid  am  falach 
fo  'n  ursainn."  "  Is  leam  fhein  sin," 
osa  Sir  Falbh-o-Corn,"  's  e  'sgudadh 
a  chinn  de  'n  bhodach.  Thug  iad 
dòmhsa  deoch  a  copan  tioram  's 
mir  de  'n  aran  nach  robh  ann,  'us 
dh'fhàg  mi  an  sid  iad. 


DITEADH  MHIC-AN-TOISICH. 

LEIS  a'  bhard  mac-gill-eathaix. 
Anns  a'  bhliadhna  1841,  chuir  an 
t-Easbuig  Friseil  nach  maireann  air 
chois  Comunn  Stuamachd  ann  an 
Antigonish,  Nova  Scotia.  Is  gann 
a  bha  duine  anns  na  sgireachdan  fo 


Dara  Jklios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


AX  GAIDHEAL. 


263 


a  churam  nach  do  clieaiigail  e  fein. 
ris  a'  Chomunn.  B'  e  an  gealladh  a 
bha  iad  a'  gabhail  orra  fein,  nach 
oladh  iad  deocli  laidir  fad  thri 
bliadlina.  Tha  aon  no  dha  a  lathair 
gus  an  latha  'n  diugh  nach  do  chuir 
ri  'm  beul  i  bho  'n  am  sin.  Tha  e 
coltach  gu  'n  do  ghleidheadh  coinn- 
eamh  air  Latha  na  BHadhn'-iiire  aig 
an  robh  an  shaagh  ri  'n  ainmeannan 
a  cliur  ris  a'  ghealladh.  Tha  an  t- 
oran  air  a  dheanamh  an  ainm 
Dhomhnnill  ]\Ihic-Ille-Bhràbh,  no 
mar  theirteadh  gu  coitchionn  ris, 
"Domhnull  Mhamai."  B'  ann  aig 
Uilleain  Og  a  bha  an  tigh-osda  a  bu 
mho  an  Antigonish.  Bha  tigh-osda 
eile  aig  Ealasaid  ann  an  Arasaig 
mu  thuaiream  da  mhile  dheug  o 
bhaile  Antigonish.  Is  coltach  gu  'n 
robh  Domhnull  Mhamai ;  Tomas 
Hill,  fear-lagha ;  Padraig  Burns ; 
Somhairle  Symonds ;  Eaonull  Cub- 
air,  piobaire ;  agus  Dr.  Curry  'n  an 
deadh  chairdean  do  "  ]Mhac-an-Tòis- 
ich,"  an  ciomach  a  bhatar  a'  diteadh ; 
agus  cha  robh  am  bard  fein  'n  a 
dhian  namhaid  idir  dha.  Is  e  an  t- 
Easbuig  am  "  breitheamh "  air  a 
bheil  an  t-òran  a'  labhairt. 

Tha  mi  sgitli  o'n  tim  so  'n  de ; 

Cha  'n  'eil  m'  inntinn  leam  air  ghleus  ; 

'S  beag  an  t-ioghnadh  sin  domh  fein, 

'S  gu  'n  d'  fhuair  mi  sgeul  tha  mulad- 
ach. 

Leis  an  sgeul  a  fhuair  mi  'n  dràst, 
'S  mithich  dhomh  teannadh  ri  dan, 
Air  Mac-an-Tòisich,  fear  mo  ghraidh, 
Am  fleasgach  aluinn,  urramach. 

G-ed  a  fhuair  iad  e  fo  chis, 
Cha  robh  'leithid  anns  an  tir  ; 
Bu  chompanach  e  do  'n  righ, 

Do  dh-uaislean  grinn,  's  do  chumantan. 

Gur-a  diombach  mi  do  'n  chleir, 
Chuir  an  tòrachd  as  a  dheigh  ; 
Gu  'm  bu  dileas  e  dhaibh  fein, 

Ged  thug  iad  beum  na  dunach  dha. 

A'  chiad  latha  d'an  bhliadhn'  iiir, 
'S  ann  a  shuidhich  iad  a'  chuirt ; 
'S  iad  ag  iarraidh  fear  mo  ruin, 

A  chur  's  a'  chuil,  's  a  chumail  innt'. 


Chaidh  mi  fhein  a  stigh  am  dlieann  ; 
Bha  mo  bhoineid  ann  am  laimh  ; 
Bha  mi  siobhalt  ann  am  chainnt, 

'S  cha  tugainn  taing  do  dhuin'  aca. 

Thuirt  a  naimhdean  's  fearg  'n  an  gniiis, 
Gu'n  robh  e  gun  mheas,  gun  chliu  ; 
Gu'n  goideadh  e  an  cuid  's  a'  chuil, 
Ged  bhiodh  an  suil  air  furachaU. 

Thuirt  mi  fhein,  gur  cruaidh  an  cks, 
Mac-an-Toisich  chur  gu  bas, 
'S  gun  choh-'  aca  dh'  fhear  mo  ghraidh, 
Ach  e  bhi  failteach,  furanach. 

Dh'  iarr  mi  orra  'chur  mar  sgaoil, 
'S  a  leigeadh  mach  air  an  raon — 
Cha  gUacteadh  e  a  ris  k  maoir  ; 

Cha  bhiodh  e  faoin  a  chuireadh  ris  ! 

Gu  'n  robh  fiarmisean  gu  leòir, 
Gus  a  shaoradh  aig  a'  mhòd  ; 
Fear  na  misnich,  Uilleam  Og, 

Bha  deònach  dol  an  urras  air. 

Tomas,  air  a'  chuoc'  ud  shuas, 
Thainig  oirnn  le  'lagh  a  nuas, 
Dh'  fheuch  an  dionadh  e  'm  fear  ruadh 

'S  e  ruith  cho  luath  's  a  b'  urrainn  da. 

Thainig  Padraig  as  a  dheigh, 
Ged  bha  bacaiche  'n  a  cheura, 
Gu  'n  robh  bat'  aige  fo  'sgeith 

'S  mur  biodh  iad  reidh  bhiodh  fuil  aige. 

Dh'  eirich  Somhairle  's  a'  chuirt — 
Labhair  e  le  sgairt  mu  'n  chuis — 
Thuirt  e,  "  Chogainn  ris  a'  Chrhn 

]Vr  an  cuii-inn  diomb  a'  churaidh  rium." 

Chreid  am  breitheamh  'naimhdean  cruaidh  ; 
Sgriobh  e  sios  a'  bhinn  gu  luath  ; 
Dh'  eirich  e  's  thuirt  e,  "  Gu  luath, 
Gu  bas,  gun  truas  ris,  cuirear  e." 

'N  uair  a  fhuaradh  e  fo  shreing, 
Chaidh  a  nainnhdean  nunn  'n  an  deann  ; 
Bha  crith  orra  's  an  lamh  ri  peann, 

'Cur  'n  ainm  ri  bainn  bha  cunnartach, 

'S  fhad  o'  n  chual'  mi  daoine  'g  radh, 
Gun  teid  "neart  thar  ceart "  an  aird  ; 
'S  ann  mar  sin  tha  chuis  an  drast — 
'S  i  binn  ro  chearr  a  thugadh  air. 

Bha  Lagh  GhiU-ma-Cheallaig  cam, 
A  chroch  an  gearran  suas  ri  crann  ; 
Ach  is  caime  'n  lagh  's  an  am  s', 

'Chuir  slabhraidh  air  'n  fhear  churanta. 

Och,  's  ann  againn  tha  'm  muir-traigh  ; 
Cha  tig  reothairt  oirnn  gu  brath  ; 
B'  fhearr  gu'n  eireadh  am  muir-lan, 
'S  e  dhol  cho  aj^d  "s  a  chunna  mi. 


264 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


Dheanainn  iasgach  leis  an  th-bh, 
Air  a'  charraig  mar  ri  each  ; 
'S  gecl  nach  biodh  mo  lopan  Ian, 

Bhiodh  cuid  an  trath,  no  tuilleadh  ann. 

Gur-a  trie  a  thug  mi  sgriob 

Gu  ruig  Arasaig  ud  shios, 

'S  an  tigh  Ealasaid  gu  'm  bith'nn, 

'N  uair  bhiodh  na  lin  an  cur  agam. 

Mhic-an-Toisich,  bha  thu  riabh 

Fearail,  fiughantach  a's  fial ; 

Cha  bhiodh  tlachd  ach  far  an  iarrt' 

Thu,  dh-aindeoin  briag  a  chuireadh  ort. 

Raonull  Cubair  tha  fo  leon, 

Bho  'n  a  chual  e  mar  chaidh  mod  ; 

'S  tu  'n  a  mheoir  a  chuireadh  'n  ceol, 

A  dh'  f  hogradh  bron  gu  buileach  uainn. 

Mala  'phiob'  th'  air  crupadh  suas, 
Ga  'bhogachadh  le  uisge  fuar, 
Bho  'n  theirig  iocshlainte  nam  buadh 
A  bheireadh  fuasgladh  muineil  dha. 

B'  i  sin  an  iocshlaint'  's  an  robh  feum 

Gu  fogradh  aiceidean  cleibh'  ; 

'S  b'  ainmeil  i  air  leigheas  chreuchd  ; 

Gu  'm  b'  fhearr  na  'n  leigh  bha  'm 
Muile  i. 

Thuirt  Mac-Mhuirich  rium  Dimairt, 
Gu'n  d'  fheuch  e  cuislean  do  lamh, 
'S  gu  'n  eireadh  tu  fhathast  slan — 

Do  chur  gu  bas  nach  b'  urrainn  daibh, 

B'  fhearr  gu  'm  biodh  an  sgeul  sin  fior ; 
'S  iomadh  aon  d'  am  biodh  e  binn  ; 
Ged  bhiodh  branndaidh  gini  phinnt, 
Gu  'n  cosdainn  tri  le  sulas  riut ! 

Ged  a  bhithinn  's  an  tigh-bhan, 
Gun  dull  ri  tigh'nn  as  gu  brath, 
Na  'm  faicinn  thu  air  an  t-sraid, 

Gu'n  leumainn  ard  troimh  uinneagan. 

Cha  bhiodh  banais,  's  cha  bhiodh  bàl, 
Cha  bhiodh  Nollaig,  's  cha  bhiodh  Caisg, 
Nach  biodh  tus'  aig  ceann  a'  chlair, 
'S  do  chairdean  a'  cur  furain  ort. 

'S  ann  ad  chomunn  nach  biodh  sgraing 
'N  uair  a  theannadh  daoin  ri  cainnt ; 
Cha  bhiodh  or  ad  phòca  gann, 

'S  gu'n  tugteadh  dram  do'n  h-uile  fear. 

Greis  air  iomairt,  's  greis  air  ol, 
Greis  air  aighear,  's  greis  air  ceol, 
Greis  eil'  air  bualadh  nan  dorn, 

'S  gun  chomhdach  air  am  muUaichean. 

Chuireadh  tu  'n  daorach  'n  an  ceann ; 
Thuiteadh  iad  a  bhos  a's  thall  : 
'N  uair  ghlacadh  iad  thu  air  laimh, 

Cha  cheannsaicheadh  Cuchuilinn  iad. 


Dh'  f hagadh  tu  fear  glic  gun  chiall ; 

Dheanadh  tu  'n  spiocaire  fial ; 

Dh'  fhuaisgleadh  tu  sijoran  nan  iall, 

'S  cha  bhiodh  an  gniomh  sin  furasda. 

D*  fhear-dkimh  cha  chunntadh  'n  a  chall 
Bhi  'sgapadh  airgid  'n  ad  gheall, 
Ged  bhiodh  e  'n  ath  latha  fann, 

A  lamh  m'  a  cheann,  's  e  'turaman. 

'S  misd'  na  mnathan  thu  ga  'n  dith  ; 
B'  fheaird  iad  ac'  thu  'g  ol  na  tea; 
Dh'  fhiosraicheadh  tu  dhaibh  le  cinnt 
A'  bhrigh  a  bhiodh  's  na  duilleagan. 

'S  mor  am  beud  thu  blii  air  chall ; 
Bu  tu  ceann-cinnidh  gach  dream ; 
Ghiosnaicheadh  tu  feaehd  na  Fraing' 
Gun  deann  a  chur  à  guim'  orra. 

Dheanadh  tu  cogadh  a's  sith ; 
'S  e  do  spionnadh  nach  robh  cli  ; 
Cha  'n  fhacas  riabh  thu  air  do  dhmim, 
'S  bu  trie  an  strith  nam  buillean  thu. 

'S  lionmhor  mais'  ort,  fhir  mo  ghraidh, 
Nach  iirrainn  domh  a  luaidh  am  dhan  ; 
Ma  dh'  fhograr  thu  nunn  thar  sail', 

Bidh  sinn  ri  'r  la  bochd,  uireasach. 

Ach  ma  thig  thvi  slan  'n  ar  ceann, 
Le  d'  shuaicheantas  ard  ri  crann, 
Gur  curaideach  a  bhios  do  chlann 

A'  dannsadh  Kuidhle-Thulaiehean, 

Bidh  sinn  eibhinn  thu  bhi  beo  ; 
Cha  bhi  duine  sean  no  og 
Nach  tionndaidh  fo  d'  bhrataich  shroil, 
'S  gu  mod  cha  toirear  tuiUe  thu  ! 

Sud  ort  fein,  a  charadd  ghraidh  ! 
'S  mi  nach  treigeadh  tu  gu  brath  ! 
Cha  teid  m'  ainm  ri  paipeir  ban. 

Am  measg  na  gràisg  nach  buineadh 
dhuit ! 


AN  DILLEACHDAN  BOCHD. 

An  uair  a  bha  mi  'am  ghiullan 
beag,  a'  ruith  's  a'  leumadh  mu'n 
cuairt,  ris  gach  mireadh  agus  cluich, 
agus  saor  o  gach  cùram,  is  iomadh 
deagh  chomhairle  a  thugadh  dhomh 
le  mo  sheanair  fein,  a  bha  'n  a  dhuine 
ionraic  agus  gUc,  air  an  robh  eagal 
an  Tighearna.  Cha  do  chaill  e  aon 
chothrom  gun  a  bhi  'sparradh  air  m' 
inntinn  oirdheirceis  oibre  Dhè,  agus 
miorbhuileachd  an  fhreasdail  sin  a 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


265 


ta  'riagbladli  os  ar  ceann.  Bha  e 
'deanamh  gach  strith  'n  a  chomas 
chum  beachd  ceart  agus  freagarrach 
a  thoirt  domh  air  caoimhneas  agus 
ciirara  an  Ti  bheannaiclite  sin  a  ta 
'stiUii'eadh  na  cruitheachd  le  cumh- 
aclid  agus  le  gliocas  neo-chriochn- 
aichte ;  agus  thug  e  dhomh  iomadh 
samhladh  agus  eiseirapleir  am  measg 
chiiisean  an  t-saoghail,  chum  m' 
inntinn  feiu  a  Uonadh  le  h-ùmhlachd 
d'a  thaobh-san  a  tha  'buileachadh 
shochaii'ean  gun  aireamh  air  na  h- 
uile.  An  sin,  dh'  aithris  e  dhomh 
gu  sonraichte  aon  sgèul  beag  nach 
dichuimhnich  mi  gu  bràth.  Eha'n 
sgeul  sin  mu  dhilleachdan  òg  a  bha 
comharraichte  a  thaobh  na  h-aoise 
aige,  air  son  an  eòlais  a  f  huair  e  air 
ceòl.  Bha  tuathanach  àraidh  's  a' 
choimhearsnachd  aig  an  robh  dithis 
mhac,  air  an  do  bhuilich  e  deagh 
fhòghlum,  le  bhi  'g  an  cumail  gu 
riaghailteach  's  an  sgoil.  An  dèigh 
aireimh  bhliadhnaichean  a  dhol 
seachad  chaochail  an  athair,  agus 
shuidhicheadh  am  mac  a  b'  òige  's 
an  tuathanachas  an  àite  athar  fein, 
agus  thug  am  mac  bu  shine  na  h- 
Innsean  air  a  dh'  iarraidh  an  f  hort- 
aiu.  Air  fearrann  an  tuathanaich 
so  bha  duine  bochd  a  chòmhnuidh 
ann  am  botban  beag,  suarach,  maille 
r'a  mhnaoi,  d'an  robh  mòr-spèis  aige, 
agus  aon  bhallachan  mic,  a  bha  mar 
dheò-greine  aig  a  pharantaibh  fein. 
Cha  robh  e  cuig  bliadhna  a  dh'  aois 
an  uair  a  sguabadh  air  falbh  'athair 
agus  a  mhathair  ann  an  aon  la,  le 
droch  fhiabhras  a  bha  's  an  àite. 
Uirae  sin  dh'  fhàgadham  brogachan 
bochd  'n  a  dhilleachdan  truagh,  aon- 
aranach,  gun  charaid  agus  gun  chuid- 
eachadh  's  an  t-saoghal !  Air  da, 
mar  so,  a  bhi  gu  tur  gun  chàirdean 
agus  gun  luchd-dàimh  anns  an  t- 
saoghal,  gheall  an-tuathanach  duals 
shonraichte  do  sheann  mhnaoi  ^s  a' 
choimhearsnachd,  air  chùmhnant 
gu'n  gabhadh  i  chram  dheth  le  thoirt 


gu  bhi  maille  rithe  fein.  Ann  am 
Ibeagan  bhliadhnaichean  an  deigh 
j  sin,  chaidh  an  seann  bhoirionnach 
so,  air  an  robh  an  giullan  ag  amharc 
I  mar  mhathair,  air  slighe  nan  uile 
bheò,  agus  thilgeadh  a  ris  air  an  t- 
'  saoghal  e  'n  a  ògangch  a  bha  meur- 
:  anta  agus  diblidh  'n  a  phearsa.  An 
sin,  ghabh  tuathanach  's  a'  choimh- 
I  earsnachd  truas  ris,  agus  ghabh  e  a 
i  stigh  d'a  theaghlach  e,  chum  cuid- 
eachadh  a  dheanamh  ris  's  a'  bhuach- 
I  ailleachd.  Nochd  an  t-òganach  gu'n 
robh  spèis  gun  choimeas  aige  do'n 
cheòl,  agus  is  minic  a  sheas  iadsan 
a  bha  'gabhail  na  slighe  a  dh'  eisd- 
eachd,  ris  a'  cluicheadh  air  fidhill  gle 
mhi-shnasmhor  a  rinneadh  leis  fein. 
Bu  tearc  iad  ri'm  faotuinn  a  bheir- 
eadh  barrachd  air  ann  an  cluicheadh 
a'  chilli  1  sin  a  chleachdadh  's  an 
dùthaich.  Air  la  àraidh  thàinig  an 
tuathanach  sin  an  rathad,  aig  an 
robh  a'  ghabhail-f  hearainn  air  an  d' 
f  huair  pàrantan  an  òganaich  am  has, 
agus  bha  iongantas  mòr  air  an  uair 
a  chual  e  feabhas  a'  chluich  aige. 
Stad  6  re  tamuill  ag  eisdeachd  ris, 
agus  bha  toilinntinn  nach  bu  bheag 
air  'n  am  dha  bhi  'g  eisdeachd  ris. 
Thug  e  an  sin  cuireadh  càirdeil  dha 
dol  dh'  ionnsuidh  a  thighe,  agus 
gheall  e  gu'n  d'  thugadh  e  dha 
lidheall,  a  bhiodh  ni  b'  fheàrr  na'n 
tè  gharbh  sin  a  rinn  e  leis  an 
sgithinn  aige  fein.  Cha  b'e  ruith 
ach  leum  leis  an  oganach,  gus  an  d' 
ràinig  e  tigh  an  tuathanaich.  An 
sin  chaidh  an  tuathanach  gun  dail 
dh'  ionnsuidh  càmruidh  ann  an  cliil 
dhuirch  's  an  fhàrdaich  aige,  far  an 
I  robh  treallaich  agus  geadhchail  dhe 
!  gach  gnè  air  an  druideadh  suas  air 
i  feadh  a'  cheile,  agus  rinn  e  greim 
'  air  seann  chobhan  anns  an  robh 
{ fidheall  air  a  comhdachadh  le  dus 
j  agus  smuir  a  thionail  i  re  nam 
bliadhnaichean  a  laidh  i  gun  charach- 
adh  's  a'  chobhan  sin.  Thug  e  mach 
an  fhidheall,  ach  bha  i  gun  droch- 


266 


AX  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1S7 


aid,  gun  teiiJ,  gu'n  iuchar,  agus  a' 
tuiteain  as  a'  cheile  a  dh-easbhuidli 
glaoidh.  Bhuiueadh  i  an  toiseach 
do  bhrathair  an  tuathanaich  a  chaidh 
do  na  b-Innsibb.  Bba  saor  aiins  a' 
bbaile  a  cbeangal  an  fhidbeall  le 
deagh  gblaodb.  An  sin,  f  huaireadh 
teudan,  drocbaid,  cnagan,  agus  gach 
ni  eile  a  bba  'dbitb  air  an  fbidbill. 
An  uair  a  rinneadh  mar  so  deas  i 
thugadb  i  do'n  dilleacbdan  aoibb- 
neacb,  agus  gbrad-tbug  e  an  t-sbgbe 
dhacbaidb  air  le  mòr  gbairdeacbas. 
Ceitbir  no  cuig  de  bhHadbnaichean 
an  deigb  sin,  db'  eiricb  aimhreit 
eadar  bràtbair  an  tuatbanaicb  agus 
a  mbàigbstirean  anns  na  b-Innsibb  ; 
agus  tbàinig  e  nail  tbar  cbuau  gu 
dùtbaicli  a'  bbreith.  Bba  e  'n  a 
dbuiue  aig  an  robb  drocb  giùlan, 
agus  drocb  cridbe.  Cba'n  e  mbàin 
gu'n  I'obb  e  misgeacb  agus  ana- 
measarra  'n  a  cbaitbe-beatba,  acb  bba 
e  mar  an  ceudna,  ro  àrdanacb, 
uaibbreach,  agus  struigbeil  'n  a 
nàdar,  agus  cbaill  e  deagb-gbean  a 
bbràthar,  agus  gacb  neacb  eile  'san 
àite,  a  bbiodb  ealamb  air  cairdeas  a 
nocbdadb  dba,  mar  urram  da  atbair 
fein,  d'an  robb  mòr-spèis  aig  a  lucbd- 
èolais  uile  's  an  àite.  Bba  e 
steidliichte  air  reiteacbadb  a  dbean- 
amb  a  tbaobb  codacb  atbar  fein, 
agus  tbug  e  a  bbràtbair  air  agbaidb 
gu  cùnntas  a  tboirt  seacbad  air  gacb 
ni  a  db'  fbàgadb  le  atbair,  a'  dean- 
amb  macb  do  bbrigb  gu'm  b'  esan 
fein  am  btàtbair  bu  sbine  gu'm 
buineadb  gacb  eairneis,  agus  gacb 
ni  eile  dba  fein.  Bbuin  e  r'a  bbràtb- 
air  CO  mi-nadurra,  cruaidb-cbridb- 
eacb,  agus  ain-iocbdmbor,  's  gu'n  d' 
eiricb  a  lucbd-eolais  mar  aon  duine 
'n  a  agbaidb.  Ann  an  ùine 
gbèarr  db'  ullaicb  e  tigh  dba 
fein,  agus  pbòs  e  òinseacb 
mbisgeacb  bboirionuaicb  cosmbuil 
ris  fein.  Cbuir  e  a  bbràthair  gu 
lagb  air  son  airgid,  àirneis,  agus 
nitbe  gun  àireamb  eile,  air  an  robb 


e  'tagradh  coir  mar  oigbre  dligb- 
eacb  "atbar  fein.  Am  measg  gacb 
treallaicb  eile  db'  ainmicb  e  an  t- 
seaun  fbidbeall,  agus  db'  iarr  e  a 
faotuinn.  Tbubbairt  a  bbràtbair 
ris,  air  do'n  fbidbill  a  bbi  'n  a  cung- 
aidb  gun  fbeum  's  an  tigb,  gu'n 
cV  tbug  e  seacbad  i  do  dbilleacbdau 
bocbd  cbum  gu'n  ionnsuicbeadh  e  a 
cluicbeadb.  Las  e  ann  an  dian 
cborruicb  an  agbaidb  a  bbràtbar, 
gbrad-cbuir  e  fios  air  an  dilleacbdan, 
agus  labbair  e  ris  anns  a'  cbainnt  bu 
mbiosa  a  b'urrainn  a  tbeangadh  a 
cbur  an  ceill,  a  cbeaun  gu'n  do  gbabb 
e  an  fhidbeall  o  'bbràthair.  Air 
do'n  dilleacbdan  tbruagb  a  bbi  air 
cliritb  leis  an  eagal,  labbair  e  ris 
gu  siobbalta,  ciùin,  modbail,  agus 
tbubbairt  e,  "  A  dbuin-uasail,  tba  mi 
'g  iarraidb  maitbeanais,  acb  cba'n 
'eil  6  'nam  cbomus  atb-dbioladb  's 
am  bitb  a  dbeanamb  acb  an  fhidb- 
eall a  tboirt  air  a  h-  ais  a  ris  na  d' 
ionnsuidb."  "An  fbidbeall  a  tboirt 
air  a  h-  ais  a  ris  !  an  e  a  tbubbairt 
tbu?"  fbreagair  am  fiadb-dbuine  le 
corruich  a'  lasadb  na  'gbniiis, —  "a 
tboirt  air  a  b-  ais  a  ris !"  A'  cbrocb- 
aire  bbig,  am  bheil  dliil  agad  gu'n 
truaillinn-sa  mo  mbeòir  le  inneal  a 
laimbseacbadb  a  bba  co  fa  da  a' 
suatbadb  rid'  luideagaibh  salacb, 
breun-sa?  Cha  truaill  ri  m'  bbeò. 
Gleidb  an  fbidbeall,  a  bbulgain 
sbuaraicb,  acb  ioc  dbòmbsa  cuig 
puinnd  Sbasunnacb  an  taobb  a  stigb 
de  tbri  làitbean  mar  luacb  na  fidble, 
agas  mur  dean  tbu  sin,  bbeir  mi 
òrdiigb  seacbad  do  tbilgeadb  's  a' 
pbriosain."  Cbuir  an  dilleacbdan 
bocbd  an  ceill  le  sùilibb  deurach 
nacb  robb  cuig  sgillinn  Sbasunnacb 
dbe  'n  t-saoghal  aige,  agus  nime  sin, 
nacb  robb  e  na  'cbomus  sin  a  dbean- 
amb. Acb  bba  'n  duine  cruaidh- 
chridbeacb  do-lubaidb  na  'bbagradh, 
agus  sgiurs  e  le  feirg  am  ballachan 
air  falbh,  ag  eigbeacb  na  'dbeigh 
mar  aontaicbeadb  e  ris  a'  cbùmhnant 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhogliair,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


2G7 


a  thug  e  seachad,  gu'm  biodli  na 
maoir  gun  dcàil  na  'lorg.  Dh'  f  halbh 
an  t-òganacli  gu  tuirseach,  brònacb, 
agus  a  gal  gu-frasach  air  an  t-slighe. 
An  uair  a  bha  e  'dliithachadh  r  'a 
dhachaidh,  chomblaich  e  bean-uasal 
a  dh'  f  heòraich  dheth  gu  caoimhneil, 
ciod  a  bha  'cur  air'?  Cha  b'  fhad 
gus  an  do  chuir  e  an  ceill  a  sgeul 
cianail  fein  o  thlis  gu  deis.  Dh'  eisd 
a  bhantighearna  cheanalta  ris,  le 
cridhe  Ian  truais  agus  deagh-ghean, 
agus  thubhairt  i  ris ;  "  Glac  misn- 
each,  a  bhallachain  bhochd,  glac 
misneach,  agus  taoghail  ormsa  am 
màireach,  aig  meadhon-là,  agus  bheir 
mi  luacli  na  fidhle  dhuit.  An  sin, 
bithidh  i  leat  fein,  mar  do  chuid 
dhligheach  fein  tuilleadh  an  dèigh 
so."  Ghrad-thionndaidheadh  dubh- 
bhròn  an  òganaich  .gu  ceòl  agus 
aoibhneas, — chaidh  e  mar  a  dh'  iarr- 
adh  air, — fhuair  e  na  cuig  puinnd 
Shasunnach, — chaidh  e  na  'dheann- 
ruith  dh'ionnsuidh  an  duine  fhiadh- 
aich  sin  a  shàruich  co  searbli  e,  agus 
thilg  e  an  t-airgiod  air  a  bhèulaobh. 
"  A  nis,  'òganaich  gun  nàire  gun 
mhodh,  teagaisgidh  sin  do  dhleas- 
'nas  dhuit  an  deigh  so.  Is  leamsa, 
a  nis,  an  t-airgiod,  is  leatsa  an  f  hidh- 
eall,  as  thoir  do  chasan  as  gu  luath, 
as  mo  shealladh."  Bha  'n  dilleachd- 
an  a  ris  na  'bhrogach  sona.  Chuala 
gach  àrd  agus  iosal  's  an  duthaich 
mar  a  bhuineadh  ris,  agus  dhùisg  a 
chararah  co'-fhulangas  nan  uile  d'a 
thaobh.  Ghabh  aon  duin'-uasal  'ar- 
aidh  tlachd  co  mòr  dheth,  's  gu'n  do 
chuir  ee dh'ionnsuidh  fir-chiiiil  ainm- 
eil  's  a'  bhaile-mhòr  chum  gu'm 
faigheadh  e  fòghlum  uaitii  anns  a' 
cheòl.  Thainig  e  air  aghart  co  bras 
ann  an  eòlas  a  chiùil,.  's  gu'n  do 
chuir  e  iongantas  airsan  a  bha  ga 
'theagasg.  Ach  an  deigh  beagan 
ùine,  chunncas  freagarrach  an  fhidh- 
eall  dhaor  aige  a  glilanadh,  agus  a 
chur  ceart,  agus  chum  na  criche  sin, 
thugadh  a'  chomhairle  air  an  òganach 


dol  leatha  dh'  ionnsuidh  fir-ealaidh 
a  bha  ainmeil  air  son  inneala-ciiiil  a 
cheartachadh  agus  ath-leasachadh. 
Bha  am  fear-ealaidh  sin  a  chòmii- 
nuidli  ann  am  baile  'a  bha  beagan 
mhiltean  air  falbh,  gidheadh  chaidh 
an  dilleachdan  agus  an  f  hidheall  gun 
dail  d'a  ionnsuidh.  Air  do'n  fhear- 
ealaidh  an  fhidheall  a  thoirt  as  a' 
cheile,  sheall  e  air  an  òganach,  agus 
dh'  f  heòraich  e  dheth,  an  robh  diiil 
aige  ris  an  fhidheall  sin  a  reiceadh 
air  son  deagh  luach  Ì  Air  do'n 
oganach  a  bhi  an  diiil  gu'n  robh  i 
anabarrach  daor  air  fein,  cha  dubh- 
airt  e  diog.  Bha  duin'-uasal  a  lath- 
air  aig  an  am  a  thog  claran  na  fidhle 
'na  làimh,  a  sheall  gu  geur  orra  fa 
leth,  agus  a  thubhairt  gu'n  robh  an 
t-inneal  sin  da  rireadh  luachmhor. 
"  Thà  gu'n  teagamh,"  deir  am  fear- 
ealaidh  ;  "  is  f  hiach  an  fhidheall  sin 
eadar  ceithir  agus  cuig  fichead  piinnd 
Sasunnach.  Is  i  so  te  de  na  fidhlean 
a's  fearr  a  rinneadh  ann  an  Cremona, 
càireamh  chèudan  bliadhna  air  ais." 
Cheartaicheadh  gu  curamach  i,  agus 
chunncas  nach  robh  a  leithid  ach 
ainneamh  r'a  fhaotuinn  a  thaobh 
gleusaidh  agus  fuinn.  Kunaich  an 
dilleachdan  an  fhidheall  a  ghleidh- 
eadh  air  gach  uile  chor,  agus  bha  a 
luchd-eòlais  Làn  toilinntinn  a  thaobh 
na  doigh  air  an  d'  fhuair  e  greini 
oirre.  Cha  b'  fhad  gus  an  do  ruig 
na  naigheachd  mu  luach  na  fidhle 
cluasan  an  duine  ghràineil  sin  aig  an 
robh  i  -an  toiseach.  Bha  e  Ian  feirge 
agus  farrainn  air  son  mar  a  dh'  eir- 
ich  dha,  ach  cha  robh  comus  aige  a 
bheul  fhosgladh,  a  cheann  gu'n  do 
reic  e  i  gu  riaghailteach,  ach  air 
bheag  chii  dha  fein.  Mar  bha 
bliadhnaichean  a'  ruith  thairis,  bha'n 
dilleachdan  ag  ath-leasachadh  a' 
chuid  's  a'  chuid  na  'dhreuchd.  Mu 
dheireadh,  ceart  mar  a  bha'n  fhidh- 
eall aige  gun  choimeas  air  son  feabh- 
ais,  ceart  mar  sin  bha  e  fein,  feudar 
a  radh,  gun  choimeas  's  an  duthaich 


268 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  187 


air  son  feabhais  mar  fear-ciuil.  Bha 
e  cliuiteach,  measail,  agus  macanta. 
Dh'  f  has  e  gle  shaibliear,  ach  bha  e 
truacanta,  teo-chridheach,  agus  fial- 
aidh  le  chuid  do'n  f  hèumach.  Cha 
b'  fhad  gus  an  d'  fhàs  an  droch- 
dhuine  sin  a  shàruich  e  na  'òige  agus 
na  'bhochduinn,  na  'chuspair  truagh 
an  èu-dòchais.  Bha  e  gun  mheas 
aig  a  luchd-duthcha,  agus  na  'chiiis- 
ghraine  do  gach  inbh  agus  aois. 
Thuit  a  theaghlach  siosgubochduinn 
agus  truaighe, — agus  is  minic  a  dh' 
iarr,  agus  a  f  huair  a  shHochd  luid- 
eagach  deirce  aig  dorus  fialaidh  an 
dilleachdan  mu'n  d'  aithriseadh  an 
sgeul  so  do  uile  luchd-leughaidh  a 
"  Ghaidheil "  leis  an  t-seann. 

SGL4.TI1ANACH. 


ATHCHUINGE  AIRSON  LUCHD- 
MARA. 

"Iadsan  a  theid  sios  do  'n  fliairge  air 
longaibh,  a  ni  obair  air  uisgeachaibh  mora ; 
chi  iadsan  gniomharan  an  Tighearna  agiis 
a  bhearta  iongantach  san  doimhne." — Salm 
cvii.  23,  24. 

1. 
'Athair  nam  feart  o  chian  nan  cian 
Do  ghairdeau  chaisg  na  tuinn  f&  shian, 
'Thatoirt  do  'n  mhòr-cliuan  àithn'  gach  uair, 
Gu  gluasad  anns  na  criochaibh  '  fhuair. 

A'  ghuidhe  eisd  'tha  'g  eiridh  uainn 

Mu  'n  t-sluagb  'tha  'muigh  an  cunnart  cuain, 


O  Chriosd  do  ghuth  gu  'n  c^al'  na  tuinn, 
A's  d'  fhocal  chaisg  am  buaireas  dhuinn, 
'S  tu  'cheum  an  doimhne  chòbhrachgharbh, 
'S  bu  sheimh  do  shuain  'na  buaireas  searbh. 

A'  ghuidhe  eisd  'tha  'g  eiridh  uainn 

Mu  'n  t-sluagh  'tha  muigh  an  cunnart  cuain. 


O  Spioraid  Xaoimh,  air  tils,  a  dh'  fhalbh 
Air  talamh  falamh,  dorch'  guu  dealbh, 
'S  le  d'  aithne  'chaisg  a  bhuaireas  dian, 
'Cur  sithe  's  taimh  'measg  aimhreit'  shian. 

A'  gbuidhe  eisd  'tha  'g  eiridh  uainn, 

Mu  'n  t-sluagh  'tha  muigh  an  cunnart  cuain. 


'Thrionaid  nam  feart  Ian  neirt  a's  grKidh, 
'Nan  aire  do  'r  braithribh  dion  an  àigh, 
O  sgeir,  o  shian,  o  theine  's  nàmh 
Dean  taic  dhoibh  's  dion  'nan  triaU  's  'nan 
tamh. 

Mar  sin  'n  ar  laoidhibh  binn  gu  buan 
Dhuit  cliti  bheir  sinn  air  tir  's  air  cuan. 
Ead.  le  a.  ]M. 


GACH  NI  NA  'THEATH. 

Na  abair  gu  bràth  gu'n  dean  thu 
ann  an  nine  ghoirid  an  ni  sin  bu 
choir  duit  a  dheanamh  eadlion  a  nis. 
Cha  d'  rinn  duine  riamh  gu  glic, 
agus  gu  maith  air  a  shon  fein,  a 
chuir  dàii  'na  ghnothuichibh  fein. 
Tha  dàil  cunnartach.  Seàll  air 
Nadar,  agus  cha  dean  i  dàil.  Seall 
air  Uine,  agus  cha  dean  i  dàil.  Cha 
chuir  cumhachd  talmhaidh  sam  bith 
stad  air.  Cha'n  'eil  oibre  Nàdair 
mu'n  cuairt  duit  a'  deanamh  dàil. 
An  uair  a  thig  an  t-àm  do  na  blàth- 
aibh  briseadh  a  mach,  brisidh  iad  a 
mach  ;  agus  do'n  duilleach  tuiteam, 
agus  tuitidh  e.  Seall  suas  air  na 
speuraibh  agus  bi  air  do  theagasg 
leis  na  reultaibh.  Cha  chuir  na 
cruinn-mheallan  soillseach  dail  'nan 
laidhe  no  'nan  eiridh.  Tha  gach 
rèult,  agus  dùbhradh-grèine  agus 
gealaich  gu  h-eagnuidh  seasmhach 
ris  a'  cheart  mhionaid,  agus  cha 
diobair  a  h-aon  diubh  'na  asdar 
siiibhlach.  Cha'n  'eil  moille  idir 
ann  an  gluasadaibh  a'  chruiune-chè,  a 
shonruicheadh  le  gliocas  agus  cumh- 
achd neochriochnuich  an  Ti  Uile- 
bheannuichte  a  dhealbh  e.  Na'n 
deanadh  na  rionnagan  dail  'nan 
cuairtibh  bheireadh  iad  sgrios  gu 
h-obunn  air  a'  chruitheachd,  agus 
thuiteadh  gach  ni  ann  an  àimhreite. 
Na'n  cuireadh  Nadar  dàil'nah-oibribh 
air  an  talamh,  thigeadh  gortaidh, 
agus  plàighean,  agus  trnaighean  a 
chuireadh  as  do  gach  duine,  agus 
ainmhidh,  agus  crèutair  beo  air  uach- 


Dara  IMios  an  Fhoghair,  1S7G. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


269 


dar  an  t-saoghail.  Nacli  fior  agus 
fallain  an  teagasg  so  do'n  cliinne- 
daoine  na'n  gabhadh  iad  gu  cridhe 
e  Ì  Thugadh  comas  do'n  duine, 
ma's  i  a  thoil  fein  e,  dail  a  cliur  'na 
dhleasnasaibh,  agus  tlia  e  'deanamh 
siu  gu  minic,  ach  gu  minic  tha  e  'ga 
dheanamli  chum  a  challdach  fein. 
Tha'n  Tigliearna  'na  fhocal  agus  'na 
oibribh  fein,  a'  teagasg  do'n  duine, 
gur  e  ''anis"  an  t-àra  freagarrach, 
Hgus  an  t-càm  a  shònraicheadh  le 
'fhreasdal  fein  chum  leas  aimsireil 


agus  spioradail  an  duine  sin  a  chur 
air  aghaidh.  Uime  sin,  na  abair 
gu'n  dean  thu  ath-leasachadh  ann  an 
ùine  ghoirid,  oir  air  an  ùine  sin 
cha'n  'eil  gealltanus  idir  agad. 
Ciiimhnich,  ma  ta,  an  fhirinn  so  ata 
air  a  sparradh  ort  le  eachdraidh  an 
t-saoghaU,  le  righribh  agus  le'n 
iochdaranaibh,  agus  leis  na  h-uile 
nithibh,  agus  na  cuir  seachad  gus  an 
la  niàireach,  an  dleas'nas  a's  coir 
duit  a  dheanamli  air  an  la  'n  diugli. 
Sgiathanach. 


CUMHA  FLOEI  NICHDHOMHNUILL. 
AIR  FONN : — Flora  MacdonaMs  Lament. 

Am  measg  an  f hraoich  uaine  air  guallain  a'  mhonaidh, 

'S  ri  taobhau  nan  alltan  'tha  ruith  air  a  chul, 
Tha  Flori  Nicdhomhnuill  gu  dubhacli  an  comhnuidh, 

An  druchd  air  a  breacan  's  na  deura  'n  a  siiil ; 
'Sior  shealltain  air  luingeas  'tha  uaipe  a'  seòladh, 

'S  mar  eala  air  chuantan  a'  gluasad  gu  sàmhach 
Tha  i  togail  na  seisd  so,  's  am  bat'  dol  à  'sealladh, — 

0  slàn  leis  an  òigear  nach  faic  mi  gu  bràth, 
O  slàn  leis  an  oigear  tha  òg  agus  seòlta, 

0  slàn  leis  an  oigear  nach  faic  mi  gu  bràth  ! 

An  coileach  'tha  'dùrdail  air  stùcan  Beinn-Comhnuill, 

Tha  brath  aig'  's  an  fheasgar  air  leaba  bhios  blàth, 
Am  fireun  tha  chomhnuidh  an  creagan  Chlann-Raonuill 

Glieibh  tàmh  anns  an  oidhche  gun  chùram,  gun  sgàth. 
Air  broilleach  a'  chuain  tha  'n  sulair  gu  seasgair, 

'S  an  sgàrbh  air  a'  chladach  aig  laidhe  na  grèin', 
Ach  tha  aon  anns  an  tir,  a's  aig  dùnadh  an  fheasgair 

Tha  esan  gun  dachaigh  's  an  rioghachd  's  leis  fein  ; 
Tha'n  stri  a  nis  seachad,  's  tha  crioch  air  an  deasbair, 

'S  cha'n  fhaighear  ach  amhghar  an  Albainn  nan  trèun. 

Tha'n  sgiath  air  a  sracadh  bho  ghàirdean  na  gaisge, 

'S  a'  chlogaid  tha  sgoilte  air  maladh  an  àiU', 
Tha  'n  claidheamh  air  meirgadh  's  tha  bhratach  nis  paisgte 

Ach  dearg  le  fuil  chairdean  tha  làmhan  nan  traill. 
Le  crudh  an  eich  mharcaich,  tha  'm  breacan  ga  'sliracadh, 

A's  èideadh  nan  gaisgach  bha  cliuiteach  a'm  bLàr, 
Carson  sin  nach  d  'eirich  an  doinionn  ga'm  bacadh, 

'N  uair  bha  ceartas  ga  shaltairt  le  ainneart  gu  làr 
A'd  fhograch  gun  fhasgath,  tha  d'  arm  air  a  sgapadh 

'S  cha  chrùuar  am  fcasd  thu  a'n  Albainn  nan  sàr. 
Glaschu  1876.  Eadar.  k  H.  W 


270 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1S7G. 


SGEUL  MATH   MU   INNSEAN- 
ACH. 

Bha  aon  do  clioithiourJan  anu  an 
Georgia,  far  am  blieil  iia  daoine  leth 
dliu'oh,  a'  dol  a  dli'  ath-thogail  an 
eaglais;  agus  bha  coinneamh  aca  a 
bheaclidachadh  air  cionnus  a  gheibh- 
eadh  iad  airgiod  a  pliàidheadh  an 
costus.  'S  e  an  toradh  a  bh'  air  so 
an  deigh  treis  reusonachaidh  gu'n 
do  leag  iad  sios  na  riaghailteau   a 


1.  BHEIR  SINN  UILE  RUDEIGIN. 

2.  BhEIR  SINN  UILE  A  REIR  AR 
COMAIS. 

3.  BhEIR  SINN  UILE  GU  TOIL- 
EACH. 

Chaidh  na  riaghailtean  so  a  chur  an 
cleachdadli,  gacli  aon  do  bhuill  na 
coinneimh  ag  èiridh  suas  far  an 
robh  fear-na-cathrach-,  agus  a'  toirt 
seachad  a  thiodhlaic.  Mu  dheir- 
eadh  dh'  èirich  am  fear  a  bu  blieairt- 
iclie  'nam  measg  le  a  chuidsan. 

Ghabh  am  ministear  a  bha  's  a' 
chathair  a  thiodhlac,  's  dh'  amhairc 
e  air.  'N  uair  a  chunnaic  e  nach 
robh  uiread  ann  agus  a  thug  feadh- 
ainn  a  bu  bhochdainne  seachad  tliu- 
bhairt  e : 

"  Seall,  hr udder  Jones,  cha  dean 
so  an  gnothuch.  Tha  e  rèir  na  ceud 
riaghailt,  ach  cha  'n  'eil  a  rèir  na 
dara  riaghailt." 

Shuidli  brathair  lones,  air  a  ghon- 
adh,  's  6  'na  bhall  gàire  aig  each; 
ach  thàinig  e  air  ais  air  ball  le  meall 
eile  airgid  agus  thilg  e  sud  le  feirg 
air  beulaobh  a'  mhinisteir,  ag  ràdh, 
"  Gabh  sin,  ma  ta!" 

"Cha  dean  sin  an  gnothuch 
fhathast,"  tliuirt  am  ministear. 
"  Einn  thu  nis  a  rèir  na  ceud  agus 
na  dara  riaghailt ;  ach  cha  'n  'eil  thu 
toirt  seachad  gu  toileach."  Shuidh 
hrudder  Tones  an  dara  uair  gu  h- 
angarach  a  chionn  gu  'n  do  dhiiiltadh 
a  chuid. 


Shuidh  e  treis  gu  sàmhach  ;  ach 
'n  uair  a  chunnaic  e  aon  an  deigh 
aoin  do  na  bràithrean  a  bu  bhochd- 
ainne a'  tilgeil  am  buinn  airgid 
anns  an,  ionmhas  gu  suilbheir,  dh' 
fhàs  eudan  ni  bu  shiobhalta,  agus 
dh'  èirich  e  suas  an  treas  uair  far 
an  robh  am  ministear,  ag  ràdh  le 
fàite-gàire,  "  Ma  's  toil  leibh,  gabh- 
aibh  so,  air  son  aobhar  an  Tigh- 
earna." 

Ghabh  am  ministear  an  nis  an 
tiodhlac,  ag  ràdh,  "  Taing  dhuibh, 
a  bhrathair  lones,  tha  sin  ceart,  oir 
tha  sin  a  reir  nan  tri  rianfhailtean.'* 


EILIDH  BHAN  CHOIRE-CHNAIMH. 

LE  EOGHAN  MAC  COLLA. 

Oran  Gaoil,  air  Fonn  "  Cul  a  mhonaidh 
'buain  na  rainich. " 
Seist — Eilidh  bhàn  Choire-chnàimh 

Maighdean  bbanail  nam  be  us 
ceanail, 
Eilidb  bhhn  Choire-chnàimh, 
Co  naeb  tugadb  gaol  db'i  ? 

Mi  'n  so  'm  aonar  's  manadh  pòÌEf  orm 

O  'n  mbnaoi  big  's  run  cltìbh  dboruli, 
'S  beag  an  t-ioghnadb  cainnt  mo  cbri  bhi 

"  Greas  a  nios  ort,  'eudail !  " 

Eilidb  bbàn,  fee- 
Gaol  gacb  gille,  cliii  gach  filidb 

Tuatb  no  deas  gun  tèid  mi — 
Ka'm  b'  fbear-dàn  mi  mar  b'  àUl  learn 

Gu  la  bhrkth  bbiodh  sgeul  ort. 

EiSdh  bhan,  fee. 

Gun  dad  fasgaidb  acb  mo  bhreacan. 

'S  mo  lamh  dheas  mu  d'  chaolchrios, 
Sud  mar  fhuair  mi  'n  oidbche  's  buaine 

Trio  ro-luatb  'g  ar  sgaoileadh. 

EiHdb  bhan,  &c. 

Ged  tha  Fear  a'  Bhraighe,  thall  ud, 

'S  ciadan  eile  'n  deigh  ort, 
'S  leam-sa,  neothar-thaiag  dhoibh  uile. 

Gaol  a's  f uran  m'  eudail ! 

Eilidh  bhan,  &c. 

'S  tniagh  nach  b'  ann  an  nochd,  a  leann- 

Dh'  òlap  deoch  na  Rèite, 
'N  sin  le'r  (iJairm  gu  Cillamhuna 
Cha  buruith  ach  leum  domh  ? 

EUidh  bhan,  &c. 


Dara  Mios  an  Fboghair, 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


271 


PARA  EUADH  MAC- 
GEIOGAIR. 

Thachair  dhomh  o  chionn 
glioirid  greim  fbaigliinn  air  leabhr- 
an  beag  Beurla  ris  an  abrar  "  High- 
land Legends,"  no  "Ur-sgeulan 
Gaidhealach."  Tha  an  t-ughdar — 
agiis  is  e  nach  ruigeadli  a  leas — cho 
malda  's  nach  d'  innis  e  co  e-fein, 
ach  ghabh  e  mar  f  har-ainm  Glenmore. 
Bheirinn  rud  cuimseach  air  ghaol  's 
gu'm  biodli  fhios  agam  co  e,  no 
bheil  e  beo,  a  chum  's  gu  'n  tairginn 
mo  dhlighe  taing  dha  air  son  a 
sgeulachdau.  Cha  'n  'eil  fhios  agam 
cuin  a  leugh  mi  leabhar  a  thaitinn 
rium  coltach  ris.  Moire,  clia'n  e 
'h-uile  Gaidheal  a  tha  cho  deas- 
chaiunteach  ri  "  Gleann-mor,"  co  sa 
bith  e — is  co-dheas  leis  Beurla  no 
Gaidhlig;  oir  tho  beagan  de  bhard- 
achd  Ghaidhlig  anns  an  leabhar. 
Gun  fhios  a  bheil  moran  de  luchd- 
leughaidh  a'  Ghaidheil  eolach  air 
"  Gleann-mor "  no  air  a  leabhran 
luracli,  feuchaidh  mi  ri  brigh  an 
sgeoil  a  tha  e  'toirt  air  Para  Ruadh 
Mac-Griogair  a  chur  sios  ann  an 
Gaidhlig. 

Tha  iDaird  agus  luchd-eachdraidh 
na  Gaidhealtachd  o  chionn  iomadh 
linn,  a'  deanamh  iomraidh  air  Siol- 
Ailpein  no  Clann-Ghriogair,  agus 
tha  facal-suaicheantais  na  fine  fein 
— "Is  rioghail  mo  dhream" — a' 
toirt  iomraidh  air  an  stoc  uasal  bho 
'n  do  chinn  iad. 

"  Sliochd  nan  righrean  duthchasach 
Bha  shios  ann  an  Dùn-stathinnis, 
Aig  an  robh  crùn  na  h-Alb-'  o  thus. 
'Saig  a  blieil  dùthchas  fhatliast  ris." 

Ri  linn  Sheumais  IV.  bha  iad  'n  an 
cinneach  ro  chumhachdach,  agus 
cha  bu  bheag  an  sgriob  de  Ghaidh- 
ealtachd  na  h-Alba  a  bha  fo  'n 
seilbh.  Ach  mu  'n  am  so  thoisich 
fineachan  eile  na  duthcha  air  an 
cinn  a  thoeail  ann  an  luchuirt  an 


righ,  agus  is  coltach,  ciod  sa  bith  a 
bu  choireach,  mar  bha  each  ag  eirigh 
gu'n  robh  Clann-Ghriogair  a'  call 
an  cas  uidh  air  'n  uidh,  gus  mu 
dheireadh,  ri  linn  Sheumais  V., 
Ban -righ  Mairi,  agus  Sheumais  VI., 
an  deachaidh  binn  chruaidh  a  thoirt 
a  mach  an  aghaidh  .Ceann-cinnidh 
Chloinn-Ghriogair,  agus  an  aghaidh 
na  fine  gu  h-iomlan,  am  fearainn  a 
bhuintinn  uapa  gu  eucorrach,  an 
ainm  a  bhacadh,  agus  an  ruagadh 
leis  na  coin-luirg  mar  mhadraibh- 
alluidh  nam  beann.  Is  beag  an 
t-ioghnadh,  an  deigh  a  bhi  mar  so  air 
an  spuiimeadh  agus  air  an  creachadh 
d'an  coirichean  agus  an  sochairean 
mar  iochdrain  laghail,  is  beag  an 
t-ioghnadh  ged  bha  an  fhine  mhi- 
shealbhach  so  air  an  co-eigneachadh 
gu  bhi  a''  cleaehdainn  na  seann 
riaghailt,  gu  'n  "  glacadh  an  ti  do  'n 
urrainn,  agus  gu  'n  gleidheadh  an  ti 
aig  a  bheil  an  comas." 

Is  iomadh  sgeulachd  agus  oran 
Gaidhhg  a  tha  air  an  aithris  agus 
air  an  seinn  gus  an  latha  'n  diugh 
feadh  na  Gaidhealtachd  mu  euchdan 
agus  mu  dheuchainnean  iomadh 
curaidh  d'  an  treubli  chlaoidlite, 
bhochd  so,  agus  'n  am  measg  tha  an 
sgeul  air  a  bheil  sinn  a'  tighinn,  mu 
Phara  Ruadh  no  mar  theireadh  cuid 
ris  "  Para  donn  an  t-sugraidh." 

Bu  mhac  brathair  athar  Para 
Ruadh  do  dhihlnach  eile  nach  b' 
fhaoin  d'an  cheart  dream,  agus  b'  e 
sin  Iain  Dubh  Gearr,  gaisgeach  cho 
cruadalach  agus  cho  teoma  's  a 
tharraing  riabh  claidheamh.  Ge 
b'e  ciod  an  aimhreit  anns  an  do 
thachciir  daibh  a  bhi  mu  'n  aon  am 
bha  iad  le  cheile  fad  iomadh  latha 
ga'm  falach  fein  feadh  mhonaidhnean 
agus  fhrithean  Shrath-spe  agus 
Bhanbh.  An  drast  agus  a  rithist 
thigeadh  iad  a  nuas  le  bannal  d'an 
luchd-leanmhainn  calma  as  an  ion- 
ada-tearmainn  a  thogail  creiclie  o 
luchd-aiteachaidh  nan  cearnaidhean 


272 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  llios  an  Fhoghair,  1S7G. 


sin,  agus  is  iomadh  bnaile  lulior,  Ian 
a  dh'  fhag  iad  gun  chrodhan. 

A  thaobli  gu  'n  robh  Baile  Cliè  'n 
a  aite  fior  ghoireasach  aig  iomall  nan 
garbh-chrioch,  is  minig  a  rinn  iad 
taghal  anu  air  an  turais-chreach- 
aidh,  agus  a  cbuir  iad  tbairis  an 
oidhcbe  gus  an  eireadh  a'  gbealach, 
no  gus  am  measadh  iad  gu  'n  robh 
an  rathad  reidh  rompa  gu  tighinn 
gun  fhios  air  tighean  agus  air 
spreidh  nan  tuathanacli  mora  agus 
nan  uaislean  a  bha  a  chomhnuidh 
anns  a'  cboimliearsnachd.  Ged  nach 
àicheadhmaid  gu  'n  do  rinn  iad  iom- 
adh uair  gniomh  glan,  fialaidh, 
feumar  aideachadh  gur  minic  a  bha 
a'  chuis  an  car  eile,  agus  uime  sin, 
cha  'n  iongantach  ged  dh'  eireadh 
fearg  agus  gamhlas  an  t-sluaigh  'n 
an  aghaidh.  Chuir  cuid  diubh 
rompa  ma  ta  na  'm  bu  chomasach  e, 
gu  'n  glacadh  iad  an  t-ard-chreach- 
adair  e  fein  agus  gu  'n  sineadh  iad 
thairis  e  do  cheartas. 

Oidhche  de  na  h-oidhcheannan 
thainig  Para  Ruadh  agus  a  chuid 
daoine  do  Bhaile  Che  agus  ghabh  iad 
sealbh  na  h-oidhche  air  tigh-osda  far 
an  do  laidh  iad  air  ol  agus  air  lan- 
aighear  nach  bu  bheag.  Cha  luaithe 
rainig  iad  am  baile  na  chuireadh 
sanas  a  mach  an  ear 's  an  iar.  Chaidh 
ordugh  a  thoirt  do  'n  chaileig  a  bha 
a'  freasdal  do  na  seoid  i  a  dh'  eisd- 
eachd  gu  mion  ris  gach  smid  a  bhiodh 
aca,  a  los  gu'n  tuigeadh  iad  ciod  an 
àird'  a  bha  na  feara  doi  a  thoirt  orra 
air  an  la-ar-na-mhaireach.  Am  measg 
iomadh  rud  a  chual  i  bha  so,  gu'm 
paigheadh  iad  ol  agus  biadhtachd  na 
h-oidhche  le  fear-an-tigheachrochadh 
moch  air  madainn.  Einn  muinntir 
a'  bhaile  ullachadh  mor  feadh  na  h- 
oidhche  agus  chaidh  a  shuidheachadh 
gu'n  cuairticheadh  iad  an  tigh-osda 
aig  bristeadh  na  faire,  agiis  gu'n 
glacadh  iad  Para  Euadh  soirbh  no 
doirbh.  Fad  na  h-uine  so  bha  com- 
unn  Pharaig  agus  e  f  hein  gim  smuair- 


ein  a'  sineadh  air  ol  agus  air  ruit- 
eireachd  air  a  leithidde  dhoigh  's  gu'n 
robh  iad  m'an  d'thainig  a'  mhadainn 
ann  an  droch  cor  gu  iad  fein  a  sheas- 
amh  no  a  dhion  anns  a  chomli- 
strith  a  bha  gu  toiseachadh  a  chlisge. 
Gus  an  gnothach  a  dheanarah  na  bu 
rahiosa  do  Pharaig  agus  d'a  dhaoine, 
ciod  a  rinn  a'  bhanasgal  mhealltach 
a  bha  'frithealadh  orra  ach  gu  'n  do 
lion  i  an  gunnachan  Ian  de  chabh- 
ruich,  air  alt 's  nach  gabhadh  urchair 
cur  asda  'n  uair  thigeadh  teinn  air 
na  laoich.  Aig  an  am  a  chaidh  a 
shocrachadh  chaidh  clag  na  h-eaglais 
a  bhualadh.  Cha  luaithe  chuala 
Mac-Griogair  agus  a  dhaoine  so  na 
ghrad  leura  iad  air  an  casan,  ghlac 
iad  an  armachd,  agus  thug  iad  agh- 
aidh air  bhi  mach,  ach  bha  an  tigh 
air  a  dliion  aig  gach  oisinn  agus  air 
a  chuairteachadh  le  sluagh  fo  Ian 
uidheam  chogaidh.  Sheas  na  Gaidh- 
eil  gu  dalma,  duineil,  agus  thug  iad 
ionnsaidh  air  bealach  a  dheanarah 
troimh  'n  t-sluagh,  ach  bha  an  cuid 
ghunnachan  gun  mhath  clhaibh  agus 
cha  robh  aca  air  ach  geilleachdainn 
gun  suil  gun  dull  gu'm  faigheadh 
iad  fiù  cothrom  teichidh.  Mar  so 
chuireadh  an  sas  an  curaidh  gun 
choimeas  gaisgeil,  Para  Euadh  ]\Iac- 
Griogair.  Chaidh  a  ghleidheadh  gu 
teann  fo  shuil  freiceadain  agus  fo 
ghlais,  agus  goirid  as  a  dheigh  sin 
thugadh  a  Dhuneideann  e  fo  churam 
gearrd  laidir  shaighdearan,  a  chum 
's  gu  'm  faigheadh  e  binn  agus  peanas 
air  sou  a  lochdan  agus  a  dhroch- 
bheartan  do-aireamh. 

Chriochnaich  an  creachadair  iom- 
raiteach  so  a  bheatha  fa  laimh  a' 
chrochadair,  agus  tha  iad  agradhgu 
'n  do  rinn  e  an  t-oran  a  leanas  eadar 
am  a  ghlacaidh  agus  a  chrochaidh. 
Ann  an  toiseach  an  orain  tha  e  a' 
caoidh  agus  a'  cur  sios  air  an  ol  agus 
air  an  ruiteireachd  a  bu  choireach 
gu'n  deachaidh  esan  a  ghlacadh  cho 
furasda,     Tha  e  an  sin  ag  iomradh 


Dara  Mio3  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


A'N  GAIDHEAL. 


273 


air  clio  beag  eifeachd  's  a  tha  anns  a' 
gliunna  an  coimeas  ris  a'  chlaidh- 
eamh-mliòr  agus  a'  caoidh  dith  a 
chlaidheinh  tlirein  nacli  do  dhiobair 
riabli  e — an  dith  dhiublialach  sin  a 
thug  an  tàraailt  airsan  aig  an  cam  ud, 
gu'n  deachaidh  a  ghlacadh  gun  urad 
agus  aon  duine  d'a  naimhdean  a 
tiioirt  gu  làr,  Tha  e  rithist  ag  inns- 
eadh  nan  robh  fhios  aig  mninntir  a 
dhuthcha  an  càramh  cruaidh  anns  an 
robh  e  gu'ra  b'  iomadh  aon  a  chuir- 
eadh  iad  fein  gu  dragh  as  a  leth. 
agus  nach  bu  tearc  aireamh  nam 
maighdeannan  a  thairngeadh  an  cuid 
sporan  a  cheannach  saorsa  dha ;  gu 
sonraichte  aon  te  a  bha  a  comhnaidh 
ann  an  Srath-Spè  a  chuireadh  gu  tog- 
arrach  agus  gu  h-ealamh  "ciad  crùn  " 
— rud  nach  b'  fhaoin  's  an  am  sin — 
g'a  fhuasgladh.  Aig  deireadh  an 
orain  tha  e  a'  tagar  gu  laidir  r'a  f  hear- 
cinnidh  agus  ga  charaid,  Iain  Dubh 
Gearr,  agus  ga  'bhrosnachadh  gus 
gach  seol  agus  doigh  ga  chur  an 
cleachdamh  a  mheasadh  e  eifeachd- 
ach  no  coltach  air  son  a'  chiomaich 
bhochd  a  chur  mar  sgaoil. 
Oean  Phaea  Kuaidh  Mhic-Griogair. 

Mile  mallachd  do  'n  òl, 

'S  mairg  a  dheanadh  dheth  pòit, 

'S  e  mo  mhealiadli  gu  mor  a  fhuarr  mi. 

Mo  mhallaclid  do'  n  dram 
Chuir  an  daoracla  am  cheann, 

'N  uair  ghlac  iad  's  an  Airde-tuath  mi. 

Mu  'n  d'  fhuair  mi  bhi  mach, 
'S  a  bhi  'm  armachd  gu  ceart, 

Bha  rag  mheirlich  nan  cearc  m'an 
cuairt  domh. 

Bha  tri  fichead  a's  triuir, 
Ga  mo  ruith  a  dh-aon  lùb, 

Gus'n  a  bhuain  iad  mo  lùth  's  mo 
luaths  bhuam. 

Bidh  mo  mhallachd  gu  brath 
Air  a'  ghunn'  air  son  airm 

An  deigh  a'  mheallaidh  's  na  tair'  a 
fhuair  mi. 

Ged  gheobhainn  domh  fein 
Lan  buaile  de  spreidh 

B'  annsa  claidheamh  fo  m'  Bg^ith 
's  an  uair  ud. 


Naile,  's  mis'  tha  fo  nair' 
Gu'n  do  ghlac  iad  mi  slàn 

A's  nach  d'  thug  mi  fear  bkn  no 
ruadh  dhiubh  ! 

Na'n  robh  iios  mi  bhi  'n  sàs. 
Gun  duil  f  aasgiaidh  gu  brath, 
'S  lionmhor  ghabhadh  mo  phkirt 
's  an  uair  so. 

'S  iomadh  maighdean  ghlan,  ùr, 
Chluinnteadh  farum  a  gùin, 

Chuireadh  a  crhin  ga  m'  fhuasgladh. 

Gu  bheil  te  dhiubh  'n  Srath-Sp^, 
'S  na  'n  robh  fhios  aice  fhein, 
Ghrad  chuireadh  i  ceud  gu  luath 
dhiubh. 

Ach,  Iain  Duibh,  tog  a  mach 
'S  thoir  na  dh'  fhaodas  tu  leat, 
Agus  cuimhnich  a'  bheairt  bu 
dual  dhuit. 

Na  'm  biodh  tusa  fo  ghlais, 
Agus  mise  bhi  as, 

Naile,  cbumainn  mo  chas  gle 
luaineach  ! 

Sin  agad,  ma  ta,  sgeuLichd  Phara 
Ruaidh  Mhic  Griogair  mar  fhuair 
mi  aig  "  Gleann-mor  "  i.  Co  aige 
tha  fios,  bho  'n  fhuair  sinn  bias  air 
Clann-Ghriogair,  nach  bi  cothrom 
againn  air  rud-eigin  a  radh  orra 
f  hathast  m'  an  tig  an  Fheill-Brighde. 
Is  i  mo  bharail  fhein  na  'n  tugadh 
tu  air  falbh  Clann-Ghriogair  nach 
biodh  ann  an  cuid  mhòr  de  dh- 
eachdraidh  na  Gaidhealtachd  ach 
"  marag  gun  gheir." 

Mac-Mharcuis. 


AN  CEANNAICHE  EAD- 
AILTEACH.  ■ 

LE  CHARLES  LAMB. 

Bha  ludhach  d'  am  b'  ainm  Shy- 
lock  a  chomhnuidh  ann  am  baile- 
mor  Venice,  anns  an  Eadailt ;  bha 
e  'n  a  dhuine  ro  shanntach,  agus  le 
bhi  a'  cur  a  chuid  airgid  a  mach  air 
riadh  ard  am  measg  nan  ceaunaich- 
ean  Criosdail  chuir  e  beairteas  mor 
cruinn.  Bha  Shylock  'n  a  dhuine 
cruaidh-chridheach  agus  fuathasach 
18 


274 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876 


teann  ann  an  tagar  air  ais  'airgiod- 
iasaid;  bha,  uime  sin,  fuath  nach  bu 
bheag  aig  a'  li-uile  duine  ceart, 
cothromach  dha,  agus  gu  sonraichte 
aig  Antonio,  ceannaiclie  eg  a  bha 
anns  a'  bhaile ;  agus  bha  neo-ar- 
thaing  urad  fhuatli  aig  Shylock 
dhasan,  oir  bha  e  'n  a  chleachdadh 
aige  airgiod  a  thoirt  do  dliaoine  air 
choingheall  agus  cha  'n  iarradh  's 
cha  ghabhadh  e  riadh  bho  dhuine ; 
bha,  leis  a  so,  gamhlas  nach  robh 
faoin  eadar  an  t-Iudhach  sanntach 
so  agus  an  ceannaiche  iochdmhor 
Antonio.  Cha  robh.  uair  a  thach- 
radh  Antonio  air  an  ludhach  aig  a' 
mhargadh  nach  biodh  e  'g  a  tham- 
ailteachadh  le  bhi  'tilgeil  air  a  chuid 
rèidh  agus  a  chleachdainnean  spioc- 
ach,  cruaidh;  rud  ris  an  eisdeadh  an 
t-  ludhach  gu  ciuin,  macanta,  na'm  b' 
fhior,  am  feadh  's  a  bha  e  aig  a' 
cheart  am  a  cur  roimhe  gu  'm  biodh 
dioghaltas  aige. 

Cha  robh  air  an  t-saoghal  duine 
a  bu  chaoimhneile  agus  a  bu  ghloine 
na  Antonio,  no  fear  a  bu  chuirteile 
'n  a  ghluasad  ;  a  dh-aon  f  hacal,  cha 
robh  's  an  Eadailt  gu  leir  duine  anns 
an  faicteadh  tuilleadh  de  mhoralachd 
nan  seann  Romanach.  Bha  e  fo 
mbor  ghradh  aig  muinntir  a'  bhaile; 
ach  b'  e  Bassanio,  flath  og  Eadailt- 
each,  caraid  a  bu  dluithe  d'  a  chridhe. 
Bha  aig  Bassanio  oighreachd  bheag, 
ach  mar  is  minig  a  thachras  do 
dhaoine  oga  aig  a  bheil  inbh  ard  's 
gun  ach  sporan  beag,  chaidh  e  roimh 
'chuid  maoin  le  caithe-beatha  cosdail 
OS  cionn  a  chomais.  An  uair  a 
bhiodh  Bassanio  gann  de  dh-airgiod, 
chuidicheadh  Antonio  e;  bha  iad 
mar  nach  biodh  ach  aon  chridhe 
agus  aon  sporan  eatorra. 

Thainig  Bassanio  aon  latha  gu 
Antenio  agus  dh'  innis  e  dha  gu'  n 
robh  a  rlin  air  a  chor  a  leasachadh 
le  mnaoi-uasail  air  an  robh  e  an  gaol 
a  phosadh ;  gu  'n  robh  a  h-athair 
marbh,  agus  gu  'n  d'  f  hag  e  oighr- 


eachd mhor  aice  ;  gu  'm  b'  abhaist 
da  am  feadh  's  a  bha  a  h-athair  beo 
a  bhi  a'  taghal  a  tighe,  agus  gu  'n 
d'  thug  e  an  aire  gu  'n  robh  i  ag 
amharc  air  le  suilean  gaoil  a  bha 
mar  gu  'm  b'  eadh  le  teachdaireachd 
bhalbh  ag  radh  ris  gu'm  b'e  'bheatha 
tighinn ;  ach  air  dha  bhi  gun  airgiod 
g'a  chur  fhein  ann  an  uidheim 
fhreagarraich  do  dh-fhear  a  bha  an 
geall  air  mnaoi-uasail  cho  beairteach, 
ghuidh  e  air  Antonio  cur  ris  gach 
fabhor  a  bhuilich  e  air  roimhe  so  le 
tri  mile  bonn  oir  a  thoirt  da  air 
choingheall.  Cha  robh  an  t-airgiod 
tioram  deas  aig  Antonio  a  bheireadh 
e  dha  aig  an  am,  ach  bha  suil  aige 
ri  luingeis  Ian  bathair  a  bhi  dhacb- 
aidh  gun  dail,  agus  thuirt  e  gun 
ruigeadh  e  Shylock  an  ceannaiche 
ludhach,  agus  gu  'm  faigheadh  e 
iasad  an  airgid  uaith  air  creideas 
nan  long  a  bha  a'  tighinn  gu  cal- 
adh. 

Chaidh  Antonio  agus  Bassanio 
comhladh  a  dh-ionnsaidh  Shylock, 
agus  dh'  iarr  Antonio  iasad  thri 
mile  bonn  oir  air  an  ludhach,  aig 
riadh  's  a  bith  a  thoilicheadh  e,  ri 
bhi  air  a  phaigheadh  a  luach  a' 
bhathair  a  bha  'n  a  chuid  luingeis 
air  a'  chuan.  Air  a  chluinntinn  so 
do  'n  ludhach  thuirt  e  ris  fhein: 
"  Ma  gheobh  raise  cothrom  air  aon 
uair  mar  sàsaich  mise  an  gamhlas  a 
tha  agam  dha  !  Tha  fuath  aige  d'ar 
cinneach  ludhach ;  tha  e  a  toirt 
airgid-iasaid  a  nasgaidh ;  agu  sam 
measg  nan  ceannaichean  anns  a' 
mhargadh  cha  'n  'eil  de  thlachd  aige 
ach  a  bhi  ga  m'  smàdadh  a  chionn 
bhi  a'  tagar  rcidh  air  son  mo  chuid 
iasad.  Mallaichte  gu  'n  lobh  mo 
chinneadh  mur  crean  e  air!"  An 
uair  a  mhothaich  Antonio  gu  'n  robh 
e  mar  so  a'  meorachadh  ris  fhein 
gun  f  hacal  freagairt  a'  tighinn  uaith, 
agus  esan  an  cabhaig  air  son  an 
airgid,  thuirt  e,  "  Shylock,  an  cluinn 
thu  mi  Ì    an  toir  thu  dhomh  an  t- 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


275 


airgiod  a  dh'  ainraich  mi?"  Fhreag- 
air  an  t-Iudhach,  "Antonio  uasail, 
air  a'  mbargadh  is  trie  agus  clia  b' 
ainneamh  a  rinn  tbu  tàir  orm  air  son 
mo  cbuid  airgid,  agus  mo  riadh 
dligbeach,  agus  cbuir  mi  suas 
leis  gu  foigbidneacb,  oir  is  e 
fulangas  suaicbeantas  ar  cinnidh  gu 
leir;  agus  tbeireadh  tu  nacb  robb 
annam  acb  ana-creideacb,  madadb 
graineil,  agus  tbilgeadb  tu  smugaid 
tbaireil  air  mo  tbrusgan  ludbacb, 
agus  bbreabadb  tu  uait  mi  mar  nacb 
biodb  agad  annam  acb  cii.  Acb  a 
nis,  a  reir  coltais,  tba  tbu  am  feum 
mo  cbuideacbaidb ;  agus  tbigidh  tu 
am  ionnsaidb  agus  tbeir  tbu,  Shy- 
locJi,  thoir  dhomh  airgiod.  Am  bi 
airgiod  aig  cu?  An  urrainn  do 
mbadadb  iasad  tbri  mile  bonn  oir  a 
tboirt  do  dhuine  1  An  sleucbd  mise, 
nis,  gu  b-umbal  agus  an  abair  mi,  A 
dhuine  mbaitb,  tbilg  tbu  smugaid 
orm  Diciadain  so  cbaidh,  aig  am  eile 
tbuirt  tbu  madadb  riura,  agus  an 
eirig  do  mbodb  agus  do  cbaoimhneis 
tba  mi  'dol  a  tboirt  airgid  duit." 
Fbreagair  Antonio,  "  Tlia  e  gle 
cboltacb  gu  'n  goir  mi  an  t-ainm 
ceudna  riut  a  ritbist,  gu  'n  tilg  mi 
smugaid  ort,  agus  gu'n  breab  mi 
nam  a  ritbist  tbu.  Ma  ni  tbu  de 
cbombstatb  ail  t-airgiod  a  tboirt 
domb,  na  toir  seacbad  e  dbombsa 
mar  do  d'  cbaraid,  acb  mar  gu'n 
tugadb  tu  air  iasad  dbomb  e  mar  do 
d'  nambaid,  a  los,  ma  bbristeas  mise, 
gur  urrainn  duit  le  agbaidb  is  f  bearr 
a  tbagar  air  ais  le  costas  agUs  le 
ùnlagb."  "  Faic  a  nis."  arsa  Shy- 
lock,  "  mar  tba  tbu  ga  d'  cliur  fhein 
an  corruich.  Bbitbinnsa  cairdeil  riut 
agus  bu  mbiann  leam  tbu  bbi  caird- 
eil rium.  Leigidh  mi  air  dhioch- 
uinihne  gacb  tair  a  rinn  tbu  orm. 
Ni  mi  cobhair  air  d'  uireasbbaidb, 
agus  cha  'n  iarr  mi  peighinn  de  riadh 
air  son  mo  cbuid  airgid."  Ghabb 
Antonio iogbnadh  morris  an  tairgse 
f  hialaidh  so ;  agus  tbuirt  Shylock, 


agus  e  fatbast  a'  gabhail  air  a  bbi 
toileacb  caoimbneas  a  nochdadh 
agus  gu  'n  robb  e  ga  'dheanamb  gu 
leir  air  son  gaol  Antonio  a  chosnadb, 
gu  'n  tugadb  e  dlia  an  tri  mile  bonn 
oir  agus  nacb  iarradh  e  peighinn 
reidb ;  acb  a  mhain  so,  gu'n  rachadh 
Antonio  leis  a  db-ionnsaidb  fir- 
lagba,  agus  air  son  àbbachd  gu  'n 
cuireadh  e  ainm  ri  gealladh,  mur 
I  paigbeadh  e  air  ais  an  t-airgiod  air 
a  leitbid  so  a  latlia  gu  'n  dioladh  e 
punnd  d'  a  f  heoil,  ri  bbi  air  a  ghearr- 
adh  a  aite  sa  bith  d'  a  chorp  a 
thoilicbeadh  an  t-Iudbacb. 

"  Tlia  mi  toileacb,"  ars'  Antonio  ; 
"  cuiridb  mi  m'  ainm  ris  a'  gbealladb, 
agus  aidicbidb  mi  gu  bheil  baigheal- 
achd  anns  an  ludbacb  an  deigh  a' 
b-uile  rud  a  tb'  ann."  Tliuirt  Bass- 
anio  nacb  leigeadb  e  le  Antonio 
ainm  a  cbur  ri  leitbid  sin  de  gbeall- 
adb air  a  shon-san  ;  acb  coma,  cbuir 
Antonio  roimhe  gu  'n  deanadh  e  e, 
oir  bha  e  Ian  chinnteach  m'  an  tig- 
eadh  latba  paigbeadh  a  gheallaidh 
gu  'm  biodb  a  luingeis  air  an  ais 
luchdaichte  le  luach  an  airgid  thairis 
a's  thairis. 

A'  cluinntinn  a'  cbonnsachaidli  a 
bha  eadar  an  dithis,  gblaodb  an  t- 
ludbach,  "0  Abrabaim,  m'  athair, 
nacb  ambarusacb  na  daoine  na 
Criosdaidhean  sin  fhein!  tba  iad 
cho  cleacbdte  ri  buntainn  gu  cruaidh. 
's  gu  bheil  iad  am  beaclid  gu  bheil 
muinntir  eile  cho  dona  riutha  fein. 
Guidbeam  ort,  a  Bhassanio,  innis  so 
dhomh  ;  mur  seasadh  e  a  latba,  ciod 
a'  bhuannacbd  a  bhiodb  anns  a' 
gheall  dombsal  Punnd  de  f heoil 
duine  air  a  ghearradh  bharr  a  chol- 
uinn,  cha  'n  'eil  e  cho  luachmhor  no 
cho  buannacbdor  ri  muilt-f  heoil  no 
ri  mairt-fbeoil.  A  chosnadh  a 
dheadh-gbean  tba  mi  a'  tairgseadb 
a'  chairdeis  so  :  ma  ghabhas  e  e  is 
math  ;  mur  gabb,  slan  leat." 

Mu  dbeireadh,  an  agbaidb  comb- 
airle  Bhassanio,  a  bha  ambarusacb 


276 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mlos  an  Fhoghair,  1S76. 


mu  'n  ludliach,  a  dh-aindeoin  na 
thuirt  e  mu  'dlieadh-run  anns  a  clibis, 
agus  nacli  robh  idir  toileach  gu'n 
cuireadh  a  charaid  e  fein  fo  chunnart 
a  leithid  de  plieanas  graineil  as  a 
leth-san,  chuir  Antonio  'ainm  ris 
a'gliealladh,  a'  smuaineachadh  nach 
robh  e,  mar  thuirt  an  t-  ludhach,  ach 
air  son  àbhachd. 

Bha  a'  bhan-oighre  bheairteach  a 
bha  Bassanio  a'  cur  roimhe  a  phosadh 
a  chomhnuidh  dluth  do  bhaile-mor 
Venice,  aig  aite  d'an  goirear  Belmont: 
b'e  a  h-ainm  Portia,  agus  ann  an 
buaidhean  agus  maisealachd  inntinn 
agus  pearsa  cha  robh  a  coimeas  ri 
fhaotainn.  An  uair  a  f huair  Bass- 
anio an  t-airgiod  air  son  an  do  chuir 
a  charaid  Antonio  e  fein  fo  leithid 
de  chuing,  thog  e  air  à  Belmont  le 
mor  ghreadhnachas,  a'  toirt  leis  mar 
ghille-cuim  lasgaire  og  d'  am  b' 
ainm  Gratiano.  Shoirbhichgu  math 
le  Bassanio  anns  an  t-suiridh,  agus 
gheall  Portia  ann  an  uine  ghoirid  a 
ghabhail  mar  a  fear-posda. 

Dh'  aidich  Bassanio  do  Phortia 
nach  robh  saibhreas  aige  agus  nach 
robh  aige  gu  uaill  a  dheanamh  as 
ach  fuil  uasal  agus  sinnsireachd 
chliuiteach ;  b'  iad  a  bhuaidhean 
fiughantach  a  ghluais  a  gaol-se,  agus 
bha  beairteas  gu  leoir  aice  mar  bha 
gun  suil  ri  saibhreas  le  a  fear-posda, 
uime  sin  fhreagair  i  le  maldachd 
ghrinn,  mar  bu  oihath  a  bh'  aithne 
dhi,  gu'm  b'  fhearr  leatha  gu'n  robh 
i  mile  uair  na  bu  mhaisiche  na  bha 
i,  chum  's  gu'm  biodh  i  airidh  air  ; 
agus  an  sin  thoisich  Portia  eireachd- 
ail  air  cur  sios  oirre  fhein,  ag  radh 
nach  robh  innte  ach  caileag  gun 
fhoghlum  gun  sgoil,  gun  sgil,  ach 
nach  robh  i  f hathast  cho  scan 's  nach 
b'urrainn  di  ionnsachadh,  agus  gu'n 
cuireadh  i  i-fein  fo  'churam-san  gu 
bhi  air  a  seoladh  agus  air  a  riaghl- 
adh  leis  anns  gach  ni ;  agus  ars'  ise, 
'  Mi  fhein  agus  na  bhuineas  domh 
is  leatsa.     An  de,  a  Bhassanio,  bha 


mi  am  bhaintighearna  air  an  luch- 
uirt  aillidh  so,  am  uachdran  orm 
fhein,  agus  am  bhana-mhaigistir 
air  na  seirbheisich  sin  ;  ach  a  nis 
mo  thighearna,  is  leatsa  an  tigh  so 
na  seirbheisich  sin,  agus  mi  fhein ; 
tha  mi  ga  'm  buileachadh  ort  leis  an 
f  hainne  so  ;  "  agus  shin  i  am  fàiune 
do  Bhassanio.  Bha  Bassanio  air  a 
lionadh  le  taingealachd  agus  le  ioghn- 
adh  ri  faicinn  cho  grinn  's  a  ghabh 
Portia  uasal,  bheairteach  ri  duine 
mar  bha  esan  nach  robh  an  seilbh 
air  saibhreas  no  inbh;  chab'  urrainn 
e  a  thoil-inntinn,  agus  a  ghradh  do'n 
mhnaoi-uasail  a  chuir  a  leithid  a  dh- 
urram  air  a  chur  an  ceill  ach  ann 
am  briathran  bristeach  gaoil  agus 
buidheachais ;  a'  cur ,  an  fhàinne 
air  a  mheur  gheall  e  nach  dealaich- 
eadh  e  ris  gu  lath  a  a  bhàis. 

Bha  Gratiano  agus  Nerissa,  bean- 
choimhideachd  Phortia  a'  feitheamli 
air  an  triath  og  agus  air  a'  mhnaoi- 
uasail  an  uair  a  thug  Portia  a  geall- 
adh  cho  suilbhear  gu  'm  biodh  i  'n  a 
ceile  ghaoil  aig  Bassanio ;  agus 
ghuidh  Gratiano  gach  sonas  agus 
àgh  do  'n  charaid  ghrinn,  aig  a' 
cheart  am  ag  iarraidh  cead  a  bhi  air 
a  phosadh  e  fein  air  an  aon  latha 
riuthasan.  "  Le  m'  uile  chridhe,  a 
Ghratiano,"  arsa  Bassanio  "  ma  dh' 
amaiseas  tu  air  leannan." 

Thuirt  Gratiano  ris  gu  'n  robh  e 
an  gaol  air  Nerissa,  bean-choimh- 
ideachd  na  mnaoi-uaisle,  Portia, 
agus  gu  'n  do  gheall  i  gu  'm  posadh 
ise  esan  na  'n  gabhadh  Portia 
Bassanio.  Dh'  fheoraich  Portia  de 
Nerissa  an  robh  so  fior.  Fhreagair 
Nerissa,  "  Ma  's  e  ur  toil  e,  tha  e 
fior,  cha  'n  'eil  d'  ar  dith  ach  ur 
cead  fein."  Dh'  aontaich  Portia  gu 
toileach,  agus  thuirt  Bassanio  gu 
cridheil,  "  A  Ghratiano,  cuiridh  do 
bhanais  am  barraehd  urraim  air  a' 
chuirm-bhainnse  againne;  mo  bheanu- 
achd  oirbh," 

Bha  sonas  nan  càra,idean  grinne 


Dara  Jlios  an  Fhoghair,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


277 


air  a  bhristeadh  gu  dòlasacli  ann  am 
meadhon  na  h-iomairt  so,  le  teachd- 
aire  a  thainig  orra  a'  giulan  litreacli 
bho  Antonio  a'  cur  an  ceill  naidh- 
eachd  ro  bhronach.  An  uair  a 
leugh  Bassanio  litir  Antonio  mhlithi 
e  neul,  air  alt 's  gu'n  do  shaoil  Portia 
gu  'n  d'  f  liuair  e  fios  mu  bhàs  caraid 
ghaoil  air  chor-eigin  ;  agus  mar  dli' 
fheoraich  i  ciod  an  sgeul  a  chuir  a' 
leithid  a  mliulad  air,  fhreagair  e, 
"a  Phortia  mo  ghaoil,  so  agad 
briathran  is  mi-tliaitniche  a  thainig 
riabh  o  bharr  pinn.  A  bhean-uasal 
mo  ruin,  an  uair  a  dh'  aidich 
mi  mo  ghaol  duit  an  toiseach 
dh'  innis  mi  gu  saor  gu  'n 
robh  na  bh'  agam  de  bheairteas  a' 
ruith  ann  am  chuisle ;  ach  bu 
choir  dhomh  's  an  am  innseadh  a 
thuilleadh  air  sin  gu  'n  robh  mi  na 
bu  bhochda  na  ged  nach  biodh  dad 
idir  agam,  gvi  'n  robh  mi  ann  an 
ainfhach."  Chuir  Bassanio  an  sin 
an  ceill  do  Phortia  gach  ni  a  tha 
air  aithris  an  so,  mar  f  huair  e  airgiod 
coinghill  bho  Antonio  ;  mar  f  huair 
Antonio  bho  Shylock  an  t-Iudhach 
e ;  mu  'n  ghealladh  ris  an  do  chuir 
Antonio  'ainm,  gu  'n  tugadh  e  punnd 
d'  a  fheoil  fein  do  'n  ludhach  mur 
paigheadh  e  an  t-airgiod  air  an  latha 
a  chaidh  a  shocrachadh,  agus  an  sin 
leugh  Bassanio  litir  Antonio,  mar  a 
leanas  :  A  Bhassanio,  a  dhidne  mo 
ghaoU,  tha  mo  luingeis  uile  air  an 
call,  feimaidh  mi  an  f-hilagh  iocadh 
do  'u  ludhach ;  agus  a  thaobh  gu  'r 
aocomasach  e  mi  hhi  beo  an  deigh  sin 
a  dheanamh,  bu  mhatii  learn  d'fhaicinn 
ail  am  mo  bhais.  Ach  dean  an  rud 
a  chi  thu  freagarrach ;  mur  loir  do 
ghràdh  dhomhsa  art  tighinn,  na  tugadh 
mo  litir  ort."  '*M'  fheudail  de  na 
feara,"  arsa  Portia,  "  cuir  gach 
gnothach  troimh  do  lamhan  gun 
dàil  agus  tog  ort;  bheir  mi  dhuit 
de  dh-òr  na  phaigheas  an  t-iinlagh 
ged  bhiodh  e  f  hichead  urad  's  a  tha 
e,  m!  am  fulling  mi  gu'  n  cailleadh 


an  caraid  caomh  so  fuiltean  d'  a 
cheann  air  son  mo  Bhassanio  ;  agus 
a  chionn  gu  'm  bi  mi  air  pris  cho 
mor  a  phaigheadh  air  do  shon,  bidh 
an  tuilleadh  gaoil  agam  ort."  Thuirt 
Portia  an  sin  gu  'm  posadh  i  Bassanio 
mu  'm  falbhadh  e,  a  los  gu  'ra  biodh 
coir  dhligheach  aige  air  an  airgiod ; 
agus  an  latha  sin  fein  chaidh  am 
posadh.  Chaidh  Gratiano  aig  a' 
cheart  am  a  phòsadh  ri  Nerissa; 
agus  thog  Bassanio  agus  Gratiano 
orra  ann  an  cabhaig  do  bhaile  Venice 
far  an  d'  f huair  Bassanio  Antonio 
bochd  ann  am  priosan.  Bha  an 
latha  air  an  robh  aige  ris  an  airgiod  a 
phaigheadh  air  dol  seathad,  agus 
dhiult  an  t-Iudhach  an-iochdmhor 
an  t-airgiod  an  uair  a  thairg  Bassanio 
dha  e ;  cha  ghabhadh  e  ni  sa  bith 
ach  punnd  de  fheoil  Antonio.  Chaidh 
latha  a  shuidheachadh  air  son  na 
cuise  a  thoirt  air  a  h-aghaidh  aig 
mod  an  lathair  Dhiiic  Venice,  agus 
bha  Bassanio  a'  feitheamh  latha  na 
cùiite  fo  churam  agus  fo  iomacheist 
mhòir. 

Eadar.  le  I.  ]\1acillebhain. 
{Ri  leantainn.) 


SOP  AS  GACH  SEID. 

Tha'n  leisg  a'  siubhal  gu  mall,  agus  cha'n 
fhad  gus  an  dean  bochduinn  gr^im  oirre. 

Tha  caraid  amaideacli  moran  nis  triob- 
laidiclie  na  namliaid  a  ta  glic. 

Seasaidh  an  fhirinn  gu  daingeann  air 
aOn  cbois,  an  uair  nach  seas  a'  bhrèug  ach 
gu  cugalach  air  tri. 

Gabh  gu  cridhe  gu'm  meudaich  eolas  am 
peacadh,  mar  bi  an  cridhe  air  a  theagasg, 
CO  maith  ris  a'  cheann. 

Tha  an  duine  sin  a  ta  'caitheadh  a 
bheatha  fein,  mar  is  coir  da  a  dheanamh, 
cimiteach  gu'm  faigh  e  bàs  mar  is  coir  da 
f  haotuinn,  tbigeadh  e  luath  no  mall. 

Is  e  ar  cridhe  fein,  agus  cha'n  iad  barail- 
ean  sluaigh  eile,  a  bhuilicheas  meas  agus 
urram  oirnn  am  measg  ar  co'-chreutairean 
fein. 


278 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Darapiois  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


Tha  fireantachd  mar  chloich-chinn  na 
h-oisinn,  ann  au  gihlan  an  duine.  Gidh- 
eadh,  mar  bi  i  air  a  ateidheachadh  gu 
daingean  ann  an  lithibh  na  h-oige,  bithidh 
gaoid  a'  chaoidh  anns  a'  chaith-beatha. 

"  Tlia  duine  a'  toirt  breith  air  fein  leis 
gach  focal  a  ta  tuiteam  o  'bhilibh.  Le 
thoil  fein,  no  an  aghaidb  na  toil  aige  fein, 
tha  a  dhealbh  air  a  tharrning  ann  an 
sùilibh  sluaigh  eile  leis  gaoh  briathar  a 
Ikbhras  e." 

Feumaidh  an  duine  sin  dichioll  a  dhean- 
a,mh  le  uile  chridhe  fein  a  ta  steidhichte  air 
deagh  aijim  fha,otuinn  dha  fein  'san  t- 
saogbal, — e  fein  a  thogail  suas  gu  h-inbh' 
urramaich  'na  la  's  na  linn-fein  agus  air 
deagh  dhtirachd  a  choimhearsnaich  a 
chosnadh  dha  fein. 

Dean  mar  a  leanas,  agus  togaidh  tu 
cuimhneachan  dhuit  fein  a  bhjos  buan- 
mhaireannach.  Sgriobh  t-ainm  fein  le 
cairdeas,  gradh,  agus  trocair  air  cridheach- 
aibh  na  muinntir  sin  a  thachaireas  ort 
bliadhn'  an  deigh  bliadhna,  agus  cha  di- 
chuimhnichear  thu  gu  brath. 

Tha  beatha  an  duine  air  a  roinn  'na  tri 
earrannaibh,  agus  is  iad  sin,  an  earrann  a 
bha,  an  earrann  a  ta,  agus  an  earrann  a 
bhitheas.  Bu  choir  duinn  a  bhi  air  ar  tea- 
gasg  leis  an  am  a  chaidh  seachad,- — buann- 
achd  fhaotuinn  o'n  am  a  ta  làthair,  agus 
gu  bhi  'gar  gii^lan  fein  ni's  leàrr  air  son 
an  ama  ri  teachd. 

Tha  deagh  eiseimpleir  chum  buannachd 
do-thuigsinn  do'n  chinne-daoine,  agus  tha 
cumhachd  ana-barrach  mòr  aice  thairis 
orrasan  ris  am  bheil  sinn  a'  còmhi-adh.  Is 
riaghailt  bheò  so  a  theagaisgeas  daoine 
gu'n  dragh  sam  bith  ;  agus  a  dh'  fh^uchas 
doibh  an  cionta  gun  mhaoidh  gun  mhas- 
ladh  sam  bith. 

Tha  seann  daoine  ann  naeh  urrainn  cur 
suas  le  Builbhearachd  agus  beothalas  na  h- 
oige  ;  ach  dh'  f  hèudadh  iad  eeart  eo  maith 
coire  fhaotuinn  do'n  earracb  do  bhrigh  gur 
e  an  t-km  e  air  son  teachd  nam  blàth  agus 
nan  duilleach,  agus  cha'n  e  an  t-àm  am  tend 
diiil  a  bhi  aca  gu'm  faigh  iad  measan  agus 
toradh  an  fhoghair. 

Tha  daoine  glic  a'  measgadh  cridhealais 
neochiontaich  maille  ris  na  nitbibh  a'  ta 
'cur  ciiraim  orra  mar  dhòchas  aon  chuid 
gu'n  dichuimhnich  iad  na  nithe  sin,  no  gu'n 
toir  iad  buaidh  orra.  Ach  tha  iadsan  a  ta 
'gan  toirt  fein  thairis  do'n  mhisg  air  son 
suaimhneis  inntinn  a'  deanamh  an  dichill 
chum  bròn  a  leigheas  le  amaideachd  agus 
cuthach. 


Cha'n  e  saibhreas  mòr,  no  fuil  uasal  a  ni 
duine  sona.  Tha  'n  da  chuid  aig  mòran  de 
na  daoinibh  a's  truaighe  air  an  talamh.  Is 
sona,  siochail,  beannaichte,  an  ti  sin  aig  am 
bheil  cumhachd  gu  cur  suas  gu  foighidinn- 
each  le  dèuchannaibh,  agus  aig  am  bheil 
taingeileachd  gu  comhf  hurtachd  a  shealbh- 
achadh.  Tha  'n  ti  sin  a'  tarruing  sonais  à 
cilisibh  èugsamhla  na  beatha,  agus  eirichidh 
gu  maith  dha  a  bhos  agus  tball.  Smuain- 
ich  air  so,  agus  bi  glic. 

Tha  cleachdadh  dichill  'na  bhauannachd 
mhòir  air  a  sgath  fein.  Is  e  so  fior  shaorsa 
an  duine  sin  a  ta  iriosal.  Tha  e  'cur  deala- 
chaidh  ro  chomharraichte  eadar  e  agus  an 
neach  sin  eile  a  tha  ciontach  agus  truagh. 
Is  e  so  fior  shuaicheantas  an  urraima  ta  aige 
'san  t-saoghal,  agus  is  e  so  a  bheir  air  gu'n 
abair  e, — "  Tha  mi  a'  cumail  m'  àite  fein  a'm 
measg  mo  cho'-chreutairean,  a  chionn  gu'n 
do  choisinn  mi  e."  Tha  e  'ga  fhaicinn  fein 
saor  agus  neo-eiseimeileach,  agus  anns  gach 
comunn  feudaidh  e  a  cheann  fein  a  thogail 
suas. 

A  thaobh  ar  teachd-an-tir  tha  moran 
deth  'ga  mhilleadh  le  ana-caitlieadh.  Fàgar 
cuiddheth  'narsoithichibh, — thfid  cuid  dhetl^ 
'san  teine, — agus  tilgear  cuid  dheth  a  mach. 
Tha  e  cinnteach  gum'  bheil  comas  againn 
airsoadheanamh,  oirisleinnfeine.  Cheann- 
aich  no  choisinn  sinn  e.  Phaigh  sinn  am 
fuineadair,  agus  am  feoladair,  ach  cha  do 
phaigh  sinn  Esan  a  rinn  ar  teachd-an-tir, 
agus  cha'n  urrainn  sinn  ath-dhioladh  a  dhean- 
amh  Dha-san  le  h-airgiod  no  le  h-or. 
Uaith-san  tha  sinn  a'  faotuinn  ni's  leòir  air 
son  ar  feumalachd  fein,  ach  cha'n  'eil  sinn 
a'  faotuinn  coir.  Uaith-san  gu  ana-caith- 
eadh  a  dheanamh  air  a'  chuid  a's  lugha  de 
thoirbheartas  a'  fhreasdail  fein  d'ar  taobh. 

Seideadh  na  gaothan,  agus  eireadh  tonna 
an  amhghair,  mu'n  cuaii-t  duit  mar  a  dh' 
fheudas  iad,  ach  na  cuireadh  iad  bruaillean 
ort.  Rach  air  t-aghaidh  air  slighe  na  firinn 
agiis  a'  cheartais,  agus  bithidh  tu  daingean 
mar  chreig.  Suidhich  thu  fein  air  treibh- 
dhireas,  agus  cuir  gach  anradh  agus  aimh- 
leas  gu'n  dulan.  Ma  dh'  eireas  mu'n  cuairt 
duit  luchd-tuaileis  le'n  teangaidh  nimhnich, 
agus  ma  ni  iad  an  dichioll  chum  smal  a 
thoirt  air  do  dheagh  chliu,  na  toir  feairt 
orra.  Amhairc  air  gach  aon  diubh  gu  dian 
'an  clar  an  aodainn,  agus  na  fosgail  do 
bheul.  Giulain  thu  fein  gu  direach,  biodh 
do  ghiulan  glic  agus  ionraic, — agus  thugadh 
ciuineas  do  ghnuis,  agnis  macantas  do 
bheatha  a'  bhreug  dhoibhsan  maraon,  leis 
am  bu  mhiann  do  chlaoidh,  do  sharuchadh, 
agus  do  emkladh  as. 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


AX  GAIDHEAL. 


HEM  AX    DUBH. 


ORAX   LUADHAIDH. 


Gleus  a. 


M  >        Gu  beothail. 

^      Fine. 

* 

#?-^E?--C,-J_-^ 

t=«-*-"    p^p-l 

~^Vl-^ 

^-?— 

Li:d.,m  I  r.,m:d,Si.-     L,:{i.,r  i  mini   |  M.,nl:In,^.-lm:IIl,s.- 


&-^-^ 


i^-S 


B.C. 


^^^^^^^^^^^m 


L.,s  :m,r.-!m:ni,s.-     Li.,1 :  d  1 1 .  s.m  :  m       E.,d  :  ti,Si.- i 


XoTE.  — This  peculiar  favourite  song  is  ver\'  old.  It  used  to  be,  and  I  doubt  not  still 
is,  sung  with  much  spirit  by  Highland  women  when  fulling  cloth;  it  is  a  genuine  "Oran 
luadhaidh."  This  complete  version  which  I  send  you  was  supplied  by  that  indefatigable 
Celtic  Tiresias,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart,  Xether-Lochaber,  to  the  Oban  Tirnes.  There 
are  a  few  slight  irregularities  in  the  rhythm,  but  I  hope  your  musical  readers  vdU,  by  a 
little  manipidation  in  dividing  the  syllables  of  either  text  or  music,  be  able  to  sing  it. 
Each  stanza  after  the  first  commences  where  the  music  is  marked  with  an  asterisk.  In 
the  first  stanza,  your  readers  will  require  to  supply  an  additional  short  note  (mt  to  the 
words  "Xa'n,"  which  I  have  bracketed,  in  order  that  the  syllable  "èisd"  may  faU  upon 
the  accented  note  following  the  bar  beside  the  asterisk.  J.  W. 


H^mam  dubh,  hi  ri  och-ro, 
H^man  dubh,  hù  6. 
(i*^a'n)  èisdeadh  sibh,  hèman  dubh, 
Eium,  a  mhnathan,  hèman  dubh, 
Dh'  innsinn  sgeul,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Dhuibh  air  m'  athais — 
H^man  dubh,  hi  ri  och-ro, 
dubh,  hù  6. 


Dh'  innsinn  sgeul,  heman  dubh, 
Dhuibh  air  m'  athais,  he'man  dubh, 
Gu  bheU  mo  leannan,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Ard  's  an  fhaodhail. 
Hdman  dubh,  hi  ri  och-ro 
Hdman  dubh,  hù  d. 

Gu  bheil  mo  leannan,  hdman  dubh, 
Ard  's  an  fhaodhail,  heman  dubh, 
Cha'n  fhaod  mo  ghaol,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Feia  an  taghal 
H^man  dubh,  &c. 

Cha'n  fhaod,  &c. 
Oganach  donn,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Deas  fo  'chlaidheamh 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Oganach,  &c. 

'X  oidhche  bha  mi,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 

'N  airidh  lochain. 

Heman  dubh,  &c. 


'X  oidhche,  &c. 
Cha  robh  e  arm,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Fear  do  choltais. 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Cha  robh,  &c. 

Bho  nach  maireann,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 

Fionn  no  Oisean ; 

Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Bho  nach,  &c. 

Xo  Diarmaid  donn,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
]Mac  righ  Lochlainn, 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Xo  Diarmaid,  &c. 
Ged  tha  mise,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
'M  uiseig  riabhaich; 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Ged  tha,  &c. 

Aigeannach,  trom,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Gun  bhi  sgiamhach, 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Aigeannach,  &c. 
Thainig  teachdair,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Xis  ga  m'  iarraidh — 
Heman  dubh,  &q. 


280 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Dara  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  187 


Thainig,  &c. 

Dithis  an  iiiridh,  hi  ri  ho  t6, 
'S  triuir  am  bliadhna. 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Dithis  an,  &c. 
Gille  'a  litir,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Each  a's  diollaid. 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Gille,  &c. 

Falaire  dhonn,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Spuir  a's  srian  innt'. 
Heman  dubh,&c. 

Falaire,  &c. 

Teachdaireachd,  hi  ri  ho  t6, 
Bho  mhac  an  larla. 
H^man  dubh,  &c. 

Teachdaireachd,  &c, 
Na'n  robh  miae,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Am  ghille-biatachd, 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Na'n  robh,  &c. 
'N  dorus  sabhail,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Bheirinn  biadh  dhi. 
H^man  dubh,  &c. 

'N  dorus,  &c. 

Bheirinn  fodar,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 

Agus  fiar  dhi. 

Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Bheirinn,  &c. 

Bheirinn  cruithneachd,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 

'S  bheirinn  siol  dhi. 

Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Bheirinn  cruith.,  &c. 

'S  greis  fhalaireachd,  hi  ri  ho  rd. 

Air  an  t-sliabh  dhi. 

Hdman  dubh,  &c, 

Greis,  &c. 

'D  è  ged  tha,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Cha  ghabh  mi  'm  bliadhna. 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

'D  è  ged,  &c. 

B'  annsa  leam,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Mac  Anna  riabhaich. 
Hdman  dubh,  &c. 

B'  annsa,  &c. 

'G  am  bi  na  h-eich,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
IVIhor  air  shrianaibh, 
Hdman  dubh,  &c. 

'G  am  bi,  &c. 

Na  h-eich  dhonna,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Throma,  dhiolldach. 
Hdman  dubh,  &c. 


Na  h-eich,  &c. 

Ach  na'm  bithinn,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
'N  riochd  na  h-eala, 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Ach  na  'm,  &c. 

Shiiamhainn  an  caol,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 

'S  rachainn  thairis. 

Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Shnamhainn,  &c. 
Dh'  fhios  an  aite,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
'M  beil  mo  leannan, 
Hdman  dubh,  &c. 

Dh'  fhios,  &c. 

'S  chuirinn  fàradh,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 

Ris  a'  chaisteal. 

Hdman  dubh,  &c. 

'S  chuirinn,  &c. 

'S  bheirinn  a  mach,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Mor  nigh'n  Lachainn. 
Hdman  dubh,  &c. 

'S  bheirinn,  &c, 

'S,  a  Mhic  Dhò'uill  Duibh,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 

A  Lochabar 

Hdman  dubh,  &c. 

'S,  a  Mhic,  &c. 

'S  truagh,  a  Righ,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 

'S  gun  mi  agad  ! 

Hdman  dubh,  &c. 

'S  truagh,  &c. 
Ge  b'  e  aite,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
'M  beil  do  leaba. 
Heman  dubh,  &c. 

Ge  b'  e,  &c. 

'M  bun  nan  craobh,  hi  ri  ho  rd 
'M  barr  nam  baideal, 
Hdman  dubh,  &c. 

'M  bun,  &c. 
No  air  bord,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
Luinge  faide. 
Hdman  dubh, 

No  air,  &c. 

No  air  mor-chuan,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 

Gorm  an  aigeil. 

Hdman  dubh,  &c. 

No  air,  &c. 

'N  ddis  mo  chur,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 
'N  ddis  mo  chatha; 
Hdman  diibh,  &c. 

'N  ddis,  &c. 

'N  ddis  mo  dheoch,  hi  ri  ho  rd, 

Uisge  bheatha ! 

H^man  dubh,  hi  ri  och-ro, 

Hdman  dubh,  hù  d. 


THE     G^^EL, 


ENGLISH  DEPAPvTBISNT. 


Vol.  V. 


SEPTEMBER  1876. 


No.  57. 


1.  Ele^ients  of  Gaelic  Grajsi^lir,  I 

in  Four  Parts  :  By  Alexander  '■ 
Stewart,  minister  of  the  Gospel 
at  Dingwall.  Third  edition  re-  j 
vised,  with  Preface  by  the  Rev.  ] 
Dr.  M'Lauchlan.  Edinburgh: 
Maclachlan  &  Stewart.  London:  | 
Simpkin,  Marshall  &  Co.    1876. 

2.  ELE:iiEXTARy  Lessons  in  Gaelic 

Reading,  Geam^iar  and  Con-  I 
STRUCTJON,   with     a   Key  and  J 
Vocabulary.       Inverness  :     the  ; 
Highlander  Office.    Edinburgh  : 
Maclachlan  &  Stewart.     Glas- 
gow :    William    Love,    Argyle 
Street,     and     all     Booksellers. 
1876.    Price  One  ShilUng. 

Our  readers  will  not  expect  that  | 
Stewart's  Gaelic  Graìimar  will  | 
be  reviewed  in  this  Magazine. 
We  place  it  at  the  head  of  this  para- 
graph, simply  because,  in  the  many 
commendatory  notices  taken  of  it  in 
the  press,  some  reviewers  stated  it 
as  a  drawback  to  the  usefulness  of 
the  volume  that  exercises  in  Gaelic 
Grammar  were  not  added  to  it  by 
way  of  Appendix.  As  mentioned  in 
the  preface,  it  was  at  one  time  con- 
templated to  give  grammatical  ex- 
ercises, but  the  idea  was,  after 
mature  consideration,  abandoned. 
This  desideratum  has  been  oppoi*- 
tunely  and  ably  supplied  by  the 
"Elementary  Lessons  in  Gaelic," 
printed  from  time  to  time  in  the 
Highlander  newspaper,  and  after- 
wards collected  and  published  in 
the  little  volume  before  us. 

jNIr.  MacBean's  "  Gaelic  Lessons  " 
is  the  first  attempt,  so  far  as  we  are 


aware,  made  to  put  in  the  hands  of 
the  Gaelic  teacher  and  pupil  a  series 
of  lessons  in  reading,  grammar,  and 
construction,  graduated  to  suit  the 
progi'ess  of  the  scholar  from  the  easy 
to  the  more  difficult.  All  first 
attempts  are  more  or  less  chargeable 
with  imperfection,  nor  do  we  say 
that  Mr.  MacBean's  treatise  is  an 
exception  to  the  universal  law.  We 
do  not  mean  to  dwell  on  the  imper- 
fections. In  comparison  with  the 
real  merits  of  the  work,  they  are  but 
few  in  number  and  of  trivial  import- 
ance. Mr.  MacBean  has  no  doubt 
found  them  out  himself,  and  has  been 
informed  of  them  by  others,  long 
before  now.  The  plan  of  the  book 
is  well  conceived  and  successfully 
carried  out.  We  cordially  commend  it 
as  an  excellent  aud  safe  guide 
to  the  daily  increasing  number  of 
students  Avho  do  not  consider  that 
a  guide  is  unnecessary  in  learning 
to  read  and  write  the  Gaelic  language 
with  ease  and  accuracy. 


MY  CIRCULAR  NOTES.* 

Ant  production  from  the  pen  of 
Mr.  Campbell  will  be  read  vrith  in- 
terest by  Scottish  Highlanders 
wherever  situated.  No  living  man 
expended  so  much  time,  labour,  and 
money  in  collecting  and  publishing 
the   floating   and   rapidly-perishing 

*  My  Circular  Notes.  Extracts  from 
Journals,  Letters  sent  Home,  Geological 
and  other  Notes,  written  while  traveUing 
westwards  ro\uid  the  world,  from  July  6, 
1874  to  July  6,  1875.  By  J.  F.  Camp- 
bell, author  of  "Frost  and  Fire."  London: 
Macmillan  &  Co.     1876. 


282 


THE  GAEL. 


September,  1876. 


literature  of  the  Gael  in  this  country  t 
as  Mr.  Campbell  did.  The  "  West  l 
Highland  Tales  "  and  "  Leabhar  na  { 
Feinne"  will  be  to  future  genera- 
tions the  most  permanent  and  reli- 
able record  of  the  kind  of  intellec- 
tual nutriment  which  our  people, 
almost  down  to  our  own  day,  so 
eagerly  devoured.  Whether  we  ac- 
ceptorreject  the  conclusions  at  which 
Mr.  Campbell  has  arrived  regard- 
ing the  debated  questions  of  Gaelic 
literature,  we  must  admit  that  he 
had  before  him  a  larger  mass  of 
material  for  forming  a  correct  judg- 
ment than  any  predecessor  in  this 
field  ever  had;  that  he  placed  a 
great  portion  of  this  material  before 
the  world  exactly  as  he  got  it;  that 
he  expressed  his  own  views  with 
the  most  perfect  clea.rness  and 
frankness;  and  that  when,  upon 
further  consideration,  he  found 
cause  to  change  his  convictions,  he 
made  no  scruple  of  publicly  declar- 
ing the  change. 

The  "  Circular  Notes  "  introduce 
us  to  other  scenes  and  other  lands. 
In  many  respects  they  are  deeply 
interesting.  They  appear  to  us  to 
possess  all  the  excellencies  and,  we 
regret  to  say,  more  than  all  the 
defects  of  the  volumes  upon  Gaelic 
literature.  The  title-page  gives  a 
fair  idea  of  the  contents  of  the  book 
to  every  person  who  read  Mr.  Camp- 
bell's former  works.  Not  a  sentence, 
or  line,  or  sketch  but  is  stamped 
with  the  individuality — the  person- 
ality— of  the  writer.  A  man  turned 
fifty,  who  has  seen  many  countries 
and  many  peoples;  of  marvellous 
activity,  physical  and  mental ;  of 
keen  eye,  ready  tongue,  and  swift 
pen  ;  a  man  who  thoroughly  enjoys 
"roughing  it"  in  heat  and  cold,  on  sea 
and  land ;  a  man  who  inherits  from 
nature,  and  has  perfected  by  habit, 
a  disposition  to  be  "hail  fellow,  well 
met "  Avith  all  classes  and  conditions 


of  men — we  might  say  even  of  ani- 
mals,-— of  all  countries  and  races  ; — 
such  a  man  sets  out  on  a  tour  round 
the  world  as  a  "globe-trotter"  or 
"  vagrant,"  as  he  likes  to  style  him- 
self; and  Ave  can  beforehand  predict 
in  great  measure  of  what  character 
his  letters  and  journals  Avill  be. 

The  book  is  made  up  of  extracts 
from  a  journal  which  Mr.  Campbell 
more  or  less  regularly  kept,  and 
letters  to  friends  at  home — chiefly 
to  his  mother.  The  information 
conveyed  to  us  is  often  valuable  and 
interesting.  Mr.  Campbell  is  at 
home  wherever  you  put  him.  He 
is  a  shrewd  observer  of  men  and 
manners.  He  is  an  authority  in 
folk-lore,  and  has  a  turn  for  geology. 
In  form  the  "Circular  Notes"  is  less 
deserving  of  commendation.  No 
one  is  expected  to  write  his  journal 
or  his  letters  with  very  great 
care;  and  the  circumstances  in 
which  the  contents  of  this  book  Avere 
originally  Avritten  made  it  impossible 
that  much  attention  could  be  paid 
to  literary  canons.  At  the  same 
time,  Avhen  an  author  decides  to 
publish  his  notes  and  his  letters,  it 
appears  to  us  that  some  regard  is 
due  to  the  judgment  of  his  readers, 
if  not  to  his  OAvn  literary  reputation. 
Mr.  Campbell  can  Avhen  he  pleases 
Avrite  the  Enghsh  language  better 
than  many  Avho  plume  themselves 
upon  their  literary  attainments.  We 
have  to  regret  that,  in  too  many 
instances,  in  these  "Notes"  he  has 
not  so  pleased.  Perhaps  he  Avould 
consider  it  an  unpardonable  fault  to 
change  a  phrase  or  sentence  from 
its  original  form.  To  change  the 
language  of  his  author  is  unpardon- 
able in  an  editor ;  but  to  correct  the 
syntax  of  a  letter  written  by  one- 
self before  it  is  submitted  to  the 
public  is  as  alloAvable  as  to  correct 
the  spelling  of  it;  for  it  must  be 
remembered  that  a  writer,  during 


September,  187 


THE  GAEL. 


283 


his  own  lifetime,  has  the  absol- 
ute right  to  determine  in  Avhat 
form  productions  of  his  shall  be 
given  to  the  world,  and,  indeed, 
Avhether  any  portion  of  them  shall 
appear  at  all.  In  addition  to  its 
careless  style,  there  is  a  slovenliness 
of  arrangement  manifested  in  the 
book  which  detracts  considerably 
from  the  merit  of  it.  We  have 
letters  to  his  mother  containing  an 
account  of  the  author's  travels 
through  a  certain  portion  of  country; 
extracts  from  the  journal  repeating 
in  part  the  information ;  and  not 
infrequently  a  letter  to  a  friend  in 
which  portions  of  the  ground  are 
traversed  for  the  third  time.  The 
two  volumes  contain  ample  material 
for  making  an  interesting  and  valu- 
able volume,  and  few  men  could 
make  the  volume  so  valuable  and 
interesting  as  Mr.  Campbell,  had  he 
thought  it  necessary  to  bestoAv  reason- 
able care  u^^on  its  style  and  arrange- 
ment. 


BURT'S  LETTERS  FROM  THE 
NORTH  OF  SCOTLAND.* 

These  interesting  Letters  were 
first  published  in  London  in  1754. 
A  third  edition  appeared  in  1 760.  To 
the  fourth  edition,  published  in  1822, 
Dr.  Jamieson  prefixed  a  lengthy 
introduction  with  the  history  of 
Donald  the  Hammerer,  of  which  a 
Gaelic  version  appeared  in  the 
Gael  for  November  1875.  The 
present  is  a  reprint  of  the  first 
edition,  with  facsimiles  of    all  the 


*  Burt's  Letters  from  the  North  of 
Scotland.  With  Facsimiles  of  the  original 
Engra-sdngs.  With  an  introduction  pbyR. 
Jamieson,  F.S.A.  And  the  histo  y  of 
Donald  the  Hammerer,  from  an  authentic 
Account  of  the  family  of  Invernahyle  ;  a 
M.S.  communicated  by  Sir  Walter  Scott. 
Two  Volumes,  Edinburgh  :  William 
Paterson,  1876, 


original  engravings,  and  containing 
the  introduction  by  Jamieson  and 
the  Hammerer's  history  from  the 
fourth  edition. 

The  letters  were  not  signed  by 
the  writer;  and  the  editor  of  the 
original  edition,  in  a  short  preface, 
states  that  he  purchased  the  manu- 
script from  the  family  of  the 
gentleman  in  whose  possession  the 
letters  were — -presumably  the  person 
to  whom  they  were  addressed — but 
that  he  does  not  know  the  author's 
name.  The  genuineness  of  the 
letters  appears  never  to  have  been 
questioned  ;  "  and  the  author,"  says 
Dr.  Jamieson,  "  is  commonly  under- 
stood to  have  been  Captain  Burt, 
an  officer  of  engineers,  who,  about 
1730,  was  sent  into  Scotland  as  a 
contractor."  The  letters  are  twenty- 
six  in  number.  The  first  is  headed 
"  Liverness,"  but  not  dated.  The 
last  is  headed  "  Concerning  the  New 
Roads,  &c.,  173-"  and  commences 
as  follows :  "  It  is  now  eight  years 
since  I  sent  you  the  Conclusion  of 
my  rambling  Account  of  the  High- 
lands." All  the  rest  are  without 
place  or  date.  But  in  Letter  XV. 
the  author  makes  an  extract  from 
his  diary,  dated  Oct,  2,  172-, 
Letter  HI,  again,  is  written  after 
the  year  1726,  and  Letter  XIIL 
after  1727.  It  would  appear, 
therefore,  that  the  letters  were 
written  between  1728  and  1731. 
As  already  stated  none  are  signed. 

These  letters  are  valuable  chiefly 
for  two  reasons.  In  the  first  place, 
they  are  the  only  detailed  account 
we  have  of  the  eveiy-day  life  of 
Highlanders  written  by  an  English- 
man before  the  '45  and  the  breaking 
up  of  the  clan-system  consequent  on 
the  issue  of  that  movement.  There 
are,  indeed,  two  other  treatises 
or  tracts  referred  to  by  Macaulay 
of  even  an  older  date  {Northern 
Memoirs,     by    R,     Franch    PMlan- 


284 


THE  GAEL. 


September,  187 


thropos,  1694  ;  Jour  my  through 
Scotland,  by  the  author  of  the 
Journey  through  England,  1723); 
but  the  writers  had  penetrated  into 
only  small  portions  of  the  Highlands, 
and  had  limited  opportunities  of 
observation  in  comparison  with 
Captain  Burt.  The  journeys  of 
Pennant  and  Dr.  Johnson  deal  with 
the  western  seaboard  and  the 
Hebrides,  and  are  about  forty  years 
later  in  date.  Dean  Munro  and 
Martin,  though  earlier  than  Burt, 
were  countrymen  of  our  own. 
Again,  the  letters  were  written 
confidentially  to  a  friend,  and  not 
meant  for  publication.  Indeed  the 
writer,  in  his  first  letter,  conjures 
his  friend  to  show  them  to  only  one 
person,  a  common  friend  of  botii. 
Considering  the  nature  of  the  con- 
tents of  the  letters,  the  reasons 
assigned  by  Captain  Burt  for  this 
"  precaution  "  are  perfectly  in- 
telligible. "  First,  the  contrary 
might  create  inconveniences  to  me 
in  my  pi-esent  Situation.  It  might 
furnish  Matter  for  disobliging 
Comparisons,  to  which  some  of  our 
Countrymen  are  too  much  addicted. 
This,  again,  might  give  OlFence, 
especiall)'-  to  such  who  are  so  national 
as  not  to  consider  that  a  Man's 
Native  Country  is  not  of  his  own 
making,  or  his  being  born  in  it  the 
effect  of  his  Choice  .  .  .  And  lastly, 
it  would  do  me  no  great  honour  to 
be  known  to  have  made  a  Collection 
of  Incidents,  mostly  low,  and  some- 
times disagreeable."  Here,  then, 
we  have  an  educated  Englishman, 
with  his  head-quarters  at  Inverness, 
whose  duties  give  him  frequent 
opportunities  to  make  excursions  to 
dirlerent  parts  of  the  country,  with 
plenty  of  leisure  time  upon  his 
hands,  sitting  down  to  describe  the 
every-day  life  of  Highlanders  of 
all  classes,  with  the  unrestrained 
freedom   which   private    correspon- 


dence allows,  A  man  of  shrewd 
observation  who  can  summon, 
when  needful,  his  pencil  to  the  aid 
of  his  pen — a  man  who  is  no 
philosopher,  and  who  seldom  in- 
dulges in  general  reflections  or 
abstract  speculation — an  English- 
man considerably  beyond  the 
average  in  education  and  experience, 
of  strong  sense,  with  all  the  in- 
quisitiveness  so  characteristic  of  the 
modern  English  tourist,  but  which 
is  usually  ascribed  to  our  people 
rather  than  to  them — and  with  the 
barely  suppressed  tone  of  superiority 
which  has  become  a  second  nature 
to  a  people  who  believe  that 
England  is  the  centre  and  stay  of 
the  solar  system,  and  that  one 
Englishman  is  equal  to  three  French- 
men, and  to  at  least  half-a-dozen  of 
any  other  nationality  or  race. 

What  a.ccount  does  this  author 
give  of  our  country,  our  language, 
our  people,  and  our  institutions] 
Not  a  flattering  account  certainly. 
It  may  be,  in  part  at  least,  true  ;  it 
is  certainly  interesting  and  minute  ; 
and  the  reading  of  it  may  be  profitable 
to  us.  In  one  respect  the  author,  and 
the  same  may  be  said  of  almost  all 
English  travellers  in  the  Highlands 
of  the  last  century,  differs  widely 
from  those  wdio,  in  the  present 
century,  consider  it  their  duty  not 
only  to  visit  our  country  but  to  teU 
the  world  what  impressions  the 
country  and  the  people  made  upon 
them.  For  the  last  seventy  years 
no  writer,  from  the  poet  of  the  first 
rank  down  to  the  humblest  penny- 
a-liner,  who  has  made  a  Highland 
tour  and  described  it  but  has  fallen 
into  raptures  over  the  grandeur  of 
Highland  scenery.  In  the  last 
century  the  case  was  different.  Mac- 
Pherson  by  the  publication  of  Ossian's 
Poems  in  some  measure  drew  the 
attention  of  Englishmen  and  Low- 
land  Scotchmen   to   the  impressive 


September,  1875. 


THE  GAEL. 


286 


scenery  of  the  north  of  Scotland- 
Sir  Walter  Scott  completed  the 
conquest  which  Ossian  had  begun. 
Scott's  influence  not  only  made  it 
fashionable  to  "do"  the  Highlands, 
but  changed  the  character  of  the 
literature  and  art  of  Britain.  Since 
his  time,  English  literature  in  all  its 
forms  is  as  marked  for  its  affection 
for  nature,  as  it  was,  before  Scott's 
time,  conspicuous  for  its  neglect  of 
nature.  Landscape  painting  in 
Britain,  especially  the  reproduction 
on  canvas  of  the  stern  and  wild 
scenery  of  the  north,  may  be  said  to 
have  been  unknown  fifty  years  ago. 
We  Highlanders  are  sometimes  told 
by  men  who  ought  to  have  known 
better  that  we  were  taught  to 
appreciate  our  own  scenery  by 
strangers.  It  is  satisfactory  to 
know  that  our  best  poetry  was 
written  before  our  would-be  teachers 
were  born,  and  that  the  distinguish- 
ing feature  of  that  poetry  is  the 
ardent  passionate  admiration  which 
the  poets,  one  and  all,  felt  and  ex- 
pressed for  the  scenery  of  their  own 
land.  Captain  Burt  looked  at  our 
mountains  and  our  floods  with  a 
different  eye.  To  him  our  moun- 
tains were  "monstrous  excrescences;" 
"the  huge  naked  rocks,  being  just 
above  the  heath,  produce  the  dis- 
agreeable appearance  of  a  scabbed 
head.  .  .  .  Those  ridges  of  the  moun- 
tains that  appear  next  to  the  Ether 
— by  their  rugged,  irregular  lines, 
the  heath,  and  black  rocks — are 
rendered  extremely  harsh  to  the  eye, 
byappearing  close  to  that  diaphonous 
body,  without  any  medium  to  soften 
the  opposition ;  and  the  clearer  the 
day,  the  more  rude  and  offensive 
they  are  to  the  sight ;  yet,  in  some 
few  places,  where  any  white  crags 
are  a-top,  that  harshness  is  some- 
thing softened.  But  of  all  the  views, 
I  think  the  most  horrid  is  to  look  at 
the  hills  from  east  to  west,  or  vice 


versa,  for  then  the  eye  penetrates  far 
among  them,  and  sees  more  par- 
ticularly their  stupendous  bulk, 
frightful  irregularity,  and  horrid 
gloom,  made  yet  more  somhrous  by 
the  shades  and  faint  reflections  they 
communicate  one  to  another."  But 
Burt  is  far  surpassed,  in  energy  of 
language,  by  his  predecessor  Philan- 
thropos :  "  It  is  a  part  of  the  creation 
left  undressed ;  rubbish  thrown  aside 
when  the  magnificent  fabric  of  the 
world  was  created  ;  as  void  of  form 
as  the  natives  are  indigent  of  morals 
and  good  manners"  {ÈTacaulay's 
History  of  England,  chap,  viii,  foot- 
note.) When  Burt  was  penning  at 
Inverness  the  sentences  above  quoted, 
Mac-Mhaiglistir'Alastair  was  com- 
posing in  Ardnamurchan,  songs 
which  expressed  the  sentiments  of 
his  people  and  of  his  day,  and  which 
anticipated  by  three-quarters  of  a 
century  the  judgment  of  cultivated 
Englishmen  and  Scotchmen-  upon 
the  matter  of  Highland  scenery. 

Of  our  language  Captain  Burt  has 
but  little  to  say.  He  is  not  a  literary 
man  and  he  does  not  appear  to  have 
met  with  literary  men  in  the  north. 
Gaelic,  or  Erst  as  he  calls  it,  is  a 
corruption  of  the  Irish  tongue.  To 
him  it  is  very  harsh  in  sound  "  like 
the  Welsh,  and  altogether  as  guttural, 
which  last,  you  know,  is  a  quality 
long  since  banished  all  the  polite 
languages  in  Europe."  He  gives  the 
old  alphabetwiththetoo  true  remark, 
that  very  few  can  write  it.  He 
complains  that  our  clergy  and  lay 
gentlemen  are  unable  to  spell 
English,  and  gives  an  example 
which,  if  Captain  Burt  were  a  satirist, 
one  might  understand  : — "  for  Heirs 
I  find  Airs  repeated  several  times  in 
the  same  letter." 

The  first  thirteen  letters  are  taken 
up  chiefly  with  Inverness  and  im- 
mediate neighbourhood ;  the  last 
twelve  with  more  remote  parts  of 


286 


THE  GAEL. 


September,  1S76. 


the  Highlands.  Our  author  seems 
to  have  been  regarded  as  a  sort  of 
spy  in  the  Northern  capital ;  but  he 
warmly  and,  we  doubt  not,  honestly 
repudiates  the  imputation.  Others, 
whose  friendship  he  enjoyed,  told 
him  "it  would  have  been  but  just 
that  some  native  had  had  my 
appointment."  He  replied,  "  I 
should  readily  agree  to  it,  and 
cheerfully  resign;  and  would  further 
take  upon  me  to  answer  for  all  my 
Countrymen  that  they  should  do 
the  same,  provided  no  Scotsmen 
had  any  Government  Employment 
be-south  the  TAveed ;  and  then  I 
doubted  not  that  there  Avould  be 
ample  Room  at  Home  for  us  all." 
We  have  often  heard  of  late  years 
"Ireland  for  the  Irish;"  and  we 
begin  to  hear  occasionally,  for  the 
last  year  or  two,  "  The  Highlands 
for  Highlanders."  Captain  Burt's 
reply  to  this  kind  of  talk  is  con- 
clusive. If  a  similar  cry  were  raised 
and  acted  upon,  "England  for  the 
English,"  and  "  Southern  Scotland 
for  the  Lowland  Scotch,"  no  part  of 
the  British  Isles  Avould  suffer  much 
except  the  Highlands  and  Ireland. 
The  real  meaning  of  the  cry  exposes 
the  absurdity  of  it :  "The  Highlands 
for  Highlanders  alone — but  all  the 
rest  of  the  world  for  Highlanders 
combined  with  other  people." 

To  judge  from  Captain  Burt's 
description,  a  substantial  burgess  of 
Inverness  in  1730  had,  in  many 
respects,  considerable  advantages 
over  his  successor  in  1876.  Rela- 
tively to  the  rest  of  Scotland,  Inver- 
ness was,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago,  a  far  more  important 
place  than  it  is  at  the  present  day. 
The  Northern  capital  has  made 
rapid  strides  during  the  intervening 
years;  but  it  has  been  outstripped 
by  many  towns  in  the  South  which 
were  obscure  villages  at  that  time, 
and  by  some  towns  which  had  not 


then  come  into  existence.  It  could 
boast  of  a  castle  which  was  newly 
repaired.  The  Ness  was  spanned 
by  "a  Bridge  about  eighty  yards 
over,  a  piece  of  good  workmanship, 
consisting  of  seven  arches  built  with 
stone  ;  and  maintained  by  a  toll  of  a 
Bodle,  or  sixth  part  of  a  penny,  for 
each  foot-passenger  loaded  with 
goods;  a  penny  for  a  loaded  horse, 
&c."  Seals  pursued  salmon  to 
within  eighty  yards  of  the  bridge. 
There  were  two  churches,  one  for 
the  English  and  one  for  the  Irish 
tongue  ;  though  both  were  out  of  re- 
pair. Mutton  and  beef  were  about  a 
penny  a  pound.  Salmon  was  in- 
deed twopence  per  pound  in  conse- 
quence of  a  late  regulation  of  the 
magistrates,  but  this  Avas  con- 
sidered an  exorbitant  price.  A 
fowl  could  be  had  at  market  for 
twopence  or  tAvopence-halfpenny. 
The  Avages  of  a  maid-servant  Avas 
three  half-crowns  a  year,  Avith  a  peck 
of  oatmeal  for  a  Aveek's  diet,  and  a 
possible  increase  of  the  alloAvance 
by  "  the  Skimming  of  a  Pot  to  mix 
Avith  her  Oatmeal  for  better  Com- 
mons, and  a  pair  of  Shoes  or  tAVO 
for  Sundays  Avhen  they  go  to  Kirk." 
The  inhabitants  spoke  English, 
although  the  most  of  them  talked 
"Irish"  as  well.  They  Avere  very 
polite — excessively  so,  in  the  eyes 
of  this  matter-of-fact  Englishman. 
"  A  pedling  Shopkeeper,  that  sells  a 
Pennyworth  of  Thread,  is  a  Mer- 
chant;  the  person  Avho  is  sent  for 
that  Thread  has  received  a  Commis- 
sion; and  bringing  it  to  the  Sender, 
is  making  Report.  A  bill  to  let  you 
knoAV  there  is  a  single  Room  to  be 
let  is  called  a  Placard;  the  Doors 
are  Ports;  an  enclosed  Field  of  tAvo 
acres  is  a  Parle;  and  the  Wife  of  a 
Laird  of  fifteen  pounds  a  Year  is  a 
Lady,  and  treated  Avith — your  Lady- 
ship. ...  I  am  told  once  a  Aveek 
that  the  Gentlewoman   that  Avashes 


September,  1S7C. 


THE  GAEL. 


287 


my  Linen  is  below;  and  frequently 
hear  something  or  other  of  a  Gentle- 
man that  keeps  a  Change  not  far 
from  hence."  The  women  were 
handsome.  "  Thei'e  are  hardly  any 
crooked  People  (except  by  accidents), 
because,"  says  Captain  Burt,  senten- 
tiously,  "  there  has  been  no  care 
taken  to  mend  their  shapes  when 
they  Avere  young. "  And  there  are 
but  four  Fools. 

But  there  is  another  side  to  this 
very  attractive  picture.  The  town- 
hall  was  a  plain  building  of  Rubble. 
The  Magistrates  transacted  business 
in  a  room  "  which  would  be  toler- 
ably handsome,  but  the  Walls  are 
rough,  not  whitewashed,  or  so  much 
as  plastered,  and  no  Furniture  in  it 
but  a  Table,  some  bad  Chairs,  and 
altogether  immoderately  dirty." 
The  Coffee-house  is  kept  by  "  a 
Gentleman  who  loves  Company  and 
Play  for  his  Diversion."  But  a 
description  of  it,  its  furniture  and 
utensils,  would  not  be  decent.  "The 
Room  appears  as  if  it  had  never 
been  cleaned  since  the  building  of 
the  House,  and,  in  Fi'ost  and  Snow, 
you  might  cover  the  Peat-fire  with 
your  Hands."  The  Gaol  was  a 
weak,  old  building,  and  the  town 
was  not  in  a  condition  to  keep  it  in 
repair.  The  town  consisted  chiefly 
of  four  streets.  La  these  the  best 
houses  were  low  roofed,  built  of 
rubble,  and  harled.  "  The  extreme 
parts  of  the  Town  are  made  up  of 
most  miserably  low,  dirty  hovels, 
faced  and  covered  with  turf,  with  a 
bottomless  Tub  or  Basket  in  the 
Roof  for  a  chimney."  The  town 
was  excessively  dirty.  The  Magis- 
trates would  not  order  the  streets  to  be 
cleaned.  They  depended  on  showers 
of  rain  for  the  removal  of  filth. 
The  merchants  were  not  scrupulously 
honest.  The  town  was  infested 
with  rats.  Poverty,  filth,  vermin, 
and  itch  abounded  everywhere. 


And  if  this  was  the  state  of  mat- 
ters in  Liverness,  a  royal  burgh,  and 
the  capital  of  the  Highlands,  what 
must  have  been  the  condition  of  life 
in  the  more  secluded  parts?  Ihe 
description  of  Captain  Burt  is  almost 
incredible.  Hunger,  filth,  rags,  dis- 
ease, and  vermin.  There  is  no  phase 
of  the  social  life  of  the  country  into 
which  this  prying  Englishman  does 
not  enter,  and  of  which  he  does  not 
give  a  detailed  account  to  his  corres- 
pondent in  London.  The  clan  system 
was  in  full  force.  One  chief  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Inverness  he  de- 
scribes. A  poor,  proud,  selfish,  cruel 
man,  who  will  not  encourage  industry 
for  fear  of  generating  independence. 
The  people  in  general  are  as  circum- 
stances make  them.  They  have  no 
school- education.  The  life-educa- 
tion they  get  is  of  the  worst  sort. 
There  is  no  premium  on  industry 
and  self-reliance.  There  is  no  ca- 
reer for  energy  and  ambition.  The 
clergy  are  landed.  They  receive 
respect  and  they  deserve  it.  In 
their  church  courts  they  are  in- 
clined to  be  overbearing.  Their 
preaching  is  one-sided,  and  their  code 
of  morals  is  what  has  since  become 
known  as  the  somewhat  inconsistent 
but  severe  Scotch  Ecclesiastical  Code. 
But  they  lead  blameless  lives,  and 
this  amply  atones  for  many  .short- 
comings. 

Through  all  the  ramifica^ons  of 
Highland  social  life,  as  it  existed  in 
the  year  1730  or  thereabouts.  Cap- 
tain Burt,  in  his  rambling,  desultory 
way  leads  us.  Our  births,  marriages, 
and  deaths,  with  their  attendant 
ceremonies  ;  our  civil  ecclesiastical 
polity  and  beliefs  ;  our  virtues  and 
vices ;  our  sermons  and  our  scandals ; 
our  food,  clothes,  and  amusements  ; 
our  filth  and  our  disease  ;  our 
poverty,  ignorance,  and  laziness  are 
all  detailed  without  passion  or 
prejudice,    by    this    cool   and    im- 


288 


THE  GAEL. 


September,  1876- 


perturbable  Englisliman.  To  say- 
that  the  letters  are  interesting  read- 
ing is  to  say  very  little.  That  they  are 
valuable  as  giving  a  vivid  picture  of 
the  life  and  manners  of  our  ances- 
tors no  one  can  doubt.  Do  they  give 
a  faithful  picture?  We  are  inclined 
to  think  that  the  answer  to  this 
question  must  be  of  a  mixed  charac- 
ter. Lord  Macaulay  says  that  Cap- 
tain Burt  "  was  evidently  a  man  of 
a  quick,  an  observant,  and  a  culti- 
vated mind,  and  would  doubtless, 
had  he  lived  in  our  age,  have  looked 
with  mingled  awe  and  delight  on 
the  mountains  of  Inverness-shire." 
We  quite  agree  with  the  same  high 
authority  when  he  says  that  "  a 
traveller  must  be  freed  from  all 
apprehension  of  being  murdered 
or  starved  before  he  can  be  charmed 
by  the  bold  outlines  and  rich  tints  of 
the  hills."  Macadam  and  Hutcheson 
had  to  succeed  Ossian  and  Scott,  be- 
fore the  "clerks  and  milliners"  were 
thrown  into  raptures  at  the  sight  of 
Highland  scenery.  But,  scenery 
apart,  we  can  scarcely  allow  that 
Captain  Burt  gives  evidence  in  his 
letters  of  a  very  "  cultivated  mind," 
as  we  understand  the  phrase.  We 
believe  he  was  a  truthful,  honest 
witness ;  that  he  told  nothing  but 
what  he  saw  or  what  he  was  told  by 
others  and  l)elieved  to  be  true.  But 
he  left  a  great  deal  untold.  Martin, 
an  earlier  traveller,  gives  a  different 
picture  of  Hebridean  life  ;  and  we 
cannot  suppose  that  the  Isles  were 
much  in  advance  of  the  mainland  at 
that  time.  Besides  Captain  Burt 
Avrote  his  account  in  private  letters. 
We  have  therefore,  it  is  true,  many 
circumstances  which  would  not  have 
been  related  had  he  expected  his 
letters  to  be  published  ;  but  we  have 
also  many  circumstances  left  untold 


which  would  find  place  in  an 
account  meant  for  the  world.  Be- 
sides, admitting  the  veracity  of  the 
writer  to  the  fullest  extent,  we  doubt 
not  that  if  he  wrote  his  letters  with 
the  knowledge  that  all  his  statements 
would  be  subjected  to  severe  criticism, 
he  would  have  taken  pains  to  secure 
that  every  statement  accorded  with 
strict  fact.  Lastly,  he  continually 
forgets  or  does  not  know  the  social 
condition  of  the  peasantry  of 
England  at  the  time  he  wrote. 
He  looks  at  the  most  remote  High- 
land hamlet  from  the  standpoint  of 
a  Londoner  of  his  day.  But  Macau- 
lay's  description  of  certain  portions 
of  London,  in  1685,  is  scarcely  ex- 
ceeded by  Captain  Burt's  descrip- 
tion of  the  Highland  "change" 
about  fifty  years  later.  Burt  finds 
at  Kelso  quarters  which,  from  his 
own  account,  could  scarcely  be  sup- 
erior to  any  possible  accommodation 
anywhere.  In  Edinburgh,  at  the 
time  he  wrote  and  later,  the  way- 
farer after  ten  o'clock  at  night  in 
the  wynds  and  closes  had  to  cry  out 
"  baud  your  haunde."  Captain  Burt 
witnessed  the  practice,  but  seems  to 
forget  it  when  he  is  sojourning  in 
more  northern  parts. 

Burt's  account  of  life  in  the  High- 
lands during  the  first  half  of  the 
eighteenth  century  is  one-sided,  de- 
fective, and  therefore  misleading. 
He  states  the  truth,  exaggerated 
probably  in  some  minor  points;  but 
not  the  whole  truth.  His  letters 
and  Martin's  description  ought  to  be 
read  together.  Macaulay  read  Burt 
and  exaggerates  even  him.  Martin, 
who  wrote  twenty  years  earlier,  he 
does  not  quote.  Mr.  Paterson  has 
done  good  service  in  publishing  this 
rare  and  interesting  book. 


AN 


gj-a.idh:ea.l, 


Mar  ghath  soluis  do  m'  anam  fein 

Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fhalbh." — OiSEAif. 


V.  Le.\bh.1        TREAS  MIOS  AN  FHOGHAIR,  1876. 


[58  Air. 


EIEIONNAICH  'US  ALBANN- 
AICH. 

"  Nach  b'e  an  t-Eirionnach  e  !  " 
"  Clia  'n  'eil  ann  ach  direach  smior 
an  Eirionnaich  ! "  Is  trie  a  chluinn- 
ear  a  leithid  so  de  chainnt  ann  am 
beul  nan  Gaidheal  Albannach,  agus 
ann  ati  seadli  co-ionann  agus  ged 
theireadh  iad  :  "  Nach  b'e  an 
Turcach  e  !  "  "  Cha  'n  'eil  ann  ach 
fior  shlaightear !  " 

A  nis,  gun  teagamh  sam  bith,  cha 
'n  'eil  e  aon  chuid  càirdeil  no  eareach- 
dail  do'n  Ghàidheal  Albannach  a 
bhi  'labhairt  mar  so  mu  thimchioll 
a  bhràthar  Eirionnaich.  Abair  na 
thogras  tu,  is  e  an  t-Eirionnach  do 
dhearbh  bhràthair.  Tha  e  na  h-uile 
buiile  a  cheart  cho  Gàidhealach — 
'n  a  f  hull  agus  'n  a  chainnt — agus  a 
tha  mac  do  mhàthar.  Agus  cha  'n 
ann  gun  eolas  air  a'  chuis  a  tha  mi 
ag  radh  so  ;  oir  a  ris  agus  a  ris 
shiubhail  mi  Gàidhealtachd  na  h- 
Alba  air  fad  agus  air  lend ;  agus 
cha  'n  'eil  mi  idir  'n  am  choigreach 
anns  an  Eilean  àluinn  uaine  's  an 
robh  mòr  thlachd  aig  Pàdruic 
Naomh  nan  Salm ;  agus  ann  an 
America  chuir  mi  eolas  air  Albann- 
aich  'us  Eirionnaich  'n  am  miltean 
aig  an  robh  fior  chomharradh  ar 
fine  'n  an  gniiis  agus  'n  an  guth. 
Agus  tha  'n  t-Eirionnach  air  iomadh 
dòigh  'n  a  bhràthair  as  am  faod  sinn 
uaill  a  dheanamh.  Airson  blaths' 
cridhe,  airson  ciiiil  'us  dannsa  'us 
òraid,  c'àite  am  faic  thu  a  choimeas  1 

Gidlieadh,  cha  'u  ann  gu  tur  gun 


leth-sgeul  a  sheallas  sinn  air  an 
Eirionnach  gun  ro  mhòran  tlachd. 
"  Is  tiuighe  full  na  burn ; "  ach,  a 
dh'  aindeoin  fuil  'us  cainnt,  tha  da 
ni,  air  a  chuid  is  lugha,  anns  a'  bheil 
an  Gaidheal  Albannach  agus  an 
Gaidheal  Eirionnach  a'  gabhail  fad  o 
chèil,amhuil  a  tha  an  Airde-near  agus 
an  airde-niar.  A  thaobh  an  aidmheil 
cha  bhuin  e  dhuinn  bòsd  a  dhean- 
amh, no  beum  a  thoirt  do  f  hear  seach 
a  cheile.  Ach  a  thaobh  dortadh  fola 
agus  urram  do  bhuid  tha  dealach- 
adh  farsuing  mar  an  cuan  eadar 
beachdan  'us  cleachduin  an  da 
shluaigh.  Air  fad  agus  lend  Gàidh- 
ealtachd  na  h-Alba  tha  am  mortair 
agus  fear  nam  mionnan-eithich,  cha'n 
ann  a  mhàin  'n  an  cuspairean  fuath 
agus  eagail,  ach  'n  an  cuis-uamhais. 
Cha  'n  e  mhàin  gu  bheil  an  lagh  an 
tòir  orra,  ach  tha  mòr-chridhe  an  t- 
sluaigh  gu  tur  agus  gu  h-uile — Ian 
shuidhichte  'n  an  aghaidh.  Cha  'n 
'eil  duine  aig  a'  bheil  eolas  sam  bith 
air  na  Gàidheil  'n  ar  dùthaich  a 
chuireas  so  'an  teagomh — gu  h-àraid 
ma  's  urrainn  da  sealltainn  air  ais 
car  deich-bliadhna-fichead  na  da- 
fhichead-bliadhna.  Air  da  ni  a 
thachair  ann  an  Eilean  Dubh  an  taobh 
Kosaich,  an  uair  a  bha  mi  ann  am 
bhalachan,  agus  a  tha'n  an  eisempleir 
air  so,  cha  dean  mi  di-chuimhne  gu 
breath.  Aon  la  chunnaic  mi  creut- 
air  truagh  air  bhoile  cuthaich,  a 
theich  gus  na  coilltean,  agus  nach 
tigeadh  'an  gaoth  do  thigh  ach  airson 
greim  arain  an  uair  a  bha  e  air  a 
sgiiirsadh  le  acras.  Bha  e  cosmhuil 
19 


290 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


ri  tamhasg  ;  'f  halt  'n  a  chiabha  allta 
a  seasamh  suas  troiiAli  chèile  mar 
mhuing  an  hyena,  's  a  sliùilean 
fuilteacli  'us  dearg  lasarach  mar 
shiiilean  cait  's  an  dorcha.  Bha 
eagal,  oillt,  uamhunn  air  an 
dealbh  na  aogais,  agns  mar  gu'm 
biodh  iad  a'  beò-ghluasad  'n  a 
eudann.  Bha  e  'clisgeadh  le  geilt 
roimh  f  haileus  fein,  no  roimh  f  hiiaim 
a  rinneadh  le  eun  beag  ag  itealaich 
ri  'thaobh.  'S  ann  gu  dearbh  a 
bha  e  mar  gu'm  biodh,  mar  tha, 
a,ingeal  an  dioghaltais  air  a  shall, 
Agus  an  t-eagal  a  chuir  ,is  a  chiall 
e  fein^  is  beag  nach  d'  fhàg  e  air 
gach  siiil  a  chunnaic  e.  Tire  agus 
team  sinn  uile  o'n  ghluasad  uamhais 
sin  'n  an  cridhe  leis  an  dubhairt  na 
daoine  ri  chèile,  mar  bha  e  'dol  as 
an  f  radharc,  gun  an  guth  a  leigeadh 
OS  cionn  an  analach :  "  SuD  Am  FEAR 

A  THUG  NA  MIONNAN  EITHICH." 

Mu'n  am  cheudna  cliaidh  boirionn- 
ach  a  mhortadh  ann  an  àite  aonarach 
air  mullach  a'  Mhaoil  Bhuidhe,  eadar 
Inbhir-Feòran  agus  Port-Cheasaic. 
A  leithid  de  ghluasad  agus  a  bha 
'measg  an  t-sluaigh  cha  'n  urrainn 
dòmhsa  chur  an  cainnt.  Cùram 
bìdh  'us  dibhe,  cliram  sprèidhe  'us 
tuathanais,  maille  ri  ibis  na  h-oidche 
— dh'  fhàg  iad  an  sluagh  gu  tur. 
Cha  robh  ni  ach  so  'n  am  beul  agus 
'n  an  smuain,  "Co  a  rinn  e  1 " 
"Cionnas  a  gheobhar  greim  air  a 
mhortair'?"  Thàinig  togail  fo'n  t- 
sluagh  mar  gu'm  biodh  na  Loch- 
lunnaich  a  ris  air  tir,  agus  cha  robh 
duine  ann  an  seachd  sgireachdan 
an  Eilein-Duibh  nach  robh  'n  a 
fhear-diolaidh-na-fola. 

A  nis  cuir  ann  an  coimeas  ri  so  na 
nithean  a  tha  o  la  gu  la  a'  tachairt 
an  Eirinn.  Duine  a'  dol  a  mach  air 
àirde  a'  mheadhon  la,  a'  luidhe  sios 
le  'ghunna  air  culthaobh  pris,  agus 
a'  losgadh  air  an  fhador  mar  a 
thilgeadh  ta  sionnach,  agus  'n  a 
dheieh  sin  a'  falbh  air  a  shocair  agus 


a  faighinn  fàrdoich  'us  fasgaidh  bho 
na  ficheadan  de  dhaoine  a  chunnaic 
an  gniomh.  Agus  cha  'n  e  sin  a 
mhcàin,  ach  mionnaichidh  na  h-uile 
duine  dhiu  nach  do  rinn  e  an  gniomh 
idir,  ach  gu'  n  robh  e  aig  an  am  air 
taobh  eile  na  diithcha. 

Tha  ann  an  so  a'  cheist  ag  èirigh  : 
*'  Ciod  a  rinn  an  dealachadh  mòr  so 
eadar  muinntir  a  tha  dh'  aon  fliuil 
agus  a  dh'  aon  chainnt  1 "  Cha  'n 
'eil  a'  cheist  furasta  fhuasgladh,  agus 
theagamh  nach  e  so  an  t-àite  is 
freagarraiche  air  son  oidhirp  a  thoirt 
air  fuasgladh  a  thairgse.  Ach  tha 
ceist  eile  a  dh'  fhaodas  sinn 
fheòraich  dhinn  fein.  A'  bheil 
na  Gàidheil  Albannach  an  diugh  cho 
clili-thoillteanach  anns  na  nithe  so 
agus  a  bha  iad  o  chionn  da  f  hichead 
bliadhna  Ì  Tha  eagal  orm  nach  'eil. 
Nach  'eil  Eirionnaich  ag  èirigh  'n  ar 
measg  fein  Ì  Agus  nach  'eil  beachd- 
an  fior  Eirionnach  corr  uair  ri  'n 
oluinntinn  anns  a'  bhaile  ud  agus 
anns  a'  bhaile  ud  thall  Ì 

An  uair  a  thoisicheas  daoine  aig 
a'  bheil  greim  air  cluas  nan  Gàidheal 
air  "cur  na  gaoithe,"  seall  a  mach  air- 
son  "fogharadh  na  cuairt-ghaoith." 
D. 


Is  firinneach  an  sean-fhocal  adeir  "Gu'n 
caomhain  am  fear  nach  caith."  Agus 
thubhairt  an  Ti  sin  a  labhair  mar  nach  do 
labhair  neach  riamh  ;  "  An  ti  a  ta  firinneach 
anns  an  ni  a's  lugha,  tha  e  firinneach  mar 
an  c^udna  ann  am  mòran  ;  agus  an  ti  a  ta 
èucorach  anns  an  ni  as  lugha  tha  e  èucorach 
ann  am  moran,  mar  an  c^udna."  Far  am 
bheil  neach  nach  gabh  cùram  de  chuid  a 
mhaighstir,  cha  ghabh  e  cùram  de  chuid 
fein.  Tha  gnmndalas  agus  millteachd  'nan 
nithe  aig  am  bheil  mòr  chumhachd  thairis 
oirnn,  araon  "nar  gnothuichibh  fein,  agus 
ann  an  goiothuichibh  muinntir  eile.  Ma  ni 
thu  ana'caitheadh  air  cuid  duine  eile,  tha 
thu  'deanamh  rèubainn  air.  Tha  thu  'ga 
chreachadh  co'-ionnan  air  an  da  sheòl  agus 
'  tha  'n  call  dàsan  an  t-aon  ni  ;  ach  ma  tha 
ctiram  ort  a  thaobh  codach  do  mhaighstir, 
gabhaidh  tu  an  cùram  c^udna  a  thaobli  do 
chodach  fein  agus  thèid  thu  air  t-aghaidh 
air  an  t-slighe  gu  soirbheas. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fliogbair,  187G. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


291 


THILL  AN  T-EA.RKACH. 

Is  àillidli  ceum  an  earraich  àìgh, 

'S  gach  ait  m'  an  cuairt  an  saogh'l. 
O,  cuir  do  lamb  am  làimh-sa,  'ghràidh, 

'S  as  ùr  gu  'm  fas  ar  gaol. 
Am  bi  gach  bòid  a  thugadh  leinn, 

'S  gach  gealladh  grinn,  gun  stath, 
"X  uair  tha  gach  lus  a'  togail  cinn, 

'S  a  thill  an  t-earrach  tlath  ? 

An  speur  no  'n  cuan  cha  Mir  dhomh  buaidh: 

Cha  dual  domh  tlachd  an  ni 
'S  an  talamh  ghorm  ;  's  e  gaol  mo  luaidh 

'Chuir  tart  ro  chruaidh  am  chridh', 
jMar  thart  an  fheòir  's  nam  flùr  geal,  grinn, 

Nach  cinn  gun  fhrasan  blàth, 
Xis  'n  uair  tha  eòin  a'  seinn  gu  binn, 

'S  a  thill  an  t-earrach  tlàth. 

Xis  dhiiisg  an  t-earrach  eòin  nan  craobh, 

Leag  gaoir  na  fairge  brèin'  ; 
An  sgap  e  'àiUeachd  air  gach  taobh, 

'S  gun  si  on  do  m'  ghaol  's  domh  fèin  ? 
Gràdh  nach  tig  leis  a  thogas  dhinn 

Gach  mighean  agus  cràdh, 
'X  uair  tha  gach  lus  a'  fas  gu  grinn, 

'S  a  thill  an  t-earrach  tlàth  ? 

An  t-hite,  'n  cuimhne  leat,  a  rtiin, 

Fo  sgaile  dlùth  nan  crann, 
Am  measg  nam  fliii- — ar  sixgradh  cihin  ? 

Tha  bhuainn  as  ùr  dol  ann. 
'S  an  kite  'n  trie  bu  mhhirneach  sinn, 

Ar  gaol  gu'n  till  mar  bhb,, 
Oir  tha  na  h-eòin  a'  seinn  gu  binn, 

A's  thill  an  t-earrach  tlàth. 

Eadar.  le  Mac-Mharcuis. 


SEANA  CH  LEAS  AN  GAIDH- 
EAL AC  H. 

Fhir  mo  chridhe,  —  Tha  naire 
onn  sgi'iobhadh  thugad  leis  cho 
fada  's  a  bha  mi  gu  'n  smid  a 
cbur  ad  ionnsaidh.  Cha  'n  'eil  mi 
math  no  toigheach  air  na  leisgeulan 
agus  air  an  aobbar  sin  clia  'n  f  lieuch 
mi  ri  m'  leisgeul  a  ghabhail.  Is 
taitneach  leam  f  haicinn  o  am  gu  am 
an  oidheirp  dhiongmholta  a  tha  thu 
a'  toirt  air  nithibh  Gaidhealach  a 
chumail  suas  mar  bu  choir  dhoibh  a 
h\n.  Tha  a'  GhaidhUg  agus  gach 
gnothach  Gaidhealach  a'  faighina 
meas  an  drast  nach  d'  fhuair  iad 
bho  chionn  moran  bhUadhnaichean 


agus  tha  mi  am  beachd  gu  'm  bi  e 
'n  a  thoiUnntinn  do  luchd-leughaidh 
a'  Ghaidheil  cunntas  fhaighinn  air 
cuid  de  na  seana  clileasan  a  h' 
abhaist  a  bhi  ga  'n  cluich  anns  a' 
Ghaidhealtachd  an  uair  a  blaiodh 
daoine  air  chèilidh.  Ged  tlia  moran 
de  na  seana  chleasan  Gtàidheahich  a 
nis  a'  dol  air  dhi-chuimhn'  agus  an 
aite  air  a  lionadh  le  cleasan  Gallda, 
tha  cuid  dliiu  ann  an  cleachdainn  am 
measg  nan  Gaidheal  fhatliast. 

Bheir  mi  le  d'  chead  cunntas  air 
cleas  a  b'  abhaist  a  bhi  againn  ann 
am  Bun-atha  an  uair  bha  mi  am 
"  Dhonnachadh  og."  Is  e  am  "Mart 
Bradach  "  a  theireamaid  ris.  Is  ann 
mar  so  a  bhiteadli  ga  'chluich. 

Bha  a'  chuideachd  air  a  cur  anu 
an  ordugh  agus  croinn  air  an  cur  co 
a  bhithidh  'n  a  Bigh  agus  co  'n  a 
BhuachaiUe.  An  uair  a  bha  an  Kigh 
agus  am  Buachaille  air  an  cur  air 
leth,  bha  a'  chathair-mhor  air  a 
deanamh  'n  a  Righ-Chathair,  agns 
air  a  h-àrdachadh  le  da  f  hold  mòna 
a  chur  fo  gach  cois,  agus  an  sin  bha 
an  Eigh  air  a  chur  'n  a  shuidhe 
oirre,  le  slait  'n  a  laimh.  Bha  an 
sin  cairtean  paipear  air  an  cur  ami 
am  boineid,  cairt  air  son  gach  neach 
anns  a'  chuideachd  ach  an  Righ  agus 
am  Buachaille.  Air  aon  de  na 
cairtean  so  bha  dealbh  Mairt.  Bha 
a'  bhoineid  air  a  crathadh  agus  an 
sin  fear  a  dol  mu'n  cuairt  a'  chuidh- 
eachd  leatha  agus  gach  h-aon  a' 
toirt  cairt  aisde.  Bha  gach  aon  ris 
a'  chairt  a  chumail  'n  a  laimh  air  a  ' 
chul  agus  cha  robh  e  fein  no  fear 
eile  ri  amharc  oirre  aig  an  am  so. 
An  uair  a  bha  na  cairtean  ga  'n 
roinn  bha  am  fear  a  chaidh  a  chur 
air  leth  mar  BhuachaiUe  a'  dol  taobh 
mach  dorus  a'  chatha  agus  air  dha 
sanas  fhaotainn  gu  'n  robh  gach  lii 
deas  air  a  shon,  bha  e  a  bualadh  rti 
doruis  tri  uairean  gu  fuaimeil.  Air 
do  'n  Righ  so  a'  chkiinntinn  bha  e 
ag  radh,  "  Tha  mi  'cluinntinn  cais- 


292 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair, 


meachd  aig  an  dorus ;  fosglaibli  e." 
Air  do'ii  dorus  bhi  air  'fliosgladh 
bha  am  Buachaille  a'  deanadh  beic 
•ris  an  Kigli  agiis  ag  radh,  "  An  cead 
briiidhinn,  a  Kigh  Ì  " 

KiGH. — Is  cead. 

Buachaille. — An  cead  an  cèum 
so,  Rigli  Ì 

EiGH. — Is  cead. 

Buachaille. — A'  li-uile  ceum  gu 
ruig  an  Eigh  1 

RiGH. — Is  cead. 

Bha  aig  a  Bhuacliaille  ri  'bheic  a 
dlieanamh  a'  h-uile  li-uair  a  bhruidh- 
neadh  e  ris  an  Rigb.  Mur  deanadh 
e  so  dh'  fhaodadh  an  Eigh  eisdeachd 
a  dhiultadh  dha,  ordugh  a  thoirt  a 
sguirsadh  agus  fear  eile  a  chur  'n  a 
aite. 

Bha  am  Buachaille  a  nis  a'  dol  a 
suas  gu  cathair  an  Eigh  agus  air  dha 
a  bheic  a  dheanamh  ris  an  Eigh, 
theireadh  e,  "  An  cead  bruidhinn  a 
Eighr' 

Eigh.— Is  cead. 

Buachaille.— Tha  mise  'n  so, 
am  Bhuachaille  bochd,  bho  chnoc  gu 
cnoc,  ag  iai-raidh  Mairt  mhaoil, 
dhuibh;  tha  amharus  agam  gu'n 
deachaidh  a  goid,  agus  tha  mi  ag 
iarraidh  bho  'n  Eigh  ughdarras  a 
chuid  daoine  a  rannsachadh. 

EiGH.^ — Biodh  e  mar  is  math  leat; 
so  dhuit  ughdarras  an  Eigh. 

An  uair  a  tha  an  Eigh  ag  radh  so 
tha  e  a'  sineadh  na  slaite  Eioghail 
dha  mar  ughdarras.  Tha  am 
Buachaille  a  nis  a'  dol  troimh  'n 
chuidheachd  a  dh'  feuchainn  am  faic 
e  am  fear  air  an  do  leag  e  amharus. 
Air  dha  fhaicinn,  tha  e  ga  'thoirt  a 
mach  gu  meadhon  an  urlair  agus  a 
cur  na  meairle  as  a  leth.  Tha  am 
fear  so  ag  àicheadh  na  meairle,  agus 
mar  dhearbhadh  air  a  neo-chiontachd 
tha  e  'leigeil  fhaicinn  na  cairte  a  tha 
'n  a  laimh.  Mur  'eil  dealbh  a' 
Mhairt  air  a'  chairt  tha  so  na  f  hior 
dhearbhadh  gubheil  e  neo-chiontach, 
agus  air  dha  a  bheic  a  dheanamh  ris 


an  Eigh,  tha  e  ag  radh,  "  An  cead 
bruidhinn  a'  Eigh"?"  An  uair  a 
gheobh  e  cead  an  Eigh  their  e,  "Co 
meud  buille  a  tha  an  Eigh  ag 
ordachadh  do'n  Bhuachaille  so  air 
son  na  meairle  moire  so'  a  chur  as 
mo  leth  agus  mi  neo-chiontach?" 

Dh'ainmicheadh  an  Eigh  an  sin 
an  cunntas  bhuillean  a  bha  am 
Buachaille  ri  fhaotainn,  agus  bha 
am  fear  so  a  chaidh  f  haighinn  neo- 
chiontach  ris  na  buillean  a  thoirt 
do  'n  Bhuachaille.  An  uair  a  bha 
so  seachad  bha  am  Buachaille  a'  dol 
a  rithist  air  tòir  a'  IMhairt.  An 
uair  a  dh'  amaiseadh  e  oirre  bha 
am  fear  a  bha  ciontach  d'an  mheairle 
air  a  thoirt  air  beulaobh  an  Eigh, 
agus  bha  esan  ag  ordachadh  a 
sgiùrsaddh,  ag  ainmeachadh  do  'n 
Bhuachaille  a'  chunntais  bhuillean  a 
bha  e  ri  thoirt  seachad.  Na  'm  b'  e 
's  gu  'n  tugadli  am  Buachaille  buille 
a  thuilleadh  's  a'  choir  no  h-aon 
tuilleadh  's  beag,  bha  e  fein  ris  a' 
cheart  chunntas  bhuillean  fhaotainn. 
Is  trie  a  bha  an  Eigh  ag  ainmeach- 
adh cia  mar  a  bu  mhath  leis  na 
buillean  a  bhi  air  an  toirt  seachad, 
agus  cha  robh  e  idir  'n  a  ghnothach 
farasda  do'n  Bhuachaille  cuimhne 
'chumail  air  gach  ni  a  dh'  ordaich- 
eadh  an  Eigh,  oir  is  trie  a  theireadh 
e  an  am  toirt  na  binne,  "  Tha  mi  ag 
orduchadhfichead  buille  — tri  cruaidh 
agus  h-aon  bog;"  agus  dh'  f  heumadh 
am  Buachaille  bochd  na  builean  a 
thoirt  seachad  a  reir  ordugh  an 
Eigh. 

Ma's  math  mo  chuimhne  's  ann 
mar  so  a  bha  an  cleas  so  air  a 
chluich,  ach  tha  cho  fada  bho  nach 
do  chluich  mi  e,  's  nach  faca  mi  air 
a'  chluich 's  e,  nach  Ucàire  dhomh  ged 
bhithinn  air  cuid  dheth  a  leageil  as 
mo  chuimhne.  Bidh  fhios  agad 
fein  ma  tha  mi  cearr. 

Tha  mi'n  dochas  gu'n  cuir  thu 
fein  dreach  air  an  litir  leibidich  so. 
Is  mi  do  charaid  dileas,      FiONN. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876.  AN    GAIDHEAL.  293 


OEAN  NA  SAMHXA. 

Air  Oidhclie  na  samhna  bidli  ann,  bidli  aim, 
Buidsichean  's  deamhna  neo-ghann  neo-ghann  ; 

Bidh  sithcliean  le  aighir  a'  marcachd  's  an  athar, 
'S  a'  toirt  leo  mnathan  'us  clann  'us  claim. 

Lninneag. 
Seinn  iùra-bliinn  oho,  horò,  horò, 

Nach  cluinn  sibli,  a  chaileagan,  fouaibh  aig  bade, 
Mu'n  bi  sibh  na'r  fauaid  's  na'r  spòrs,  na'r  spòrs. 

Seinn  ilira-bliinu  oho,  horò,  horò. 

Bidh  moran  de  dhaoine  fo  sprochd,  fo  sprochd  ; 

'S  a'  chlann  bidh  ag  caoineadh  gu  goirt,  gu  goirt ; 
Bidh  mnathan  ag  glaodhaich,  's  cha  blii  iad  gun  aobhar, 

'S  ua  sithchean  ga'n  slaodadh  do'n  chnoc,  do'n  chnoc. 

Ged  bhios  logaidean  's  bodaich  air  falbh,  air  falbh. 

Tha'n  oidhche  sin  sona  gu  dearbh,  gu  dearbh, 
Gheabh  fleasgaichean  's  caileagan  brath  air  an  leannain, 

Le  fàisneachd  gun  mhearachd,  gun  chearb,  gun  chearb. 

0,  tha  m'  eubh  ribh,  a  Cheòlraidh,  mo  chcàil,  mo  chàil, 

A  ghleusadh  gu  ceòl  'us  gu  dan,  gu  dan ; 
Los  gu'n  seinneam  mu'n  ghòraich  'tha  'measg  na  cloinn'  òige, 

'S  an  aois  cha'n  'eil  moran  na's  fheàrr,  na's  f heàrr. 

Bidh  fleasgaichean  's  cailean,  gun  tcàmh,  gun  tàmh, 
A'  falbh  feadh  gach  baile  'gold  càil,  'gold  cail ; 

Cha  bhi  gàradh  no  callaid  nach  leag  iad  gu  talamh, 
'S  iad  'teicheadh  leis  dhachaidh  gun  nàir',  gun  nàir'. 

'N  uair  'thig  iad  leis  dhachaidh,  air  chrith,  air  chrith, 
Gu'n  cuir  iad  e  seachad,  gun  f  hios,  gun  f  hios, 

Bràigh  dorus  an  tighe,  mu'n  teid  iad  a  laidhe, 
'Us  bidh  e  gu  lath'  ann  a'  sin,  ann  a'  sin. 

An  ciad  neach  'thioj  a  steach,  an  t-ath  la,  an  t-ath  la, 

Bidh  na  'chomhar  gu  beachd,  air  an  gràdh,  air  an  gràdh; 

'Us  dona  no  math  air  an  stoc  ma  bhios  bias, 

Bidh  an  urra  sin  ceart  no  gun  stàth,  no  gun  stàth. 

Ma  leanas  ris  tobhtag  no  pleoc,  no  pleoc. 

Aig  an  aon  sin  bidh  tochradh,  no  toic,  no  toic  ; 
Ach  ma  bhios  an  stoc  geocach,  crom,  cam,  agus  crotach, 

Bidh  an  duine  sin  coltach  na  'chorp,  na  'chort. 

Cleachdadh  eile  tha  aca.  gu  dearbh,  gu  dearbh, 
'Bhi  mach  feadh  nam  bailtean,  air  falbh,  air  falbh, 

Ag  'eisdeachd  's  a'  farcluais  aig  dorus  gach  aitrimh 
'S  gur  comhar  'chiad  fhacal  air  'ainm,  air  'ainm. 


294  AN    GAIDHEAL,  Treas  Mìos  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 

A  macli  do'n  chruaich  arbhair,  theid  iad,  theid  iad, 
'S  bidli  a'  spionadh  's  a'  tearbadh  nan  dias,  nan  dias  : 

An  siol-mullaicli  ma  dh'  flialbhas,  cha  bhi  ac'  ach  fann-earbsa 
Gu'n  teid  cèile  leo  'shearmoin  gu  siorruidh,  gu  sior. 

'S  theid  feadbainn  le  faicill  do'n  àtbaidh,  do'n  àth, 
'Us  bheir  lad  leo  ceirsle  de  shnàth,  de  shnàth ; 
-  Ga  'tilgeadh  do'n  lagan  tri  uairean  's  ga  tachras, 

Dh'  fhiach  'u  teid  oirre  grabadh  le'n  gradh,  le'n  gràdh. 

Cuid  eile  gheabh  ubhal,  gun  fhios,  gun  fhios, 

'S  theid  iad  gu  sgàthan  g'  a  ith,  g'  a  ith ; 
'S  chi  iad  coltas  an  leannain  ga  'spioladh  gu  h-ealamh, 

'S  ga  'thoirt  as  an  lamhan  gu  clis,  gu  clis. 

'Us  tha  e  de  chleachdadh  aig  cuid,  aig  cuid, 

Dol  do'n  t-sabhul  a  dh-fhasgnadh  le  guit,  le  guit ; 

'S  chi  iad  samhladh  no  tannasg  'del  seachad  na  'dheannaibh 
'S  a'  dol  as  an  t-sealladh  na  'ruith,  na  'ruith. 

'S  theid  fleasgaich  a  dh-aitheamh  nan  cruach,  nan  cruach, 
'S  g'  an  tomhas  le'n  lamhan  mu'n  cuairt,  mu'n  cuairc, 

Dh'  f  haighinn  samhlaidh  na'n  glacaibh  air  a'  cheile  'bhios  aca ; 
'Sin  teicliidh  iad  dhachaidh  gu  luath,  gu  luath. 

Cuid  a  thumas  an  alldan  an  lèin',  an  lèin', 

Far  an  coinnich  tri  oighreachdan  'chèil',  a  cheil'  ; 

'S  ris  an  tain'  fad  na  h-oidhch'  theid  a  cur  gus  am  foillsich 
Ga  'gèard  tannasg,  no  taibhse,  na  drèug,  no  dreug. 

'N  sin  theid  aig  an  teallaich,  air  lie,  air  lie, 

Tri  cuachagan  geala  de  dh-fhiodh,  de  dh-fhiodh  ; 

Ann  an  te  bidh  uisg'  glan,  's  an  aon  eil'  uisg'  salach 
'S  an  treas  te  bidh  falamh,  gun  sil',  gun  sil'. 

'S  theid  dallan  air  neach  gu  seòlt',  gu  seòlt', 

'S  gu'n  tea;nn  e'na  'n  caraibh  le  'chròig,  le  'chròig; 

Air  te  thrnaillt',  glan,  no  falamh,  ma  dh'  eireas  da  amas, 
'S  e  leith'd  sin  'ni  e  theannadh  na  'choir,  na'  choir. 

An  sin  gheabh  iad  uachdar  ii  stop,  a  stop, 

'S  gu'n  dian  iad  dheth  fuarag  'bhios  mòr,  bhios  mor ; 

Theid  a  cur  ann  an  cuaich,  's  cuirear  fainne  gu  luath  iunt', 
'S  ge  b'e  gheabh  e  tri  uairean  gu  'm  pòs,  gu'm  pòs. 

Bonnach-salainn  no  sgadan  'bhios  goirt,  'bhios  goirt, 

Gu'n  ith  iad  le  cabhaig,  's  le'n  toil,  's  le'n  toil ; 
Los  gu  'm  faic  iad  an  leannan  ('n  uair  'theid  iad  do'n  leabaidh) 
•  'Tigh'nn  g'an  ionnsuidh  fo  mhadainn  le  deoch,  le  deoch. 

Nis  sguiream  de  m'  òran  's  de  m'  dhuan,  's  de  m'  dhuan, 

'S  a  dh-innse  mu  ghòraich  an  t-sluaigh,  an  t-sluaigh ; 
•Gheabh  gach  urra  ri  phòsadh  an  neach  'tha  's  an  òrdugh, 
'S  cha  chum  duine  's  an  Eorp'  e  bhuap',  e  bhuap'. 
Seinn  iùra-bhinn,  &c. 


Treas  Itlios  an  Fhoghair,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


295 


TOMAS  REUMAIR. 

"  An  uair  tliig  Tomas  le  '  chuid  each, 
Bidh  la,  nan  creach  aig  Cluaidh." 

Cha  'n  'eil  ach  f ior  bheagan  air 
sgial  againn  de  eachdraidh  chinntich 
sa  bilh  mu  Thomas  Eeumair.  Is 
anil  a  mhuinntir  Ercildoune  {Earls- 
t(i'un),  baileachan  beag  a  mach  air  a' 
Ghalltachd  a  bhà  e.  Tacan  a  mach 
as  a'  bhaile  chitear  gus  an  la  an  diugh 
làrach  a'  chaisteil  aige.  Bha  uair  a 
bha  e  ainmeil  's  a'  Ghaidhealtachd, 
agus  fhathast  cha  do  leigeadh  tur 
air  diochuimhne  e,  ach,  ar  learn 
nach  cuala  mi  co  dhiubh  a  bha  no 
nach  robh  Gàidhlig  aige.  Is  e 
Learraont  a  bu  daoine  dha — is  ann 
a  chionn  e  bhi  ri  bàrdachd  a  theirt- 
eadh  an  Reumair  ris.  Bha  e  ann  ri 
linn  Alastair  III.,  agus  their  feadh- 
ainn  gu  'n  d'  eirich  e  le  Wallace ; 
ach  cha  robh  e  'am  bithibh  an 
t-saoghail  so  's  a'  bhliadhna  1299, 
thatha's  am  beachd.  Cleas  iortia 
duine  fhoghluimt'  a  bh'ann  ri  'linn, 
bhiteadh  ag  our  air  Tomas  gu  'n 
robh  a'  sgoil-dubh  aige.  Tha  innse- 
sgeòil  agàinn  cuideachd  gu  'm  biodh 
e  ri  fiosachd  no  faisneachd ;  ach  co 
dhiubh  a  fhuair  e  an  t-eòlas  sin  bho 
mhaighdinn-chr'àbhaidh  a  bh'  ann 
an  Haddington,  no  bho  leannan- 
sith,  cha'n  'eileas  tur  chinnteach. 
Coma,  is  ann  mar  so  a  chuala  mise 
a  fhuair  e  bho  'n  leannan-shith 
e  : — 

Bha  e  latha  na  'shineadh,  na 
'dhùisg  no  'n  righeachd-na-suain',  'am 
bun  craoibhe-caoruinn  air  uchdaich 
Beinn  Eildoin,  agus  faicear  a'  dol 
seachad  an  aon  ribhinn  a  b'  àillidh 
snuagh  a  chunnacas  riabh.  Bha  i 
'marcachd  air  falaire  bhòidhich, 
ghuirm,  's  a  muing  air  chrathadh  le 
cluigeinean  airgid  a  bha  togail  fuinn 
fo  ghaoith  an  fhirich.  A  diallaid 
de'n  ibhridh  f  hior  ghloin  fo  dhealt- 
radh  de  dh-obair  an  òrchiùird.  Na 
stiorapan,  a  deise,  's  gach  seud  'us 


ni  mu  'n  cuairt  di,  a'  tòirt  bàrr  air  a 
chèile  'am  maise  's  'an  luach.  Bha 
bogha  de  dhearg  an  iubhair  air  lugh 
na  'laimh,  agus  a^orlach  'an  croch- 
adh  ri  'crios.  Tri  miol-choin  uaine 
aice  air  lomhainn,  agus  tri  coin- 
luirge  gun  mheang  ri  'sail. 

Thuit  Tomas  an  trom  ghaol  oirre 
's  a'  chiad  phlathadh,  's  chuir  e 
fàilte  oirre  's  dh'  iarr  e  a  làmh.  A 
làmh  cha  tugadh  i  seachad  mur 
gabhadh  e  an  toiseach  aice  na  'ghille. 
Thàlaidh  a  snuagh  's  a  cainnt  e  cho 
mòr  's  gu  'n  d'  aontaich  e  sid  a 
dhianamh ;  ach  mu  'n  gann  a  chord 
iad,  dh'  fhàs  ise  na  'caillich  a  bu 
deisniche  dhuaichnidh  a  chunnacas 
riabh  no  chi.  Na  sùilean  sin  a  bha 
bho  chionn  tiota  stracte  le  mùirn 
'us  gaol,  thionndaidh  iad  gun  lannair 
na  'ceann.  Chrion  'us  dli'fhail  a 
fait  gu  buileach,  's  dh'f  has  a  deise 
na  baidrich  bharlag,  's  cnaimhean 
na  falaire  fhein  a'  sginneadh  romh 
'n  t-seiche.  Cha  robh  dreug  no 
druineach  nach  b'  oigh  Làmh  rithe  ; 
ach  coma,  an  uair  a  dh'  iarr  i  air 
soiridh  bhuan  a  ghabhail  leis  a' 
ghrèin  's  leis  a'  ghealaich,  'us  leis 
gach  lus  'us  craoibh,  dh'  impich  e  's 
dh'fhalbh  e  leatha  do'n  Tir-fo- 
gheas.  Grhabh  iad  a  stigh  do 
dh-uamha  's  thug  iad  tri  latha  's  tri 
oidhche  'an  goile  'n  talmhainn,  gun 
bhiadh  gu  'n  deoch,  ag  coiseachd  'au 
dall-dorchadas,  uair  a  chluinneadh 
iad  nuallanaich  a'  chuain,  's  uair  a 
chroisgeadh  iad  aimhnichean  fala, 
gus  mu  dheireadh  thall  an  d'  fhosg- 
ail  an  talamh  dhaibh.  A'  sin  fhuair 
iad  iad-fhein  'an  gàradh  àluinn  a 
bha  'sruthadh  leis  gach  soighneas 
'us  àilleas,  gach  lus  fo  bhlàth  's  gach 
craobh  a'  luisreadh  le  measan,  agus 
na  h-eòin  a'  seinn  ceileiridh  nach 
cualas  riabh  'àicheadh.  Mu'n  gann 
a  bha  iad  a  stigh  's  an  ionad-àigh  so 
dh'  ath-nuadhaich  a  bhan-chompan- 
ach — i-f  hein  's  a  lòiseam,  agus  sùil 
dh'  an  d'  thug  e,  bha  i  na  b'  àillidk 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhogliair,  1876. 


na  bha  i  an  uair  a  cliunnaic  e  an 
tùs  air  a'  bheinn  i.  An  irapis  fann- 
acbadh  leis  an  acras,  sbin  Tom  as  a 
làmh  a  ruigsinn  air  meas.  "  Na 
dian,"  OS  ise,  "  sin  agad  na  h-libhlan- 
sianta  a  thug  bàs  nihic-an-duine." 
An  sin  thòisicb  i  air  an  dùtbaich 
f  biacbainn  da. 

"  An  t-sbgbe  ud  tball  air  do  làimb 
dbeis,"  OS  ise,  "  is  ann  oirre  a 
tbriallar  do  phàras.  An  t-sbgbe 
cbònard,  rèidb,  sbios  ud  fotbad,  is  i 
rathad  nan  daoidh  do  rigbeacbd- 
nam-pian.  An  treas  sbgbe  a  tba 
'gabbail  romb  'n  doire  dboilleir  ud 
tball  is  ann  oirre  a  db'  imicbear  do 
'n  ionad-mbeadbon.  Acb  a'  faic 
tbu  'n  ratbad  eile  a  tba  'g  iatbadb  a 
null  romb  'n  raon  db'ionns'  a'  cbaist- 
eil  àigb  ud  bbuainn?  sid  agad  an 
ratbad  a  tba  'dol  gus  an  Tir-fo-gbeas 
— an  ratbad  againne,  agus  is  e  an 
caisteal  ar  ceann-uidbe.  Is  ann  's 
a'  cbaisteal  ud  a  tba  'n  righ  a'  fuir- 
eacb  agus  is  mis'  a  bbànrigbinn. 
An  uair  a  tbeid  tbu  stigh  do  'n 
cbaisteal  feumaidb  tu  'bbi  d'  bbalbb- 
tbosd,  ciod  sa  bitb  a  tbeirear  riut : 
innsidh  mi-f  bein  an  ceann-fatb 
dbaibh,  agus  is  e  sin,  gu'n  d'  tbug 
mi  do  labbairt  bbuat  air  an  t-sligbe 
dliuinn  as  an  tir-isil. — A  nise  tog 
ort". 

A'  sin  tbog  iad  orra  air  cbeann  an 
turuis.  An  uair  a  ràinig  iad  an 
caisteal  cbaidb  iad  a  stigb  do'n  tigb- 
fbuine,  's  bba  'sin  cuirm  ga  'grèidb- 
eadh,  's  fèisd  ga  'cumail,  a  db' 
fboghnadh  do  rigb  an  dombain 
fbein. 

Bba  deicb  feidb  fbicbead  na  'n 
sineadb  air  bòrd-mòr  an  tigb-fbuine. 
's  còcairean  gun  fbàillinn  ga  'n 
àitheadh  's  ga  'n  deasacbadb,  's  na 
miol-cboin  tbomalt  a  rinn  an  t-sealg 
na  'n  laidbe  ag  imlicb  's  ag  òl  na 
fala,  air  àird'  an  dòigli'  ag  ambarc 
na  sitbne.  A'  sin  cbaidb  iad  a  stigb 
do  tballa-mòr  an  rigb,  's  cbuir  esan 
gun  eud,  gun  umbail,  fàilte  's  furan 


air  a  cbeile  cbaoimh.     Bha  ridirean 

'us  baintighearnan  's  ridbleadh  triiiir 
aca  ga  'dbannsa  gu  cuireideach  air  a' 
cblàraidh.  Gacb  airteal,  sgios,  agus 
allaban,  a  db'  fbuiliic  Tomas  air  a 
thurus  bho  Bheinn  Eildoin,  cbuir  an 
rimbeadh,  's  an  ceòl,  's  an  dannsa, 
gu  buileach  fo  cbeal,  agus  sid  e  ag 
cur  nan  car  dbeth  cbo  dlbtb  ri  gille- 
mirein  am  measg  cbàicb  air  a'  chlàr- 
aidh.  An  ceann  bine  's  aim  sir,  's  ar 
leis-san  gu  'm  bu  ghoirid,  thug  a' 
bhànrigbinn  guth  e,  's  db'  iarr  i  air 
e-fbein  ullachadh  gu  tilleadb  dhacb- 
aidh. 

"  Nise,"  OS  a'  bhànrigbinn,  "  c' 
fhad  a  tba  tbu  'n  diiil  a  tba  bbo'n  a 
thainig  tbu  Ì " 

"Ma  th,  'ùigh  nam  ban,"  osa 
Tomas,  "  sbaoilinn  gu'm  beil  mu 
sbeacbdain  ann." 

"  Is  tus'  a  tb'  air  do  mbealladb,  a 
a  Thomais,"  os  a'  bhànrighinn,  ''tba 
seacbd  bliadhna  bbo'n  a  thainig  tbu 
'so,  agus  is  mitbich  dbut  a  bbi  'falbb 
Bidb  am  Fear-mòr  e-fbein  a'  so  am 
maireach  a  thogail  na  cànacb,  agus 
duine  cho  eireacbdail  riutsa,  cba  dù 
dha  dol  as  air.  Cba  bu  gbiarab 
leam  air  an  t-saoghal  a  dh'  iatbas 
mu'n  gbrein,  gu'm  bitbinn-sa  am 
impidh  air  do  cbur  an  làimb  ;  uime 
sin  ma  ta  tog  ort  agus  biomaid  a' 
triall." 

Tbug  sgial  an  uambais  so  air 
Tomas,  olc  air  mbath,  an  Tir-fo-gheas 
f bagail ;  agus  cba  b'  fbada  gus  an  do 
cbuir  a'  bhànrighinn  gu  sàbbailt  e, 
far  an  do  thacbair  i  'n  tiis  air,  am 
bunnacraoibhe-caoruinn,  's  na  b-eòin 
a'  seinn  gu  b-iullagacb  na  'geugan. 
An  sin  ghabb  i  soiridb-ghaoil  leis, 
agus  cbuir  i  mar  gbeasan  air — falbb 
leatha  ge  b'e  uair  a  thigeadb  i  g'a 
iarraidb.  Mar  sin  ag  gabbail  a  cead 
detb,  a  los  a  chliu  a  bbi  gun  bheud, 
bbuibcb  i  air  an  teanga  nach  innseadh 
hriag.  ■  Cbaidb  esan  gu  'dhùlan  a 
dbiùlt  na  buadbacb  so,  a  dhianadh, 
ar  leis,  òinid  gun  mbeas  detb,  air 


Treas  MIos  an  Fhoghair,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


297 


feill  's  an  clachan,  'an  ciiirt  an  righ 
's  an  cuideaclida  leannain.  Ach  bu 
diomhain  da  cur  na  'h-aghaidh — clia 
d'  thug  i  feairt  air ;  a  chor  's  nach 
robli  cuideaclida  's  am  bitheadli  e, 


chord  iad  's  gu'n  d'  thug  an  dròbhair 
a'  bheinn  air 's  an  am  a  shònraich  iad. 
Ràinig  e  's  chaidh  an  t-each  aghrad- 
phcàidheadh  dha  le  buinn  de  sheann 
chiiinneadh  na  righeachd,  agus  thug 


an  uair  thuiteadh  do  'n  chonaltradh  j  an  duine-uasal  cuireadh   dha  a  dh' 

fhaicinn  àrois-thaimhe.  Dh'  fhalbh 
iad  cois  air  chois,  agus  ciod  a  bha  'sid 
ach  stàbull  mòr  làn  ghearran  air  stall, 
agus  saighdeir  fo  Ian  uidhim  na 
'shineadh  balbh  aig  casan  gach  eich. 

"  Cha'n  'eil  fear  no  each  dhiubh 
sin,"  OS  an  duin'-uasal  ris  an  dròbhair, 
"  nach  diiisg  's  nach  bi  mach  latha 
Sliabh-an-t-siorra. " 

'An  ceann  shios  an  stàbuill  mhòir 
SO  bha  claidheamh  'us  dudacli  an 
crochadh  air  ealehain,  agus  sheòl  am 
fiosaiche  do'n  dròbhair  iad,  ag  rkdh 
gur  h-iad  sid  a  dh'  fhuasgladh  a' 
gheas.  Chaidh  an  dròbhair  na 
'bhreitheal  leis  na  cuir  a  bh'  ann, 
agus  beirear  air  an  dùdaich  's  teannar 
ri  'seideadh.  A  chlisgeadh  ghluois  na 
h-eich  agus  thòisich  iad  air  breabadh 
chas    's   air   crathadh   shrian.     Dh' 


a  bhi  mu  'n  ùine  ri  tighinn,  nach 
dianadh  Tomas  Eeumair  fàisueachd 
dhaibh,  agus  cha  b'  urrainn  da  a' 
chaochla. 

Thug  Tomas  fada  beò  na  'dhùn 
fhein  an  deaghaidh  dha  tilleadh  as 
an  Tir-fo-gheas  agus  e  'm  miagh  's 
an  urram  mar  fhàidhe  aig  mithibh 
'us  mathaibh  gach  dùthcha.  Tha 
mòran  fhathast  air  sgial  dheth 
'f  hàisneachd  agus  cha  bheag  dhi  a 
thàinig  air  chois.  Ach  is  diomain 
gach  dull  'us  creubh  air  thalamh, 
agus  cha  bu  dual  do  Thomas  a  bhi 
mairionn  gu  bràch.  Là  mòr  a  bha 
'sid  's  larla  Mharch  aige  air  chuir- 
eadh,  cliuir  muiniitir  a'  bhaile  fios  g' 
a  ionnsuidh  gu  'n  robli  damh-feidh 
'us  eilid  ag  gabhail  romli  'n  t-sràid 
a'  dianamh  direach  air  a  chaisteal. 


An  uair  a  chuala  Tomas  so,  ghrad- 1  eiricli  na  daoine  's  tharrainn  gach  fear 
eiricli  e  bho  'n  chuirm,  's  as:  innse  dliiubh  a  chlaidheamh  a  truaill.  asrus 


do  na  h-aoighean  gu'n  robh  an  uair 
aige  air  ruith,  dh'  fhalbh  e  leis  an 
danih  's  leis  an  eilid  air  an  ais  do  'n 
f hrith,  agus  ged  a  chithear  e  fhathast 
na  'uaireannan  le  còrr  dhuine  àraid 
a  thiiiraicheas  e  e-fhein  'fhiachainn 
daibh,  cha  d'  rinn  e  Ijheag  sa  bitli  i  agus  dh'  èirich  oiieag  mliòr  ghaoithe 


leis  an  eagal  thuit  an  dtidach  a  làimh 
an  dròbhair,  's  chual  e  guth  mòr  mar 
ghàir  a'  chuain  ag  radh :- — 

Mair-g  air  a'  cliladhaire  riabh  pa  'bhreith, 
Nach  do  tharrainn  a  lann  mu'n  d'thug  e  sgal, 


tuille   de  chomunn  ri  muinntir  an 
t-saoghail  so. 

Tha  Tomas  fhathast  fo  gheasan, 
agus  is  e  's  obair  dha,  ma  's  f  hior,  a 
bhi  cur  suas  armailte  'am  feitheamh 
latha  uaiiihasaich  a  tha  gu  tighinn 
air  Albainn.  Co  nach  cuala  mu'n 
dròbhair-each  a  bh'ann  roinihe  so,  a 
reic  an  t-each  dubh  ri  coltas  fior 
dhuin'-uasail  de  na  daoine  bho  shean. 
Cha  do  phàidh  e  air  'uachdar  e,  ach 


s  thugar  an  togail  bheag  mhòr  ud 
air  an  dròbhair  a  mach  as  an  uamha, 
's  dh'  fhairtlich  air  riabh  tuille  a 
dorus  fhaotainn. 

Tha'n  sgialachd  chiadna  air  a 
h-aithris  le  Raonull  Scot,  fear  a 
cliuir  a  mach  leabhar  mu  bhuids- 
eachd  's  mu  eolasan  ri  linn  Banrigh- 
inn  Ealasaid.  Cha  robh  e-fhein  a' 
toirt  geille  dhaibh,  ach  ionaim's  a 
dhearbhadh  beachd  a  th'  aig  feadh- 


thuirt  e  ris  na'n  tachradh  e  air  mu  '  ainn  gu'm  beil  spioraid  dhaoine-mòra 
mheadhoin-oidhche  air  beinn  àraid  a  ;  ann  a  tha  'dion  's  a'  tathaich  bhailt- 
dh'  ainmich  e,  gu'n  d'  tliugadh  e  'n  |  ean  'us  dlmthchannan  a  bu  toigh  leo 
t-airgiod  da.     Is  e  bh'  ann  gu'n  do  an  tir  nam  beò,  tha  e  'g  radii :  B' 


298 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  : 


lair,  187C. 


urrainn  domh  fear  àraid  ainmeach- 
adh  a  chunnacas  bho  cliionn  ghoirid 
— e-f  he'in  no  samhladh  air  choirigin 
a  tha  'gabhail  an  ainme  sin  air. 
Tha  ciad  bliadhna  blio'n  a  dh'eug  e, 
's  bha  gach  duine  a'  sealltainn  air 
mar  f luàidhe  no  mar  fhiosaiche.  An 
uair  a  chunnacas  e  ma  tà  thug  e 
cunntas  gàbhaidh  mu  ghorta  's  mu 
phailteas,  mu  chogadh  's  mu  dhòrt- 
adh  fala,  's  mu  dheireadh  an  t-saogh- 
ail.  Is  ann  mar  so  a  chunnacas  mu 
dheireadh  e  a  reir  innse-sgeòil  an 
duine  air  an  do  thachair  e  :  "  Bha 
mi  turus  air  feill  's  a'  bhaile  ud  thall 
a'  reic  eich,"  os  esan,  "  ach  leis  nach 
d'  f  huair  mi  too  thoileachadh  prise 
air,  thill  mi  dhachaidh  leis,  agiis 
tachrar  an  duine  so  orm  air  an 
rathad.  Ghabh  e  naidheachd  na 
feille  's  dh'  f horfhaisich  e  mu  chor 
na  dùthcha.  Chaidh  sinn  mar  so  an 
seanchas  a  chèile  agus  innsear  mi- 
fhein  dha  mu'n  each.  Thòisich  e 
air  an  each  a  cheannach,  agus  "s  e 
bh'ann  gu'n  do  reic  mi  ris  e.  Thill 
e  learn  agus  thuirt  e  na'n  rachainn 
dhachaidh  leis  gu  'm  pàidheadh  e  an 
t-each  dhomh.  Chum  sinn  air — 
mise  air  muin  m'  eich  fhein  agus 
esan  a'  marcachd  air  each  cho  geal 
ris  a'  chanach.  Dh'fharraid  mi 
dheth  càite  'n  robh  e  fuireach,  agus 
c'  ainm  a  bh'  air.  Thuirt  e  gu  'n 
robh  e  'fuireach  am  Farran  mu 
uidhe  mile  dhuinn — àite  nach  cuala 
mi  guth  riabh  mu  dheighinn  ged  a 
b'  aithne  dhomh  gach  cèarna  de  'n 
dùthaich.  Dh' innis  e  dhomh  cuid- 
eachd  gu  'm  b'  e  fhein  am  fear  ud 
de  theaghlach  Learmont  a  bha  cho 
ainmeil  's  an  tir  a  thaobh'f  hàisneachd. 
Chuir  so  beagan  eagail  orm,  agus 
cha  do  lughdaich  e  dhomh  e  a  bhi 
ga  m'  f haicinn  fhein  air  rathad  òn- 
rachdach  air  nach  robh  mi  riabh 
roimhe.  Ach  chum  sinn  air  le 
siubhal-sith  gus  an  d'  fhuair  mi 
mi-fhein  gun  f hios  ciamar  'an  goile 
'n  talmhainn.     Co  bha  romham  a' 


sin  ach  boirionnach  briagha,  's 
phàidh  i  an  t-each  dhomh  gun  smid 
a  ràdh.  Thug  esan  air  m'  ais  mi 
romh  chadha  fada  farsuinn  far  am 
faca  mi  còig  ciad  saighdeir  na  'n 
laidhe  fo  chuing  nan  arm  's  iad  ion- 
ann  's  na'n  suain.  Mu  dheireadh 
le  solus  na  gealaiche  fhuair  mi  mi- 
fhein  a  mach  's  a'  cheart  àite  's  an 
do  thachair  e  orm,  agus  rinn  mi 
luim  air  a  bhi  aig  an  tigh  mu 
ghaitm-choileach.  An  uair  a  chunnt 
mi  an  t-airgiod  bha  an  dùbladh 
agam  's  a  phàidbeadh  dhomh  air  an 
each,  agus  fhathast  tha  beagan  de 
na  buinn  agam — -buinn  naoidh-sgill- 
innean,  thri  sgillinnean,  buinn-a-sia, 
agus  eile." 

A  reir  coltais  bha  Tomas  cho 
math  air  pàidheadh  's  a  bha  e  air 
fàisneachd,  agus  ma  's  fhior  an 
drobhair,  bha  a  chuid  airgid  mòran 
na  bu  mho  tàth  na  an  t-airgiod-sith 
a  tha  sinne  ag  cleachdadh.  Cha 
mho  a  tha  teagamh  nach  b'  i  am 
maighistir-sporan  ud  bànrighinn  nan 
sithichean  a  thug  leatha  Tomas  do 
'n  Tir-fo-gheas ;  ach  ged  nach  d' 
thàihig  e  fhathast  le  'chuid  each, 
agus  nach  'eil  'f  hios  co  dhiùbh  a  tha 
am  bruth  'am  Farran  'an  Dim-buic 
no  'n  Tom-na-h-iùraich,  ma  leanas 
an  cosnadh  's  a'  Ghalltachd  mar  a 
tha  e,  a  reir  uile  choltais,  "  bidh  la 
nan  creach  aig  Cluaidh." 

DiARMAD. 


Cha'n  'eil  ni  ann  a  ta  co  iongantach '  ti 
Leabhar,  ach  duine  beo  a  mhain.  Is 
teachdaireachd  dhuinn  on  bhas  e.  Is 
aithris  e  a  chuireadh  d'ar  n-ionnsuidh  le 
muinntir  nach  fhac  sinn  riamh.  Is  comh- 
radh  uathasan  e  a  bha  beo  o  chionn  mile 
bliadhna,  agns  a  bha  miltean  de  mhiltibh 
asdah-  air  f  albh.  Tha  so  iongantach,  gidh- 
eadh,  tha  iadsan  a  bha  beo  o  chein,  a'  labh- 
airt  ruinnan  diugh  anns  na  duilleagaibh 
beaga  sin.  Tha  iad  'gar  tìusgadh,  'gar 
brosnachadh,  'gar  teagasg,  a'  toirt  misnich 
agus  comhfhurtachd  dhuinn,  agus  a'  fosg- 
ladh  an  cridheachan  dhuinn  mar  bhrath- 
airean  agus  mar  luchd-daimh! 


Treas  ilios  an  Fhoghair,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


299 


MARBHRANX 

DO  SHIR  lOSEPH  EADCLIFFE. 

Le  Uilleasi  Mac-Coinxich. 

Dh'ecg  an  ridire  so  's  a'  bhliadhna  1872.  i 
Is  Ban-Gharannach,  nighean  do  dh-  Fhear- 
Lic,  a  bha  posda  aige.  Bha  taobh  m6r 
aige,  mar  a  th'  aig  an  ridir  òg  a  dh'  fhag  e 
na  'dbeaghaidh,  ris  a'  Ghaidliealtaclid.  Bha 
f  ridh  Ghàdhaig  aige  cimntas  mòr  bliadhn- 
aichean,  agus  i-e  an  ama  sin  b'  e  Uilleam 
Mac-Coinnich  so,  a  rinn  a'  mharbhrann 
dha,  an  t-^Vrd-Ghiomanach.  A  mach  bho 
a  bhràthair  fhein,  Aonghus  ISIdr  Mac- 
Coinnich  (faic  An  Gaidheal,  leabh.  v.  slios 
44),  b'  ainneamh  sealgair  a  thug  barr  air 
Uilleam;  ach,  neothar-thaing  dha,  "bhae 
bho  'n  a  ru.adh  e  riabh  "an  caidreamh 
fhiadh  'us  earb."  Faodar  a  rlidh  gur  h-ann 
air  am  f  eadh  a  dh'  araicheadh  e — agTis  sin 
's  na  ceart  mhonaidhnean  's  an  robh  tath- 
aich  Dhonuill  mhic  Fhionnlaidh  nan  dan — 
seann  fhridh  Loch-Trfig.  Bha  a  shinnsir- 
ean  bho  chionu  fhios  cò  an  linn  'am 
Bràighe-Lochabar,  's  tha  ckirdean  'us 
dllsean  da  fhathast  ann,  na  'n  tuath  cho- 
thromaich. 

Tha  'bhardachd  nàdurrach  do  Uilleam 
Mac-Coinnich,  's  rinn  e  de  dh-òrain  's  de 
dhuanagan  snasmhoi-,  na  lionadh  leabhar 
mòr  ;  ach  cha  bhi  sinn  ri  moladh-malrbh 
air  ;  tha  e  beò,  slan,  fhathast,  's  gu'm  bu 
fada  mar  sin  da. 

"  Theid  diichas  an  aghaidh  nan  creag  ;" 
is  nighean  do  dh-Uilleam  a  chuir  an  "  Clò- 
dubh  "  mu'n  òran  a  th'  aig  bonn  an  t-slios. 

DiARilAD. 

Gur  mise  "tha  fo  airteal  's  fo  thhrs, 
'S  beag  m'  aighir  ri  sunnt  an  drast, 
Bho'n  a  chaill  mi  mo  charaide-ciiirt, 
A  sheasadh  mo  chilis  's  gach  cks. 


A  JACOBITE  MARCHING  SONG 

from  the  gaelic  op 
Alasdaie  Mac  Mhaighistir  Alasdaie. 

Oh,  we  love  him,  love  him,  lore  him, 
'Oh,  we  love  him,  love  him,  Charlie! 
March  we  then,  so  lightly,  proudly ; 
Close  to'jether, — thus  we'll  guard  him. 

Ruin  seize  this  ruthless  king,  then. 
Who,  in  conquering,  tined  the  glory  ; — 
Blackened  homesteads,  butchered  kindred. 
Long  shall  live  in  song  and  story. 

Oh,  we  love  him,  <tc. 


'S  leir  ri  fhaicinn  a  bhlath  air  mo  ghniiis, 
'S  trie  snidhe  mo  shtd  gu  lar, 
Bho'n  'chuir  iad  thu  'dlaidhe  's  an  uaigh, 
Bidh  mi  'm  dhuine  bochd  truagh  gu  brach. 

Co  ris  a  theid  mi  g'am  ghearan  a  chaoidh, 
Ged  a  bhithinn  fo  bhinn  aig  each, 
"S  tu  sheasadh  gun  athadh  mo  chùis, 
'N  uair  bhithinn  fo  ghlùn  mo  namh. 

Ged  a  thionndaidheadh  each  rium  fuar, 
Bha  do  chridhe  's  do  chinas  dhomh  blath, 
'S  tha  m'  earbs"  ann  am  Mac  Kigh  nan  Dul, 
Gu  bheU  d'  anam,  a  ruin,  aig  tàmh. 

Thig  Earrach,  thig  Samhradh,  na  'dh^igh, 
Tiounda'idh  siantan  nan  speur  gu  bias, 
Thig  bruthainn  's  an  Fhoghar  ri  grein, 
Chuireas  toradh  's  gach  por  tha  fas. 

Ach  thig  Geamhradh  na  gailinn  na  'dheigh, 
Crionaidh  luighean  'us  feur  gu  lar, 
'S  ann  mar  sin  tha  saighid  an  aoig, 
A'  taghadh  nan  laoch  a's  fearr. 

'S  ann  agad  bha  'n  inntinn,  fhir  ghaoil, 
Nach  fhaiceadh  na'n  eiginn  each, 
Gu  h-uasal,  macanta,  ciuin, 
'Us  sealladh  do  shùl  cho  blath. 

Cha  spiocaireachd,  ghortach,  gun  diubh, 
Bu  toigh  leat,  a  ruin,  bhi  'd  phairt, 
'Us  gu'm  b'  aigh'reach  mise  na  d'  chùirt, 
Gu3  'n  do  dhealaich  ar  ctxrs  am  bàs. 

'N  uair  chaidh  mi  an  toiseach  fo  d'  sgeith, 
Cha  robh  sinn  le  cheil'  ach  òg  ; 
Bha  thus'  anns  an  onair  bu  dual — 
Jklise  am  ghiullan  bho  Chruaioh  a'  cheo. 

'S  ioma  comhairle  ghliocais  le  tùr. 
Thug  thu  orm  anns  gach  cMs  bu  choir, 
Bithidh  mi  nis  mar  bha  Oisein  na  Feinn, 
Ri  cumhadh  ad  dheigh  ri  m'  bheò. 


lU  befall  the  coat  untidy  ! 
Loathed  of  those  who  yet  unborn  are ; 
True-bom  Gael,  weU  wot  I,  ever, 
On  Ms  back  displayed  would  scom  it. 

Oh,  we  love  hiui,  cfcc. 

Give  to  us  our  plaid  of  tairtan. 
Kilt,  blue-bonnet,  loved  ferara. 
Dirk  keen-bladed,  Islay-hilted, — 
Sin  an  Gaidheil  mar  lu  choir  dha! 

Oh,  we  love  him,  ttc. 

And  though  I'm  here,  just  now,  in.  Sassun, 
Their  ways  and  fashions  I  regard  not  ; — 
It's,  Oh  !  to  be  'mong  Highland  maidens. 
Whose  lip-music  is  the  Gaelic  ! 

Oh,  we  love  him,  d:c. 

Mary  E  .  Macfheksok. 


300 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


'Stricdh'fhalbh  sinn  air  thurus  do'n  bheinn, 
Bhiodh  do  ghunna  air  ghleus,  a  sheòid, 
Bha  mi  earbsach  à  d'  laimh  'us  A  d'  shùil, 
'N  uair  a  lùbadb  tu  'n  gltin  le  deòin. 

Bhiodh  an  lan-damh  cabrach  gun  lùs, 
'Call  fal'  air  an  driuchd  gu  làr, 
Cha'n  iarramaid  cuileana  seang— 
Bhiodh  do  pheileir  mu  cheann  a  bhais. 

Fhad  's  a  mhaireas  mo  mheodhail  's  mo 

thùr 
Gu'm  bi  e  nam'  chuimhn'  gach  la, 
Na  fhuair  mi  de  sholas  ad  chùirt, 
An  aighear  's  am  miiirn,  's  a'  spòrs. 

Ann  am  monadh  no'mfrldhnandamh  seang, 
An  coire,  no'n  gleann  a'  cheo, 
'S  e  thogadh  mo  chridhe,  gu  sunnd, 
Bhi  'g  eisdeachd  ri  cainnt  do  bheòil. 

Tha  do  bhaintigheaman  òga  fo  thùrs, 
'S  trie  snidhe  an  sùl  gu  lar, 
Mu'n  athair,  a  thog  iad  ri  ghluin, 
Choisinn  urram  'us  cliùth  thar  chach. 

Cha'n  ioghnadh  ged  bhithinn-sa  civlirt', 
IMu  theaghlach  mo  ruin  gach  la, 
Bho'n  chaill  iad  am  barantas-cùil, 
'Bha  'gleidheadh  an  curs  dhaibh  òg. 

'S  ann  a  ghabh  sinn  cead  deireannach  buan 
Aig  cladach  a'  chuain  Dimairt , 
Cha'n  fhaca  mi  tuilleadh  do  ghnuis, 
'N  uair  a  dh'  fhaisig  thu  nunn  thar  sail'. 

Bha  deòir  a'  frasadh  o  'm  shuil, 
'N  uair  chuir  mi  mo  chul  ri  trkigh, 
Tha  mi  nise  mar  bhàta  gun  stiuir — 
Gun  sgiobair,  gun  siùil,  gun  ràmh. 

Gur  lionar  m'  osnaich  fo  thuinn, 
"S  mo  chridhe  am  chom  fo  phramh, 
Tha  acain  fo  aisnean  mo  chleibh, 
Cha  dean  lighich'  mo  chreuchdan  slkn. 

Cha  ghalar,  no  goirteas  mo  chinn, 
A  dh'  fhag  mi  cho  tinn  an  drkst, 
Ach  cumhadh  mo  mhaighstir  ghaoil, 
'S  mo  bheannachd  ad  dheigh  gu  bràth. 

Sguiridh  mise  ga  d'  chumhadh,  fhir  ghaoil, 
Bho  'n  nach  dean  e  dhomh  feum  no  stath, 
Chaidh  toll  ann  am  chridhe  Ikn  chreuchd, 
Bho'n  'chuala  mi  sgdul  do  bhais. 

Ach  guidheam  le  còmhnadh  Mhie  Dh^, 
Do  Mhacoighre  bhi  'g  eiridh  'd  ait, 
Ann  an  onair,  an  gliocas,  's  an  suairc' 
Gu  lionadh  a  suas  na  beam. 


AN    CEANNAICHE    EADAILT- 
EACH. 

(Air  a  leantainn.) 

An  am  do  Phortia  dealachadh  r'a 
fear-posda  labhair  i  gu  misneachail 
ris,  agus  dh'  iarr  i  air  a  charaid  a 
thoirt  leis  an  uair  a  thilleadh  e ; 
ach  bha  i  fo  amharus  gu  'n  eireadh 
gu  h-olc  do  dh-Antonio,  agus  an  uair 
a  dh'  f hagadh  i  leatha  fhein,  thoisich 
i  air  meorachadh  an  robh  aon  doigh 
no  doigh  eile  anns  am  b'  urrainn  di 
ruigheachd  air  caraid  a  Bassanio 
gaoil  a  sliaoradh ;  agus  ged  gheall  i, 
air  son  an  tuilleadli  urraim  a 
chur  air  Bassanio,  gu  'n  geilleadh  i 
gu  malda  macanta  d'  a  gliHocas-san 
mar  thigeadh  e  do  mhnaoi  dhileis, 
air  a  shon  so  uile,  a  nis  an  uair  a 
bha  an  cunnart  anns  an  do  sheas 
caraid  caomh  a  fir-phosda  ga  'cur  fo 
ghhiasad,  cha  robh  teagamh  aice  'n 
a  cumhachd  fein,  agus  Ian  d'  an 
bheachd  so  gun  chead  gun  chomh- 
airle,  chuir  i  roimhpe  gu  'n  togadh  i 
oirre  do  bhaile-mor  Venice,  agus  gu 
'n  tagradh  i  anns  a'  chuirt  as  leth 
Antonio.  Bha  aig  Portia  caraid  a 
bha  'n  a  fhear-lagha  (is  e  Bellario  a 
b'  ainm  da)  •  sgriobh  i  a  dh-ionnsaidh 
an  duin'-uasail  so,  a'  cur  an  ceill 
gach  ni  mar  bha,  agus  ag  iarraidh  a 
chomhairle  agus  aig  a'  clieart 
cam  gu  'm  biodh  e  cho  math  's  gu  'n 
cuireadh  e  ga  'h-ionnsaidh  an  fliall- 
uinn  a  b'  abhaist  da  a  chaitheamh 
an  uair  a  bhiodh  e  a'  tagradh  aig  a' 
mhòd.  Thill  an  teachdaire  le  lit- 
richean  bho  Bhellario  ga  'seoladh 
mar  dheanadh  i,  agus  leis  gach  sion 
a  dh'  fheumadh  i  g'a  h-uidheamach- 
adh  air  son  na  cliirt. 

Sgeadaich  Portia  agus  a  bean- 
choimhideachd  Nerissa  iad  fein  ann 
an  aodach-fhear,  agus  a'  cur  uimpe 
falluinn  an  fhir-lagha  thug  i  leatha 
Nerissa  mar  chlèireach;  agus  a'  tog- 
ail  orra  gun  dail  rainig  iad  baile-mor 


Treas  ^Iios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


301 


Venice,  direach  air  latba  na 
cuirt. 

Bha  cliuis  direach  a'  dol  a  blii  air 
a  gairm  an  lathair  an  diùc  agus 
comhairlich  a'  bhaile  ann  an  talla- 
mor  a'  mhòid,  an  uair  a  thaiuig 
Portia  a  stigh  agus  shin  i  suas  litir 
bho  Bhellario  anns  an  d'  tliuirt  am 
fear-lagba  ainmeil  sin  ris  an  diuc,  gu 
'n  robh  e  fein  a'  cur  roimhe  tighinn 
air  aghaidh  a  thagar  as  leth  Antonio, 
ach  gu  'n  robh  e  air  a  bhacadh  le 
tinueas,  agus  dh'  iarr  e  gu  'n  tugt- 
eadh  cead  agus  cothrom  do  'n 
sgriobliadair  og,  nasal  Balthasar  (is 
Q  so  an  t-ainm  a  thug  e  do  Phortia) 
tagar  'n  a  àite.  Cheadaich  an  diuc 
so,  agus  ioghnadh  air  cho  og  's  a  bha 
coltas  a'  choigrich,  agus  i  gu  seolta 
grirni  air  a  ceiltinn  fo  f  halhunn  an 
fhir-lagha  agus  gruag  fhada,  bhàn 
air  a  ceann. 

Thug  cudthromachd  a'  ghnothaich 
a  ghabh  Portia  os  laimh  an  tuilleadh 
naisnich  do'n  mhnaoi-uasail  àillidh 
sin  agus  an  taice  a  dleasnais  ghabh 
i  gun  athadh,  gun  sgath.  Theann  i 
an  toiseach  ri  Shylock,  an  t-Iudhach; 
agus  ag  aideachadh  gu  saor,  a  reir 
laghannan  na  h-Eadailt,  gu  'n  robh 
Ian  choir  aige  air  an  dioladh  a  bha 
air  a  chur  sios  anns  a'  chuadmant, 
labhair  i  cho  grinn  mu  iochd  agus 
mu  ihrocair  's  gu  'n  tugadh  e  maoth- 
achadh  air  cridhe  sa  bith  ach  cridhe 
cruaidh  Shylock  ;  chuir  i  an  ceill  gu 
'n  robh  trocair  a'  braonadh  mar 
f  hrasan  sèimh  nan  speur  a  nuas  air 
an  talamh ;  mar  bha  beannachd 
dùbailt  a'  leantainn  trocair,  a'  bean- 
nachadh  an  ti  a  nochd  agus  an  ti  a 
fhuair  trocair;  mar thigeadh trocair 
do  righrean  na  b'  fhearr  na  an  crùin, 
a  chionn  gu  'm  b'  aon  de  bhuaidhean 
Dhe  fhein  trocair ;  gu  'n  robh  cumh- 
achd  an  duine  a  tighinn  dluth  do 
chumhachd  Dhe  a  reir's  mar  bha  e 
a'  taiseachadh  ceartais  le  trocair; 
agus  ghairm  i  air  Shylock  e  a  chuimhn- 
eachadh  mar  ghuidheamaid  uile  air 


son  trocair,  gu  'n  tigeadh  e  dhuinn 

trocair  a  nochdadh.     Cha  'n  fhaigli- 

eadh  i  smid  f  hreagairt  bho  'n  ludh- 

ach  ach  tagradh  air  son  an  imlagh  a 

I  bha  air  'ainmeachadh  anns  a  chumh- 

'  nant.     "  Nach  'eil   e   comasach   an 

I  t-airgiod  a  phaigheadhi"  arsa  Portia. 

I  Tliairg  Bassanio  an  sin  do'n  ludhach 

Ian   phaigheadh  thairis  a's  thairis  ; 

\  cha  b'  e  mhain  tri  mile  bonn  òir, 

ach  de  dh-òr  na  thoilicheadh  e ;  rud 

I  a    dhiult    Shylock    ag    radh    nach 

j  gabhadh  e  ni  ach  punnd  de  f  heoil 

I  Antonio.     Dh'  aslaich  Bassanio  air 

an  sgriobhadair  og  gu  'n  claonadh  e 

I  an  lagh  anns  an  tomhas  a  bu  lugha 

[  agus    gu   'n    caomhnadh   e   beatha 

i  Antonio.     Ach  fhreagair  Portia  gu 

!  smalanach,  aon  uair  's  gu'n  rachadh 

I  lagh  a  shuidheachadh  nach  robh  e 

!  comasach  'atharrachadh.     An  uair  a 

chuala  Shylock  Portia  ag  radh  nach 

gabhadh  an  lagh  atharrachadh  shaoil 

e  gu'n  robh  i  a'  gabhail  a  thaoibh, 

agus  ghlaodh  e  mach,  "  Tha  Daniel 

fhein  air   tighinn  a  thoirt   breith  : 

0  mo  bhreitheamh  og,  glic,  is  tu  is 

airidh  air  urram  !     Tha  thu  fada  na 

's  sine  na  do  choltas  !  " 

Dh'  iarr  Portia  an  sin  air  Shylock 
an  cumhnant  a  leigeil  'f  haicinn  di ; 
agus  an  uair  a  leugh  i  e  thuirt  i, 
"  Tha  an  gealladh  so  briste,  agus  a 
reir  mar  tha  mise  ga  'leughadh  tha 
coir  aig  an  ludhach  air  punnd  de 
f  heoil  ri  bhi  air  a  ghearradh  a  uchd 
j  Antonio,  lamh  ris  a'  chridhe." 
I  Thuirt  i  agus  i  a'  tionndadh  ri  Shy- 
lock, "  Bi  trocaireach ;  gabh  an  t- 
airgiod,  agus  ceadaich  dhomh  an 
gealladh  so  a  shracadh."  Ach  cha 
chluinneadh  Shylock  an-iochdmhor 
iomradh  air  trocair ;  agus  fhreagair 
e  "  Tha  mi  a'  toirt  mo  mhionnan  air 
gach  ard  agus  iosal  nach  'eil  cumh- 
achd  ann  an  teanga  an  duine  a  tha 
comasach  air  mo  ghluasad  bho  'n  ni 
sin  a  tha  mi  a'  cur  romham."  "  Ma 
tha  sin  mar  sin,"  arsa  Portia  ri 
Antonio,  "feumaidh  tusa  do  bhroill- 


302 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1S76. 


each  a  dheanamh  deas  air  son  na 
sgine ; "  agus  am  feadh  a  bha  Shy- 
lock  gu  dian  a'  geurachadh  na  cuirce 
chura  am  pnnnd  feola  a  ghearradh, 
dh'  fheoraich  Portia  de  dh-Antonio, 
"A  bheil  diog  agad  ri  radh  ? " 
Fhreagair  Antonio  gu  siochail,  ciuin, 
nach  robh  a'  bheag  aige  ri  radh,  a 
chionn  gu'n  robh  'inntinn  cheana 
leagte  ris  a'  bhàs.  An  sin  thuirt  e 
ri  Bassanio,  "  Fair  dhomh  do  lamh, 
a  Bhagsanio  !  Slàn  leat !  na  bi  fp 
dhoilgheas  air  son  gu'n  d'  thainig 
am  mi-fliortan  so  ormsa  air  do  sgàth. 
Thoir  mo  bheannachdan  do  d' 
mhnaoi  oig  àilhdh^  agus  innis  di  cho 
mor  's  a  bha  mo  ghradh  dhuit !  " 
Fhreagair  Bassanio  agus  a  cliridhe 
bronagh  Ian,  "Antonio,  tha  mi 
])òsda  air  mnaoi,  a  tha  cho  anusail 
agam  ri  m'bheatha;  ach  bu  bheag 
]eam  mo  bheatha,  mo  bhean,  agus 
an  saoghal  gu  h-iomlan  aijn  an  coim- 
eas  ri  d'  bheatha-sa.  Chaillinn  iad 
uile,  dh'  iobrainn  iad  gu  leir  do'n 
abharsair  so  air  ghaol  thusa  chaomh- 
nadh." 

An  uair  a  chuaLa  Portia  so,  ged 
nach  robh  a'  bliean-uasal  chaomh 
idir  diombach  d'  a  fear  posda  air  son 
mar  chuir  e  an  ceill  ann  am  briath- 
ran  cho  laidir,  a  ghaol  agus  a  chom- 
ain  do  charaid  chp  dileas  ri  Antonio, 
ars'  ise,  "  cha  tugadh  do  bhean 
buidheachas  duit,  na  'n  robh  i  a 
latbair  agus  do  chluinntinn  a'  tairg- 
seadh  e  leithid  sin."  Dh'  eirich  an 
sin  Gratiano,  agus  e  toileach  eise- 
impleir  a  mhaighstir  a  leantainn, 
agus  e  a  smaointeachadh  gu'm  bu 
choir  guth  a  blii  aige-san  anns  a' 
ghnothach  cho  math  ri  each ;  ars' 
esan  ann  an  eisdeachd  Nerissa,  a  bha 
'n  a.  suidhe  ann  an  riochd  cleirich 
aig  taobh  Portia,  "Tha  agamsa  bean 
agus,  air  m'  fhacal,  tha  gaol  agam 
oirre ;  b'  f  hearr  leam  gu'n  robh  i  an. 
ceart  uair  am  flaitheanas  na  'm  b' 
urrainn  di  iompaidh  a  chur  air  na 
cumhachdan    gu   h-ard   inntinn   ap 


ludhaich  aingidh  so  atharrachadh.'' 
"  Is  math  dhuit  nach  'eil  i  ga  d' 
chluinntinn,"  arsa  Nerissa,  ''  air  neo 
cha  chuirinn  geall  nach  togadh  e 
aimhreit  ann  ad  thigh."  Ghlaodh 
Sliylock  a  mach  le  boile,  "  Tha  sinn 
a'  cur  seachd  nine  ;  guidheam  ort 
thoir  a  mach  a'  lihinn."  Bha  gach 
neach  anns  a'  chuirt  a  nis  fo  fhiamh 
agus  gach  cridhe  fo  dhoilgheas  air 
son  Antonio. 

Dh'  fheoraich  Portia  an  robh 
meidh  deas  a  thoimhseadh  an  f  lieoil; 
agus  ars'  ise  ris  an  ludhach ;  "  A 
Shylock  feuch  gu  'm  bi  lighiche 
dluth,  air  eagal  gu  'm  faigh  e  bàs  le 
dith  fala."  Cha.  robh  a  dhith  air 
Shylock  ach  gu.'n  sileadh  Antonio 
gu  bàs,  uime  sin  thuirt  e,  "  Cha  'n 
'eil  sin  air  ainmeacliadh  anns  a' 
ghealladh."  "  Cha  'n  'eil,"  arsa 
Portia,  "  ach  ciod  air  a  shon  sin  Ì 
Bu  'mhath  gu  'n  deanadh  tu  an  urad 
sin  air  son  iochd."  Ach  facal  cha 
tigeadh  bho  'n  ludhach  ach,  "  Cha 
'n  amais  mi  air;  cha  'n  'eil  e  anns  a' 
chumhnant."  "Is  e  do  choir,  ma 
ta,"  arsa  Portia,  "  punnd  de  f heoil 
Antonio.  Tha  an  lagh  ga  'chead- 
achadh,  agus  tha  a'  chuirt  ga  'bhuil- 
eachadh.  Agus  faodaidh  tu  an 
fheoil  a  ghearradh  as  a  bhroilleach. 
Tha  an  lagh  ga  cheadachadh,  agus 
tha  a'  chuirt  gu  'bhuileachadh." 
Ghlaodh  Shylock  a  mach  a  rithist, 
"  0  mo  bhreitlieamh  glic  agus  firinn- 
each  !  Tha  Daniel  fein  air  tighinn 
a  thoirt  breith  !"  An  sin  gheuraich 
e  a  rithist  an  sgian  f  hada  a  bha  'n  a 
laimh,  agus  ag  amharc  gu,  dil  air 
Antonio,  ars'  esan  "So,  dean  deas!" 

"  Socair  bhòidheach,  ludhaich," 
arsa  Portia,  "  tha  rud-eigin  eile  an 
so  f  hathast.  Cha  'n  'eil  an  gealladii 
so  a'  toirt  aon  bhraon  fala  dhuit ; 
tha  na  briathran  ag  radh  gu  soilleir, 
punnd  feola,  a  nis,  an  uair  a  tha  thu 
a'  gearradh  na  feola,  ma  dhoirteas 
tu  aon  bhraon  de  dh-fhuil  a'  Chriosd- 
aidh  so,  buijiear  bhuait  gach  fearann 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  187 


AN  GATDHEAL. 


303 


agus  maoin  a  tlia  agad  agus  gabhar '  uachdranachd,  a  chionn  gu  'u  do 
iad  le  uachdranachd  Venice."  Bha  thionnsgain  thu  lamh  a  chur  ann 
e  gu  tur  eu-comasach  do  'n  ludhach  am  beatha  aon  de  luchd-àiteachaidh 
am  punnd  feola  a  ghearradh  a  uclid  1  a'  bhaile  agus  tha  do  bheatha  fo 
Antonio  gun  deur  fala  a  dhortadh,  ]  throcair  an  diùc ;  a  sios  air  do 
uime  sin.  shaor  Portia  leis  an  t-seol '  ghluinean.  ma  ta,  agus  iaiT  maith- 
innleachdach  so  beatha  Antonio  ;  eanas."  Thuirt  an  diiic  an  sin  ri 
rud  'n  uair  a  chunnaic  na  bha  lathair  Shylock.  "  A  chum  gu  'm  foic  thu 
bha  iad  air  an  lionadh  le  h-ioghnadh  iochdmhoireachd  a'  Chriosdaidh,  tha 
ri  gHocas  anabarrach  a'  chomhairhch  <  mi  a'  toirt  dhuit  maitheanais  m'am 
oig  a  bhreithnich  an  doigh  sheoltcfi  i  beil  thu  ga  ashichadh ;  tlieid  darna 
ghrinn,  agus  thog  iad  iolach  ait  bho  :  leth  do  mhaoin  a  thoirt  do  dh-  An- 
gach  oisinn  d'  an  rahòd  ;  agus  '  tonio  agus  an  leth  eile  do  'n  uachd- 
ghlaodh  Gratiano.  agus  e  ag  ailis  ranachdh."  Fhreagair  an  t-uasal 
air  an  ludhach,  "  0  mo  bhreitheamh  j  suairce  Antonio,  gu  'n  tugadh  esan 
glic  agus  firinneach  !  Seall  a  nis,  a  !  suas  earrann  fein  de  mhaoin  an  ludh- 
bhodaich,  Daniel  fein  air  tighinn  a  aich,  na  'n  cuireadh  an  t-Iudhach 
thoirt  breith  !"  i  'ainm  ri  boid  a  tiomnadh  a  chodacli 

An  uair  a  mhothaich  Shylock  gu  '  aig  am  a  bhais  d'  a  nighinn  agus  d' 
'n  deachaidh  a  run  fuilteach  a  thilg- '  a  fear-posda;  oir  bha  fhiosaig  Anto- 
eadh  bun  os  cionn,  chaill  e  gu  tur  a  nio  gu  'n  robh  aig  Shylock  aon-ghin 
mhisneach  agus  thuirt  egu'ngabhadh  nighinn  a  bha  goirid  roimhe  sin  air 
eant-airgiod;ghlaodhBassanio,agus  oganach  Criosdaidh  a  phosadh  d'  am 
a  thoil-inntinn  a'  cur  thairis  ri  faic-  j  b'  ainm  Lorenzo,  caraid  do  dh-  An- 
inn  na  saorsainn  a  thainig  air  Anto- '  tonio  ;  gu  'n  do  rinn  i  so  fada  an 
nio,  "  So  an  t-airgiod  ! "  Ach  chuir  aghaidh  toil  an  ludhaich,  rud  a 
Portia  stad  air,  ag  radh,  "Air  d'  chuir  miothlachd  mor  air,  agus  gu 
f  haicill ;  cha  'n  'eil  aobhar  cabhaig  !  'n  do  bhuin  e  uaipe  uime  sin  a  coTr- 
ann  ;  cha  'n  fhaigh  an  t-Iudhachach  !  bhreith.  Dh'  aontaich  an  t-Iudhach 
an  t-Unlagh  ;  uime  sin,  a  Shylock, !  so  a  dheanamh ;  agus  a'  faicinn  mar 
dean  deas  air  son  na  feoladaireach ;  I  bha  e  mar  so  air  a  ghlacadh  'n  a 
ach  feuch  nach  doirt  thu  deur  fala ;  chuilbheartan,  agus  air  a  chreachadh 
agus  na  gearr  mor  no  beag  ach  dir- 1  d'  a  chuid  beairteis,  thuirt  e,  "  Tha 
each  punnd ;  biodh  e  thairis  air  an  mi  gu  tinn  ;  leigibh  dhachaidh  mi ; 
tomhas  no  fodha,  ged  nach  biodh '  cuiribh  an  sgriobhadh  as  mo  dheigh 
ann  ach  cudthrom  na  faochaig.  ged  ,  agus  cuiridh  mi  m'  ainm  ris,  a  sin- 
nach  biodh  ach  na  dh'  aomadh  a'  eadh  thairis  do  m'  nighinn  darna 
mheidh  leud  na  roinneig,  theid  do  leth  mo  chuid  an  t-saoghal."  "Tog 
dhiteadh  gu  bàs  le  lagh  na  riogh- !  ort,  ma  ta,"  thuirt  an  diiic,  "  agus 
achd,  agus  d'  uile  bheairteas  a  thoirt  [  feuch  gu  'n  dean  thu  sin;  agus  ma 
thairis  do 'n  uachdranachd."  "Thug-'ni  thu  aithreachas  de  d'  dhroch- 
aibh  dhomh  m'  airgiod  agus  leigibh  bheart,  agus  à  so  suas  gu  'm  bi  thu 
as  mi,"  arsa  Shylock.  "  Tha  e  ull- ;  ad  Chriosdaidh,  bheir  an  uachdran- 
amh  ann  a'  so,"  arsa  Bassanio.  achd  maitheanas  duit  anns  an  leth 

Bha  Shylock  'dol  a  ghabhail  an  eile  de  d'  bheairteas." 
airgid  an  uair  a  bhac  Portia  a  rithist  j  Leig  an  diuc  as  Antonio  agus 
e,  ag  radh,  "Air  d'  athais,  ludh- i  sgaoil  am  mod.  Mhol  e  gu  h-ard 
aich;  tha  greim  eile  agam  ort  f hath-  gliocas  agus  ealantachd  a'  chomh- 
ast.  A  reir  laghannan  Venice  tha  airlaich  oig  agus  thug  e  cuireadh 
do   mhaoin   gu  leir  an  geall  do  'n   dha  a  dh-ionnsaidh  a  thighe  a  dh' 


304 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1S73. 


itheadh  bidh  leis.  Leis  gu  'n  robh 
a  run  air  Portia  tilleadh  do  Bhel- 
mont  m'  an  ruigeadh  a  fear  posda, 
f  hreagair  i,  "  Tha  mi  a'  toirt  nior 
thaing  do  ur  morachd,  achfeiimaidh 
mi  falbh  gun  dàil."  Tliuirt  an  diuc 
gu  'n  robh  e  duilich  nach  ceadaich- 
eadh  a  dheifir  dha  dol  agus  greim  a 
ghabhail  leis ;  agus  a'  tionndadli  ri 
Antonio,  ars'  esan,  "  Thoir  duais  do 
'n  duin'-uasal  so;  oir  is  i  mo  bharail 
gu  blieil  thu  fo  nihor  chomain  da." 

An  uair  a  dh'  f  hag  an  diuc  agus 
an  kichd-lagha  a'  chuirt  thuirt  Bas- 
sanio  ri  Portia,  "M'  uasal  caomh, 
tha  mise  agus  mo  charaid  Antonio 
an  diugh  troimh  do  ghliocas-sa  air 
ar  saoradh  o  unlagh  trom,  tha  mi  a' 
guidhe  ort,  ma  ta,  gu  'n  gabh  thu 
an  tri  mile  bonn  oir  a  bha  againn  ri 
iocadh  do  'n  ludhach."  "Agus  a 
bharr  air  sin,"  arsa  Antonio,  "  bidh 
sinn  fo  f  hiachan  graidh  agus  umhl- 
achd  duit  gu  bràth." 

Dhuilt  Portia  lamh  a  chur  air 
bonn  d'  an  or;  ach  air  do  Bhassanio 
iompaidh  a  chur  oirre  duais  air  chor- 
eigin  a  ghabhail,  ars'  ise,  "  Thoir 
dhomh  do  lamhainnean ;  caithidh 
mi  iad  air  do  sgath.  Thug  Bassanio 
dheth  a  lamhainnean  agus  chunnaic 
Portia  am  fainne  a  thug  i  fein  da 
air  a  mheur.  Is  e  so  a  bha  dhith 
air  an  aluinn  sheolta,  oir  bha  toil 
aice  'fhaighinn  uaith  agus  gu  'm 
biodh  beagan  abhachd  aice  mu  'n 
chuis  an  uair  a  thachradh  iad  a 
rithist.  Ai's'  ise,  "  gabhaidh  mi  am 
fainne  so  mar  chuimhneachan  ort." 
Bha  Bassanio  air  a  chur  thuige  gu 
mor  an  uair  a  dh'  iarr  am  fear-lagha 
an  t-aon  ni  sin  ris  nach  b'  urrainn 
da  dealachadh,  agus  fhreagair  e  gu 
buaireasach,  nach  fhaodadh  e  am 
fainne  a  thoirt  da,  a  chionn  gur  ann 
bho  'mhnaoi  a  fhuair  e  agus  gu  'n 
do  gheall  e  nach  dealaicheadh  e  ris ; 
ach  gu  'm  foraisicheadh  e  mach  am 
fainne  a  bu  luachmhoire  ann  am 
baile-mor  Venice  agus  gu  'n  tugadh 


e  dhi  e.  Air  cluinntinn  so,  ghabh 
Portia  oirre  a  bhi  air  a  tcàmailteach- 
adh  agus  dh'  fhag  i  a'  chuirt,  ag 
radh,  "  Is  ann  a  tha  thu  ga  m' 
fhreagairt  mar  nach  robh  agad  ann- 
am  ach  an  dèirceach."  "  A  Bhass- 
anio mo  ghaoil,"  arsa  Antonio,  "thoir 
dha  am  fainne;  agus  cuir  mo  ghradh- 
sa  agus  an  gniomh  do-labhairt  a  rinn 
an  duin'-uasal  as  mo  leth,  an  aghaidh 
corruich  do  mhnatlia."  Bha  naire 
air  Bassanio  gu  'n  saoilteadh  gu  'n 
robh  e  neo-thaingeil ;  gheill  e  agus 
chuir  e  Gratiano  as  deigh  Phortia 
leis  an  fhainne.  An  sin  dh'  iarr 
Nerissa  bho  'n  d'  fhuair  Gratiano 
fainne  cuideachd  an  uair  a  phos  iad, 
dh'  iarr  i  am  lainne  air  ais,  agus  (le 
toil  a  bhi  cho  fada  mach  r'  a  mhaigh- 
stir)  thug  Gratiano  dhi  am  fainne. 
Is  ann  aig  na  mnathan-uasal  a  bha 
an  abhachd  air  an  tUras  a'  smaoin- 
teachadh  mar  thàirngeadh  iad  as  na 
fir  an  uair  a  thilleadh  iad  dachaidh 
air  son  mar  dhealaich  iad  ris  na 
fainneachan,  agus  mar  dh'  fhagadh 
iad  orra  gu  'n  d'  thug  iad  do  leann- 
ain  air  chor-eigin  iad. 

An  uair  a  thill  Portia  dhachaidh 
bha  a  h-inntinn  anns  an  t-suidheach- 
adh  sholasach  sin  a  tha  a'  sruthadh 
0  dhearbh-bheachd  a  bhi  aig  aon  gu 
'n  do  rinn  e  gniomh  ceart ;  bha  a  h- 
inntinn  gu  h-aoibhneach  a'  gabhail 
tlachd  anns  gach  ni  a  chunnaic  i ; 
cha  'n  f  hacas  leatha  riabh  a'  gheal- 
ach  a'  dearrsadh  cho  oirdhearc ; 
agus  an  uair  a  cheil  a'  ghealach  a 
gnuis  fo  neul,  leum  a  h-inutinn  le 
aiteas  aig  faicinn  leus  soluis  'n  a 
h-uinneig  fein  ann  am  Belmont,  agus 
thuirt  i  ri  Nerissa,  "  Tha  an  solus 
sin  a'  lasadh  ann  an  talla  mo  theach; 
cho  fada  's  a  tha  a'  choinneal  bheag 
sin  a  tilgeadh  a  gathan,  is  co  fhada 
a  dhealraicheas  deadh  glmiomh  ann 
an  saoghal  uile ;  agus  a'  eluinntinn 
fuaim  ciùil  a'  teachd  bho  'n  tigh  ars' 
ise,  "  Thar  leam  gu  bheil  an  ceol  sin 
moran  na  's  binne  na  bhiodh  e  's  an 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1S76. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


305 


latha."  Chaidh  Portia  agus  ISTerissa 
a  stigli ;  chuir  iad  orra  an  aodaich- 
ean  fein  agus  dh'  fhuiricli  iad  a' 
feitheamli  am  fir-pliosda.  Cha  b' 
fhada  gus  an  d'  thainig  iad  agus 
Antonio  'n  an  cuideachd.  Thug 
Bassanio  a  charaid  caomh  an  lathair 
na  mna-uaisle  àillidh,  Portia,  acli  is 
gann  a  bha  an  f  liailte  agus  am  furan 
a  chuir  iad  air  a  cheile  thairis,  an 
uair  a  thug  iad  an  aire  do  Nerissa 
agus  a  fear-i^osda  a  conspaid  aun  an 
oisinn  d'  an  t-seomar.  "  Ciod  e  is 
ciall  do  so  ? "  arsa  Portia  ;  "  an  e  gu 
bheil  sibh  a'  cur  a  mach  air  a  cheile 
cheana  Ì  'D  è  tha  cearr?  "  Fhreag- 
air  Gratiano,  "  Tha,  le  ur  cead,  an 
iorghuill  mu  fliainne  leibideach 
f  heòdair  a  thug  Nerissa  dhomhsa,  air 
an  robh  facail  bhardachd  air  chor- 
eigin  mar  chithear  iomadh  uair  air 
na  sgeanan,  '  Gi'àdhaich  mi  agus  na 
treig  mi.' "  Cha  'n  e  luach  an 
fhainne  no  a'  bhardachd  air  a  bheil 
mi  a'  tighiun,"  arsa  Nerissa.  "  Gheall 
thu  dhomhsa  an  uair  a  thug  mi 
dhuit  e,  gu  'n  gleidheadh  tu  e  gu 
latha  do  bhàis ;  agus  a  nis  tha  thu 
ag  radh  gu  'n  d'  thug  thu  do 
chleireach  fir-lagha  e.  Tha  f  hios  gle 
mhath  agamsa  gun  d'  thug  thu  do 
bhoirionnach  e."  "  Mo  lamh  dhuit," 
arsa  Gratiano,  "  thug  mi  e  do  dh- 
òganach,  leth  bhalach,  gasan 
greanuach  nach  bu  mho  na  thu  fein; 
bha  e  'n  a  chleireach  aig  a'  chomh- 
airleach  og  a  shaor  le  a  thagradh 
glic  beatha  Antonio;  ghuidh  agus 
ghrios  an  giuUan  so  air  son  duals 
eigin  agus  cha  b'  urrainn  domh  air 
mo  bheatha  a  dhiultadh."  "  Rinn 
thu  rud  a  bha  cearr,  a  Ghratiano," 
arsa  Portia,  "  dol  a  dhealachadh  ris 
an  fhainne  a  thug  do  cheile  dhuit 
mar  a  clad  thiodhlac.  Thug  mise 
faiune  do  m'  thighearna  Bassanio, 
agus  is  mi  tha  cinnteach  nach 
dealaicheadh  esan  ris  air  son  na 
chunnaic  e  riabh."  Thuirt  Gratiano, 
agus  toil   aige    a    leisgeul    fein    a 


ghabhail,  "  Thug  mo  thighearna 
Bassanio  am  faiune  aige  fein  do  'n 
chomhairleach,  agus  an  sin  ghuidh 
am  balachan  cleirich,  a  rinn  a 
dhleasnas  gu  tapaidh  aig  a'  mhod, 
am  fainne  agamsa  'fhaighinn." 

Ghabh  Portia  oirre  a  bhi  fo  chor- 
ruich  mhoir  an  uair  a  chual  i  so  ; 
thoisich  i  air  achmhasan  a  thoirt  do 
Bhassanio  mu'n  fhainne ;  thuirt  i 
gu'ra  bu  cheart  an  t-amharus  a  bha 
aig  Nerissa  gu'n  d'  thug  iad  na 
fainneachan  do  leannain  air  chor- 
eigin  a  thachair  orra.  Bha  Bassanio 
ro  dhuilich  am  miothlachd  a  thug  e 
da  cheile  chaoimh,  agus  f  hreagair  e 
gu  durachdach,  "  Cha  d'  thug,  air 
m'  fliacal,  cha  d'  fhuair  bean  fo  'n 
ghrein  e  ach  am  fear-lagha.  Dhiult 
e  tri  mile  bonn  oir  bhuam,  agus  dh' 
iarr  e  am  fainne,  rud  'n  uair  a  dhiult 
mi  dha,  thog  e  air  's  e  Ian  diumb. 
Ciod  a  b'  urrainn  domh  a  dheanamh, 
a  Phortia,  a  bhean  mo  ghaoil  ]  Bha 
a  leithid  a  naire  orm  air  son  gnoth- 
ach  cho  mi-thaingeil  a  dheanamh  's 
gu  'n  d'  f  heum  mi  am  fainne  a  chur 
as  a  dheigh.  Thoir  maitheanas 
domh,  a  bhain-tighearna  chaoin  ;  na 
'n  robh  thu  fein  ann,  tha  mi  dearbh- 
chinnteach  gur  ann  a  bheireadh  tu 
bhuam  am  fainne  ga  'thoirt  do'n 
fhear-lagha." 

"  Och,  nach  truagli  an  duine 
mise  !  "  arsa  Antonio,  "is  ann  air  mo 
sgathsa  a  thachair  gach  brionglaid 
a  tha  'n  so." 

Dh'  iarr  Portia  air  Antonio  gun  e 
'ghabhail  doilgheis  mu'n  chuis,  oir 
gu'm  b'  e  a  Ian  bheathasan  thun  a 
tighe ;  agus  an  sin  thuirt  Antonio, 
"  chuir  mise  mo  bheatha  an  geall 
aon  uair  air  sgath  Bhassanio,  agus 
mur  bhith  am  fear  d'  an  d'  thug  d' 
f  hear-posda  am  fainne  bha  mise  an 
diugh  fo'n  ùir.  Cuiridh  mi  mo 
cheann  an  geall  a  rithist  nach  meall 
do  thighearna  tuille  thu."  "  Theid 
thusa  an  urras  air,  ma  ta,"  thuirt 
Portia  ;  "thoir  da  am  fainne  so  agus 
20 


306 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


iarr  air  a  glileidheadh  na  's  fhearr 
na  a  ghleidh  e  am  fear  eile." 

An  uair  a  slieall  Bassanio  air  an 
f  hainne,  ciod  a  b'  iongantaiche  leis 
na  'fhaicinn  gu  'ni  b'  e  a'  cheart 
f  hainne  a  thug  e  seachad  a  bha  ann  ; 
agus  an  sin  dh'  innis  Portia  dha 
gach  car  mar  thachair—  gu'm  b'  ise 
an  comhairleach  og,  agus  gu'm  b'i 
Nerissa  an  cleireach ;  agus  thuig 
Bassanio,  agus  cha  bu  bheag  a  thoil- 
inntinn  agus  a  thaitneas  an  uair 
a  thuig  e,  gu'm  b'  ann  troimh  f  hiugh- 
antachd  agus  troimh  ghliocas  a 
mhnatha  gaolaich  a  chaidh  beatha 
Antonio  a  chaomhnadh. 

Chuir  Portia  failte  as  lir  air  An- 
tonio, agus  chuir  i  'n  a  laimh  lit- 
richean    a   fhuair   i   air    sheol    air 


chor-eigin,  anns  an  robh  fios  gu'n 
robh  na  luingeis  aig  Antonio  a 
shaoil  daoine  bhi  caillte  an  deigh 
tighinn  sabhailte  gu  cala.  Chaidh 
toiseach  bronach  an  sgeoil  mu'n 
clieannaiche  shaibhir  so  gu  tur  air 
dhi-chuimhn'  anns  a'  ghairdeachas 
a  lion  gach  neach  ris  an  teachdair- 
eachd  àigh  agus  an  solas  a  lean  i. 
B'  iomadh  gaire  a  bha  aca  mu 
dhriod-fhortan  nam  fàinneachan 
agus  mu  na  fir  nach  d'  aithnich  am 
mnathan  fein.  Thug  Gratiano 
boidean — 

Ri    'bheò   nach   b'  eagal  leis    rud  a  bu 

mhiosa 
Na  gu'n  caillteadh  gu  bràth  leis  am  fàinn' 

aig  Nerissa. 

Eadar.  le  I.  Macillebhain. 


CNUASACHD  CAILLEACH  DHUNNACHAIDH  'IC  UILLEAM. 
Le  Caiptein  Mac-an-t-Saoir. 
FoNN. — "  Comhachag  bhochd  na  Sròine." 

A'  CHIAD  EARANN. 

Ml  'ra  shuidhe  air  Meall-an-fhuarain, 
'Sealltainn  mu  'n  cuairt  air  Loch-Liobhann,. 
(Far  an  robh  mi  aotrom  uallach,) 
'S  air  na  glinn  's  na  ghluais  mo  shinnsre, 

Chi  mi  'n  t-Inbhear  agus  Comhann, 

A'  Chàrnach  's  na  Maola-dubha, 

(Cha  b'  iad  acli  na  Maola  buidhe,) 

A  dh'  fhàs  gu  bainnear,  braonach,  cluthor, 

Agus  Coir'-fhioghain  nam  fuaran. 

As  an  trie  an  d'  fhuair  mi  deoch, 

'S  am  minic  an  robh  'n  damh  cluas-dearg 

'Dol  na  'ghailc  le  luath's  nan  con ; 

'S  Achadh-triochadain  nam  beann, 
A  's  àrd  ceanu  'an  iarmailt  nan  speur ; 
Is  colgarr'  greann  ri  slignich  shneachd, — 
Creaga  glas  mu  'n  cinn  am  feur; 

'Us  aghaidh  riabhach  Sgùrr-na-cìche 
'Sealltainn  direach  air  a'  Chaillich ; 
Ge  riabhach  brucach  gur  brigheil, 
Seamragach,  millteachail,  failteil. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  IS-G.  AN    GAIDHEAL.  307 

'S  ioma  gaillionn  agus  gaoth 
'  Dh'  f  huilig  an  da  aodunn  glilas, 
Cha  laidh  orra  smal  na  h-aos', 
'S  gu  la  bhràtli  clia  cliaochail  as. 

'S  ioma  òganacli  deas  ùr 

Bu  sliubailt  gliin  's  bu  liithar  cas 

A  shiubliail  aghaidh  an  stùc, 

'S  a  leig  a  chù  seang,  silibhlach  bras. 

Chi  mi  Gairbeinn  nan  earn  glas, 
'Us  Feith-nan-lap  air  a  cùl, 
Coire-chorcaig  's  Gleann-a'-chaolais 
'S  an  dian  am  boc  le  bìaoman  dusgadh. 

Chi  mi  'm  Bodach  stùcach,  gruamach, 
Coire-am-bà  's  an  da  Ghruagaich, 
'S  an  dian  damh  na  cràice  nuallan, 
'S  tàrmacban  nan  àrd  a  ghruadal. 

Tha  mi  'sealltainn  air  mo  dheigh 
Air  sleibht'  a  's  trie  a  cheum  mo  chas 
'S  fann-ghrian  an  fheasgair  a'  dearrs 
Air  na  sliosan  reithe  cas. 

Tha  mo  chridhe  ann  am  chliabh 

(Le  buille  dhein)  'am  fiabhras  bras, 

A'  meamhrachadh  finid  mo  chuairt' 

'An  tir  nan  cruach,  nan  gleann  's  nan  clach. 


Ax  DARA  H-EARANN. 

Ach  ma  ni  mi  triall  air  m'  ais, 

(Mo  cheann  glas  's  mo  chas  neo-liithor,) 

Bidh  mi  'iàilteaehadh  nan  aonach 

'N  ait'  nan  daoine  b'  a'ist  bhi  dlùth  dhomh. 

Bidh  mo  chridhe  dhiam  a'  foighneachd 
Cà'  bheil  na  maighdeannan  càbhach 
A  chithinn,  mocli  agus  feasgar, 
'Dol  a  leigeil  cruidli  do  'n  f  hàsach  I 

Càite  bheil  sgalag  an  àitich  ? 

Càite  bheil  àireach  na  sprèidhe, 

Le  'm  bu  bhinn  bhi  'n  gleann  na  h-airidh 

'G  èisdeachd  toirm  an  ail  ag  geumraich  I 

Càite  bheil  sealgair  nam  fiadh  ì 
Càite  bheil  iasgair  na  h-amhann  ? 
Cà'  bheile  uile  mo  luchd-eolais  Ì — 
Tha, — gun  deò  fo  'n  f  hòid  na  'n  laidhe ! 


308  AN    GAIDHEAL,  Treas  Mìos  an  Fhoghair,  1S7 

Ach  saoilidh  mi  gu'm  faic  mi  'n  cruth, 
A'  tàmli,  fo  stuirt,  air  uchd  naa  stall; 
Saoilidh  mi  gu'n  cluinn  mi  'n  guth 
'An  tormanaich  shrutli  nan  alld  ! 

'S  cianail  learn  fiamliachd  nan  torn, 
'S  an  duathar  trom  a  tha  mu'n  t-sliabh  ; 
Cha  doilleireaclid  air  gnùis  na  grein'  e — 
'S  i  mo  leirsinn  'tli'  air  dol  dhiam. 

'S  tiamhaidh  leam  tcrman  nan  eas 
A'  taomadh  feadh  sgolb  nan  creag. — 
A  chraobh  liath,  tha  miarach  dosach, 
'S  cuimhne  leam  'n  uair  bha  thu  'd  phreas. 

'S  cuimhne  leam  'n  uair  bha  thu  'd  phreasan, 
'S  a  liibadh  a'  chuthag  ho  ghuisein, 
'iSr  uair  a  bhiodh  i,  am  an  fheasirair. 


Duibhre  na  h-oidhche  'teachd  fagus, 
Smeòrach  's  an  ogan  a  b'  fhaide, 
'S  neòineinean  lòintean  an  driìichd 
'Dùnadh  an  sùl — 'dol  a  chadal. 

Oigearan  a'  tigh'nn  à  fireach, 
Buachaillean  a'  teachd  bho  'n  innis 
Duanag  aig  gruagaich  na  buaile, 
'S  mac-talla  'cur  suas  a  binnis. 

Oigeir  f  haoin  d'  an  aois  am  fichead, 
Treun  a  d'  dhòrn  'us  card  'am  misnich, 
Bidh  tu  f  hathast  mar  tha  mise — 
'Caoidh  nan  nithe  a  chaidh  seachad  : 

Do  làmh  lag,  do  cheura  mall, 
Do  chridhe  trom,  do  shliil  dall. 
Do  cheann  crom,  do  chom  fann, 
Gu  h-uaigh  ag  aomadh  gu  teann. 

Tha  beath'  an  duine  a'  triall 
Mar  fhaileas  nan  nial  air  fonn, 
(Gaoth  ga  'n  ruagadh  's  an  speur,) 
'S  CO  gheabh  lorg  an  dèigh  am  bonn  ! 

Dhirich  mi  aoibhinn  an  tulach, 
Mi  nise  tearnadh  fo  mhulad, 
Cuan  na  Siorrachd  'am  làthair — 
Air  a  thràigh  co  thàrras  fuireach  ? 

A  Thi  'chuir  solus  anns  a'  ghrèin, 
Agus  crioch  romh  cheum  nan  tonn, 
'An  gleann  dorcha  sgàil  a'  bhàis, 
Biodh  do  làmh  's  do  ghràsau  leam. 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


309 


BLAR  CHAIRINNIS. 

Anns  a'  bhliadhna  IGOl  thug 
Clann  Domhnuill  Uibhist,  agus 
Claim  'ie  Leoid  na  h-Earadh,  la 
fuilteach  aig  feithe  na  fala  ann  an 
Càirinnis,  an  Uibhist  mu  Tbuath. 
Aims  an  am,  mar  a  tha  eacbdraidh 
ag  innseadh  dliuinn,  cha  rol)h  na 
tineacban  Gaidbealacb  a'  toirt  mòr 
urram  do  lagb  na  riogbacbd  acb  's 
annabbana  h-uile  ceann-feadbna  a' 
gabbail  an  lagba  'na  laimb  fhein 
agus  a'  dol  a  mach  air  cbeann  a 
dliaoine  gu  aicbeambal  a  thoirt 
dbetb  'naimbdibb.  Tba  e  coltacb 
gur  e  spiiilleadb  'us  tngail  creiclie 
an  doigh  cliumanta  '  bb'  aca  air  a 
blii  deanamh  diogbaltais  air  each  a 
cbeile.  A  b-uile  fear  nacb  b'  urrainn 
e  fbein  a  dhion  cha  robh  aig'  acb  a 
bhi  cbo  umliail  's  a  bhiodh  an  lucb 
fo  spògan  a'  chait ;  oir,  mar  tha  'n 
Seanfbacal  ag  radh, — "Bhiodh  am 
fear  bu  treise  'n  aachdar  's  am  fear 
bu  luaitb'  air  an  toiseach,"  "  Bhiodh 
a  chuid  bu  mbiosa  aig  a'  bhus  bu 
taise."  Air  son  aobbair  gle  neonach 
dh'  eireadh  fine  an  aghaidb  fine. 
Agus  is  trie  a  bha  na  càirdean  air  an 
da  thaobb  a'  cogadh  gu  cruaidh  an 
aghaidb  a  cbeile. 

'S  ann  eadar  Domhnullaich 
Shlèibhte  agus  Leodaich  Dhun- 
bheagain  a  thòisich  an  aimhreit  a  bha 
na  mathair-aobhair  air  BLàr  Chàir- 
inis.  Tba  e  air  aitbris  gur  aim  mar 
so  a  thòisicb  an  aimhreit : — Phòs 
Domhnull  Gorm  Shleibbte  nighean 
'ic  Leoid  Dhunbheagain,  agus  ciod 
air  bith  a  bb'  aige  na  h-agbaidh  tha 
0  coltacb  nacb  robh  e  fhein  's  i 
fhein  gle  rèidh,  agus  's  e  tbainig  as 
a'  chilis  gu  'n  d'  thug  e  litir-dbeal- 
achaidh  dhi  's  gu  'n  chart  e  dhacb- 
aidh  a  thigh  a  b-athar  i.  Thug  so 
tàmailt  mhòr  do  Shir  Ruairidh  J^.Iac 
Leoid  agus  db'a  chàirdibb  gu  leir, 
acb  's  e  dhoranaich  buileacb  iad  an 
dòigb  anns  an  deach'  a  cur  dhacb- 
aidb.     Bha  i  fbein  air  leth  sbùil, 


no,  cam  mar  a  theirear,  agus  gus  a' 
chilis  a  dheanamb  cbo  tàniailteacli 
's  a  ghabhadh  deanamh  fhuair 
Domhnull  Gorm  seann  each  ban, 
cam,  gille  cam,  agus  cii  cam,  's 
chuir  e  'n  gill  's  an  cli  's  an  t-each  a 
dh-aon  sgriob  a  Dhunbheagain 
leatba.  Bha  '  Bhaintigbearna  cbàm 
air  muin  an  eich  cb<àim,  gille  cam  a' 
falbb  na  'cbeann,  's  cù  cam  a'  tVdbli 
na'n  dèigb!  An  uair  a  ràinig  a' 
chuideacbd  neonach  so  Dunbheagaiii 
's  a  chaidh  am  beag  sgeul  thun  a' 
mhoir  sgeil  cha  robh  Leodach  ri 
tràigh  's  an  Eilean  Sgiathanach  no 
's  na  b-Earadh  nacb  robh  ann  an 
run  nan  tuadh  do  Dbomhnull  Gorm 
's  d'  a  chcàirdibb  's  gach  càite.  Tha 
aobbar  a  bhi  'creidsinn  gu  'n  do 
dhioghail  iomadh  neach  fad  iomadh 
bliadhna  air  a'  gbniomb  mbaslacb  a 
bha  'n  so  ged  nacb  'eil  cunntas 
againn  mu  dbèidhinn. 

B'  e  Domhnull  Glas  Mac  Leoid 
ceann-feadbna  nan  Leodach  's  na 
b-Earadh.  Bha  e  aon  uair  na 
'dhuine  ro  threun,  acb  aig  an  am  so 
bha  e  air  fas  trom,  lapacb,  agus  cha 
b'  urrainn  da  dol  a  mach  air  cbeann 
a  chuid  gaisgeach  treun'  a  thogail 
creiche  no  'thoirt  blàir.  Acb  bha  ' 
mbac  'na  dhuin'  òg,  tapaidh,  gaisg- 
eil,  ann  an  treun  a  neirt  agus  deidb- 
eil  air  glòir  'us  urram  f  baotainn  dha 
fbein  's  dha  chinneadb.  Chuala  e 
mu  'n  tamailt  a  thugadh  d'a  cbàrd- 
aibb  an-Dunbheagain  's  cha  'n  fbac 
e  dad  a  b'  iomchuidbe  na  falbb  a 
db-Uibbist-mu-tbuath  air  cbeann  da 
f  hicbead  fear  treun  a  thogail  creiche 
chum  aicbeambal  a  thoirt,  air  aon 
doigh  no  doigh  eile,  dbetb  na  Domh- 
nullaich. "  Mur  pàidh  thu  fhein  e 
pàidhidb  do  mbcàileid  e."  Tbog  na 
fir  orra  's  dh'  f  halbb  iad,  cuid  's  a' 
bbirlinn  aig  mac  Dhomhnuill  Ghlais 
's  cuid  eile  ann  am  bataicliean  aisig. 
'N  uair  a  ràinig  iad  Uibhist  dh' 
acraich  iad  na  bataicbean  an  Loch 
nan  Ceall,  aig  bun  na  faoghlach  a 
tuath.     Ghabli  iad   air  aghaidh  's 


310 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treaa  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


thog  iad  a'  clireacli,  gu  furasda  'n 
Càirinnis,  agus  o  nach  robh  nine  gu 
leor  aca  gu  dol  thun  nam  bàtaich- 
ean  leis  a'  chrodh  's  e  rud  a  rinn  iad 
chruinnich  iad  iad  do  theampuU  na 
Trionaid  gus  am  biodh  iad  a'  falbh 
an  la'r-na-mhàireach.  Ghabh  iad 
fhèin  seiibli  air  tigh-a'-chnuic  o'n 
bha  e  'n  aite  àrd,  fradharcach,  am 
braiglie  bhaile.  Bha  iad  a'  cur 
seachad  na  h-iiine  leis  gach  fealadhà 
's  toileachas  inntinn  a  b'  urrainn 
daibh,  a'  Ian  chreidsinn  gu  soirbhich- 
eadh  gach  cùis  leo  mar  bu  mhiann 
leo.  Ach  cha  robh  e  'n  dan  gu 
faigheadh  iad  am  miann  s  a'  chilis 
so,  oir  mu'n  deach'  a'  ghrian  fodha 
air  an  ath  La  bha  "caochladh  cuir  air 
clò  Challuim." 

Bha  duine  treun  ann  an  Uibhist 
mu-dheas  ris  an  cainte  gu  cumanta 
Domhnnll  mac  Iain  'ic  Sheumais. 
Bha  'n  duine  so  ainmeil  r'a  linn 
airson  a  mhòr  ghràidh  a  dh  flùrinn, 
a  dh-onair,  's  a  cheartas.  Ma  's 
fhior  an  sgeul,  tha  e  air  aithris  gu 
robh  e  'n  còmhnuidh  a  stri  ri  bhi 
'cur  as  do  'n  chreachadh,  do  'n 
spiiilleadh  's  do  'n  lamhachas-làidir 
a  bha  'na  chleachdadh  cho  cumanta 
's  an  am.  Nuair  a  thàinig  na  Leod- 
aich  air  tir  an  Uibhist  mu-thuath 
thuig  muinntir  an  aite  gu  maith  'd 
e  bha  fanear  dhaibh,  'us  's  e  bh'ann 
chuir  iad  fios  cabhagach  gu  mac 
Iain  'ic  Sheumais  mar  a  bha  chiiis 
air  thuar  a  bhi.  Bha  esan  mar  a 
bha  e  riamh  cho  ealamh  ris  an  f  hacal, 
's  air  falbh  a  bha  e  le  da  f  hear  dheug 
de  na  ceatharnaich  bu  chalma  's  bu  j 
cholgarra  a  bha  r'am  faotainn  an  [ 
Uibhist  mu-dheas.  Air  tràigh  | 
oidhche  chaidh  iad  thar  faoghail 
nan  làrnan  's  thar  faoghail  'ic-an- 
Aoidheir,  's  beagan  roimh  bheul 
au  latha  rcàinigiadCàirinnis.  Anuair 
a  ghabh  iad  beachd  air  cur  a'  bhaile 
's  a  thuig  iad  gu  robh  na  creach- 
adairean  fhathast  gun  fhalbh  dh' 
f  halaich  iad  iad  fhein  ann  am  feithe 
'm  braighe  bhaile.    'JN"  uair  a  thòisich 


an  la  air  soileireachadh  mhothaich 
iad  gu  robh  barrachd  cuideachd  aig 
tigh-a'-chnuic  's  bu  choir  a  bhi  ann 
's  thuig  iad  CO  bh'  aca.  Thilg  mac 
Iain  'ic  Sheumais  saighead  's  leon  e 
fear  dhiubh.  Leis  an  ath  shaigheid 
leag  a  fear  eile.  Ghabh  iad  an  t- 
eagal  's  thubhairt  fear  dhiubh,  "  Tha 
mi  gu  mòr  air  mo  mhealladh  mur 
ann  o  laimli  Dhomhnuill  'ic  Iain  'ic 
Sheumais  a  thàinig  na  saighdean, 
's  ma's  ann  tha  eagal  mòr  orm  gu 
'm  bi  la  dubh  againn  dheth."  Cha 
robh  iad  fhathast  cinnteach  cò  'n 
àird  as  an  robh.  na  saighdean  a' 
tigliinn,  ach  's  e  rud  a  rinn  iad 
thionndaidh  iad  an  aghaidhnean  gu 
ceithir  àrdaibh  an  athair,  's  'n  uair  a 
thàinig  an  treas  saighead  thuig  iad 
gur  ann  o  'n  àird  an  ear-thuath  a  bha 
na  saighdean  a'  tighinn.  Cho  luath 
's  a  bh'  aca  bhruchd  iad  sios  an 
cnoc.  An  uair  a  chunnaic  mac  Iain 
'ic  Sheumais  iad  a'  cromadh  le  bearr- 
adh  a'  chnuic  thuirt  e,  "  Nis  'illean, 
ma  rinn  sibh  riamh  e  deanaibh  an 
diugh  e,  oir  tha  mi  'm  barail  gu 
bheil  triuir  aig  gach  fear  agaibh  ri 
chur  gu  Làr."  "  Ma  tha,"  ars'  iadsan, 
cha'n  fhad  a  bhitheas."  Bha  e  fhein 
's  a  ghillean  cho  ealanta  air  a'  bhogha 
's  gu'n  d'  thug  iad  tanachadh  maith 
air  na  Leodaich  mu'n  do  tharr  iad, 
ach  gann,  cromadh  le  bearradh  a' 
chnuic.  An  uair  a  dhliithaich  iad 
r'a  chèile  's  ann  an  sin  a  bha  'n 
"  cath,  teth,  teann." — 

"  Thachair  r'a  ch^ile  na  suinn, 
Mar  bhruaillein  thonn  airclruima'  chuain, 
Bha  beuman  beucach  dlù  ri  ch^ile  : 
Am  bàs  a'  leum  tbar  trein  's  an  t-sliabh, 
Mar  neul  de  chlachaibh-meallain  garbh,' 
'S  gaoth  mhòr  na  'cirb  ag  eirigh. " 

Dhe'n  da  fhichead  fear  cha  do  tharr 
as  ach  an  dithis.  Thuit  each  gu 
lèir  ach  an  ceannard — Mac  Dhomlm- 
uill  Ghlais — 's  a'  chath.  Theich 
esan  le  bheatha.  Thug  Mac  Iain 
'ic  Sheumais  teann-ordugh  gun  a 
mharbhadh  air  chor,  sam  bith,  ach, 
na'm  bu  chomasach  e,  a  ghlacadh 


Treas  Mios  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


311 


beo.  Chaidh  e  faisg  air  da  mliile 
mu'n  d'  tliainig  fear  de  sbaighdear- 
an  mhic  Iain  'ic  Sheumais  suas 
ris  air  traigh  faisg  air  a'  Bhaile- 
sliear.  Ged  a  bha  'n  dithis  aca  air 
an  trom-lot  roimbe  sin  thug  iad 
deannal  air  iomairt-chlaidheamh. 
Cha  gheilleadli  Mac  Dhomhnuill 
Ghlais  's  e  beo,  ach  bha  e  gabhail 
iomain-chiiil  gus  mu  dheireadh  an 
deachaidh  e  mach  air  a'  mhuir  thun 
na  duilleig.  Ged  a  bha  toil  aig  an 
an  fhear  eile  a  ghlacadh  beo  a  reir 
orduigha  mhaighstir,  'n  uairathòisich 
an  sàile  ri  del  's  na  lotaibh  dh'  fhàs 
e  goirid  's  an  fhoighidinn  's  le  aon 
sàthadh  de  'n  chiaidheamh  chuir  e 
crioch  air  's  a'  bhad  an  robh  e,  's 
dh'  fhàg  6  marbh  air  an  oitir  e. 
Theirear  Oitir  'ic  Dhomhnill  Ghlais 
ris  an  oitir  gus  an  la  'n  dingh. 
Thiodhlaiceadh  coluinnean  nan 
Leodach  far  an  do  thuit  iad — air 
Leathad-a'  bhuailte,  mar  a  theirear 
ris  an  àite  riamh  o'n  thugadh  am 
blàr  ann.  Chuireadh  an  cinn  ann 
an  uinneagaibh  an  teampuill  far  am 
bheil  cuid  diubh,  's  dòcha,  f  hathast 
ri  'm  faicinn.  Cha'n  'eil  cunntas 
againn  co  lion  a  thuit  de  na  Domh- 
nullaich  's  a'  bhlàr  fhuileachdach 
so,  ach,  air  a  shon  sin,faodaidh  sinn 
a  bhi  cinnteach  gu  'n  do  thuit  an 
àireamh  bu  mho  dhiubh.  Fhuair 
Domhnull  Mac  Iain  'ic  Sheumais,  e 
fhein,  iomadh  lot  ged  a  chaidh  an 
la  leis.  Ach  thàinig  e  gu  maith 
dheth  na  dheigh  sin.  Tha  e  air 
aithris,  ged  nach  ruig  sinn  a  leas  a 
chreidsinn,  gu  robh  'u  fheithe'  ruith 
le  fuil,  agus  uime  sin,  theirear  feithe- 
na-fala  rithe  gus  an  la  'n  duigh. 

Theagamh  gu  'n  saoil  cuid  gu 
robh  e  eu-comasach  do  dha  fhear 
dheug  cur  as  do  dhliith  air  da  f  hich- 
ead  fear,  ach  mar  a  bha  'n  Sean 
fhacal  ag  ràdh,  "Is  fearr  duine  na 
daoine."  A  bharrachd  air  a  sin 
'n  uair  a  bha  na  Domhnullaich  'g  am 
falach  fhein  's  an  fheithe  's  each  a' 
cromadh   leis    a'  bhruthach  bha  'n 


cothram  ac'  orra,  's  mu  'n  do  tharr 
iad  sealltuinn  li-uca  no  uatha  bha  àir- 
eamh  mhaith  dhiu  air  an  leonadh. 
Mar  so  chaill  cuid  mhòr  dhiu  'm 
misneach  gu  buileach.  A  thaobh 
nan  Domhnullach  tha  e  air  aithris 
gu  robh  iad  anabarrach  ealanta  air 
a'  bhogha,  agus,  mar  an  ceudna,  gu 
robh  am  boghachan  cho  làidir  's 
nach  b'  urrainn  neach  sam  bith  an 
lùbadh  ach  iad  fhein.  Tha  e  furas- 
da  thuigsinn  gu  'n  tilgeadh  iad 
saighdean  astar  gle  f  hada.  Leis  na 
nithibh  so  a  bhi  gu  leir  na'm  fàbhar 
a  bharrachd  air  iad  a  bhi  nan  daoine 
ro  thrèun  tha  e  soilleir  nach  bu  ni 
doirbh  dhaibli  an  la  chur. 

'N  uair  a  chuala  Domhnull  Gorm 
mu  bhlàr  Chàirinnis  's  mu  ghaisge  a 
charaid  bha  e  ro  thoilichte,  's  mar 
chomharradh  air  a  thaingealachd 
airson  a  threubhantais  thug  e  dha 
Gabhaltas  na  Cuidrich  's  an  Eilean 
Sgiathanach.  Gu  cinnteach  bha  e 
na  'Ian  airidh  air  agus  corr.  B'  ann 
d'a  shliochd  Caibtean  Ailein 
Domhnullach,  Khingshurgh,  a  bha 
pòsda  ri  Fionnghail  Dhomhnullaich 
a  bha  'n  cuideachd  Phrionns  Tearl- 
ach  'n  uair  a  bha  e  fo  'n  choille  's  a' 
Ghàidhealtachd.  An  deigh  blàr 
Chcàirinnis  rinn  a  mhuime,  Nic  Còis- 
eam,  òran  do  Dhomhnull  mac  Iain 
'ic  Sheumais  anns  an  do  leig  i  ris  gu 
soilleir  gu  'm  bu  ghaisgeach  treun  e 
a  thug,  uair  'us  uair,  buaidh  air  a 
naimhdibh.  Tha  'n  t-òran  so  nuair 
a  bhios  e  air  a  sheinn  gu  ceart  ana- 
barrach tlachdmhor  ri  bhi  'ga  eisd- 
eachd.  Ged  a  tha  dllith  air  tri 
cheud  bliadhna  o  rinneadh  e  tha 
h-uile  facal  dheth,  tha  e  coltach,  air 
chuimhne  fhathast.  Cha  do  chlò- 
bhuaileadh  riamh  e,  achbithidh  e  gun 
dail  air  a  chlobhualadh  anns  an 
Ornnaiche  aig  Mac-na-Ceardadh,  an 
Glasachu. 

So,    mata,     cunntas     mu     bhlàr 
Chairinnis  mar  a  tha  'n  sgeul  air 
aithris  gu  coitchionn  an  Uibhist. 
Iain, 


312 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


Treas  Mois  an  Fhoghair,  1876. 


THA  MO  KUN  AIR  A'  GHILLE. 


G-LEUS  A. 


Sloivly,  with  feeling. 


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Seisd. — Tha  mo  run  air  a'  ghille; 
'S  e  mo  dhurachd  gu'n  tig  thu; 
'S  mi  gu'n  siubhladh  leat  am  fireach, 
Fo  shile  nam  fuai^-bheann. 

Oidhche  shamhraidh  dhomh  's  mi  'm  ònar, 
Na'm  b'urrainn  domh  gu'n  deanainn  òran — 
'S  truagh,  a  righ,  nach  robh  mi  pòsd' 
Air  òigeir  a'  chuil  dualaich. 

O  gur  e  mo  cheist  an  t-òigear ! 
Tear  'chuil  duinn  's  an  leadain  bhòìdhich; 
'S  mi  gu'n  siubhladh  leat  thar  m'  eòlas, 
Ged  tha  'n  còta  ruadh  art. 

'S  mor  a  thug  mi  ghaol  do'n  fhiùran, 
Tha  mach  à  teaghlach  Chill-Fhùndainn — 
Sealgair  fhiadh  thu  'm  beinn  a'  bhùiridh, 
'S  eilid  lùth  nan  luatb-chas. 


Ged  tha  bliith  na  brie'  ad  aodann, 
Cha  do  lughdaich  sud  mo  ghaol  ort; 
'S  mi  gu'n  siubhladh  leat  an  saogh'l, 
Na'n  saoilinn  do  bhuannachd. 

Phosainn  thu  dh-aindeòin  mo  chàirdean. 
Gun  toil  m'  athar  no  mo  mhàthar — 
lain-Saor  a  tha  mi  'g  àireamh, 

Bho'n  's  e  chnamh  a'  ghruag  dhiora. 

Tha  an  XoUaig  tigh'nn  as  ùr  oirnn  ; 
Ged  a  tha  gur  beag  mo  shùnnd  rith'; 
'M  fear  nach  fhagadh  anns  a'  chuil  mi. 
Air  chill  nan  tonn  uaine ! 

'S  beag  a  shaoilinn  f^in  an  uiridh, 
Gu'n  treigeadh  tu  mi  cho  buileach — 
Mar  gu'n  tilgeadh  craobh  a  duiUeach, 
Dh'  fhàs  thu  umam  suarach. 


THE     G-A.EL, 


ENGLISH  DEPARTMENT. 


Vol.  V. 


OCTOBER  1876. 


No.  58. 


OUR   GRAMMARIANS. 

Since  the  publication  of  the  '■'  Celtic 
Gleanings"*  in  1857,  the  study  of 
our  language  and  literature  has 
made  very  rapid  progress.  The 
number  of  Celtic  students  has  in- 
creased largely.  The  revived  interest 
in  the  old  language  and  its  several 
dialects  is  fast  maturing  into  an 
earnest  intelligent  and  scientific  ac- 
quaintance with  its  structure,  dis- 
tinctive character,  and  reiationships. 
For  this  purpose  the  works  of  "  Le 
Gonidec,"  "O'Donovan,"  "Rowland," 
"  Stewart,"  "  Zeuss,"  and  others, 
are  indispensible.  Some  notes  of 
their  personal  history  may  therefore 
be  justly  regarded  as  acceptable  to 
students,  and  not  devoid  of  interest 
to  all  our  readers. 

I.  Le  Gonidec. 

J.  F.  M.  Le  Gonidec,  was  born  at 
Le  Conqiiet,  a  small  seaport  town  at 
the  westmost  point  of  Brittany,  on 
the  4th  September  1775.  His 
parents  were  of  ancient  extraction, 
though  without  fortune.  At  the  age 
of  three  years,  his  mother  died,  and 
he  was  abandoned  by  his  father. 
He  was  generously  adopted  into  the 
family  of  Mr.  and  idrs.  De  Ker- 
Sauzon,  who  were  interested  in  the 
child,  as  they  previously  had  been 
in  his  parents.  Their  tenderness 
and  attention  towards  him  were  such, 
that  up  to  his  twelfth  year,  he  was 
not  aware  of  their  real  relation  to 
him.  When  the  circumstances  were 
made  known  to  him,  he  was  so  much 


Maclachlan  &  Stewart,  Edinburgh.    1857. 


affected,  that  he  took  ill  and  nearly 
died  of  grief.  His  early  education 
was  obtained  in  the  town  of  Saint- 
Brieuc.  Through  the  influence  of 
a  namesake  and  relative,  the  AbM 
Le  Gmidec,  he  was  led  to  study  theo- 
logy. His  generous  benefactors,  the 
"  Ker-Sauzons  "  were,  through  mis- 
fortune, reduced  in  worldly  circum- 
stances, and  no  longer  able  to  devote 
themselves  to  their  adopted  son:  the 
Abbe  in  these  circumstances,  became 
tutor  to  the  son  and  nephew  of  his 
his  former  friends.  No  sooner  had 
he  entered  on  his  labour  of  love, 
than,  owing  to  the  troubles  of  1791, 
he  had  to  give  up  his  chosen  work, 
and  Le  Gonidec  was  under  the 
necessity  of  looking  out  for  a  more 
secure  and  permanent  dwelling 
place.  In  1793,  ere  he  was  yet 
eighteen  years  of  age,  he  was 
doomed  to  the  guillotine,  and 
actually  brought  out  for  execution, 
when,  by  a  coup  de  main,  armed 
friends  fell  upon  the  soldiers,  and 
rescued  the  prisoner.  After  passing 
through  many  difficulties,  and  narrow 
escapes  for  his  life,  he  crossed  the 
channel  and  landed  at  Penzance,  in 
Cornwall.  On  landing,  a  stranger 
asked  him  if  his  name  was  not  Le 
Gonidec,  and  upon  his  answering  in 
the  affirmative,  he  was  invited  to  be 
guest  with  a  lady  in  the  neighbour- 
hood. On  arriving  at  the  mansion- 
house,  he  discovered  that  he  had 
been  mistaken  for  another  person  of 
the  same  name,  who  was  expected 
to  arrive  from  America.  His 
generous  hostess,  however,  kept  him 
as  her  guest  for  nearly  twelve  months. 
In   1794  he  returned  to  Brittany, 


314 


THE  GAEL. 


October,  1876. 


only  to  be  again  involved  in  the 
civil  wars  of  the  Mor-Bihan  and  the 
Cotes-Du-Nord,  in  which  he  was 
seriously  wounded.  He  thereupon 
visited  Britain  a  second  time,  but 
was  in  a  short  time  recalled  to  en- 
gage in  the  conflict  in  his  native 
country.  The  Amnesty  of  1800 
permitted  him  to  lay  down  arms 
and  settle  at  Brest.  It  was  here 
his  literary  life  began.  His  natural 
genius  fitted  him  as  little  for  the 
battlefield  as  it  did  for  theology. 
Now  it  was  that  he  began  to  make 
the  acquaintance  in  a  scientific  man- 
ner of  a  language,  which,  without 
any  study,  he  had  spoken  from  his 
infancy.  Henceforward  his  zeal  in 
that  study  was  intense,  and  his 
labours  abundant.  Although  em- 
ployed in  an  important  post  under 
the  empire,  he  did  not  forget  his 
duty  to  his  countrymen  and  their 
language.  In  1805  his  name  ap- 
pears on  the  list  of  members  of  the 
"  Celtic  Academy."  Le  Gonidec 
soon  found  that  although  "the 
Academy"  was  specially  designed 
for  the  pursuit  of  Celtic  studies,  yet 
the  special  object  of  its  institution 
was  sadly  neglected,  and  that,  when 
a  Celtic  subject  was  discussed,  it  was 
treated  in  the  most  superficial  man- 
ner ;  at  the  same  time  the  silly  pre- 
tensions and  wild  imaginings  of 
some  of  the  members  disgusted  the 
majority.  The  antiquity  claimed 
for  the  Breton  language  roused  these 
men  into  ojjposition,  and  a  state  of 
matters  existed  not  unlike  what 
obtained  in  our  own  country  in 
the  old  "  Ossianic  controversy." 
This  caused  Le  Gonidec  to 
turn  his  attention  to  the 
ancient  Breton  MSS.,  and  led 
eventually  to  the  composition  of  his 
"  Celto-Bretonne  Grammar,"  which 
was  published  in  1807.  Three 
grammars  preceded  that  of  Le  Goni- 
dec,   viz.,    the    "  Grammaire    Bret- 


onne-Galloise  "  of  John  Davies,  Lon- 
don, 1621  ;  the  "  Grammaire  Bret- 
onne"  of  P.  Maunoir,  about  the 
middle  of  the  same  century  ;  and 
the  grammar  of  P.  G.  de  Rostre- 
nen,  published  at  Brest  in  1795. 

The  work  of  Le  Gonidec  was  a 
manifest  advance  on  its  predecessors, 
and  is  an  authority  to  the  present 
day.  NeXv  troubles  met  him  at 
every  stage  of  his  course.  His  father 
died  insolvent,  and  yet  such  was  the 
disinterestedness  of  the  son  that  he 
contracted  debts  himself,  that  he 
might  wipe  off  this  stain  from  the 
memory  of  the  man  who  had  aban- 
doned him  from  his  childhood.  A- 
gain  he  occupied  an  important  post 
under  the  empire,  but  the  disaster 
which  befell  the  French  arms  after 
the  retreat  from  Moscow,  once  more 
involved  Le  Gonidec  in  ruin.  The 
last  man  to  leave  his  post  he  lost  his 
furniture,  books,  and  manuscripts. 
In  vain  did  he  appeal  to  the  services 
rendered  to  his  country.  He  was 
deprived  of  position,  commission,  and 
reward.  It  was  when  reduced  to 
this  state  that  he  composed  his 
"Breton-French"  dictionary,  which 
dates  from  1821.  In  1827  he  pub- 
lished the  New  Testament  which  is 
said  to  be  the  finest  translation  in 
the  Breton  language.  The  whole 
edition  is  said  to  have  been  bought 
up  in  Wales.  The  Bible  Society 
immediately  asked  for  the  Old  Tes- 
tament. The  Latin-Welsh  diction- 
ary of  Davies  was  so  scarce  that  a 
copy  could  not  be  obtained  in  France, 
and  yet  the  work  was  regarded  as  so 
important,  and  the  services  of  Le 
Gonidec  as  so  valuable,  that  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Price  carried  the  precious  vol- 
I  ume  to  Brittany  in  his  own  hands. 
His  translation  is  justly  regarded  as 
furnishing  an  inimitable  text.  Two 
years  were  devoted  to  the  Grammar ; 
eleven  years  were  given  to  the  Dic- 
tionaries ;     and    ten    years    to    the 


THE  GAEL. 


315 


Translation  of  the  Scriptures.  All 
this  work  he  did  when  he  was  under- 
going the  daily  toil  in  other  duties 
necessary  for  the  support  of  his 
family ;  and  he  did  it  all  without  fee 
or  reward.  The  State,  prodigal 
enough  in  other  matters  and  spend- 
ing hundreds  of  thousands  on  the 
classical  tongues,  could  not  afford  to 
spend  a  cent  on  Celtic  literature, 
and  the  language  spoken  by  a  large 
portion  of  its  own  people.  The  case 
in  this  respect  offers  a  suitable 
parallel  to  what  has  befallen  the 
the  Gaelic  of  Scotland  at  the  hands 
of  the  legislature.  Discarded  by  the 
State  in  1834,  he  had  to  seek  in 
private  estabhshments  the  work 
necessary  to  support  hi-s  family. 
He  had  carefully  finished  the  works 
to  which  we  have  so  briefly  referred 
when  the  pen  fell  from  his  nerveless 
grasp.  After  an  illness  of  three 
months  he  died ;  to  the  grief  of  his 
countrymen  and  the  great  loss  of 
Celtic  literature.  W.  E.  B. 


THE  GAEL  IX  THE 
FAR  WEST. 

By  the  Rev.  Donald  Masson, 
M.A.,  M.D.,  Edinburgh. 

In  a  paper  contributed  some  time 
ago  to  a  Journal  similar  to  the  Gael, 
I  noticed  the  names  of  some  notable 
Scottish  Highlanders  who,  owing 
little  to  birth  and  nothing  to  for- 
tune, have,  by  their  own  worth  and  i 
ability,  risen  in  Canada  to  positions  I 
of  wealth  and  great  influence.  Thus 
I  noticed  the  fact  that  the  Highland 
parish  of  Logierait  gives  to  the 
Dominion  her  present  Premier,  the  i 
Honourable  Alexander  JMackenzie, 
as  Dornoch  had  given  his  prede- 
cessor, Sir  John  A.  Macdonald. 
And  if  space  were  at  command,  it 
were  easy,    and   to   me   it  were   a 


grateful  task,  to  add  to  this  honour- 
ed roll  name  after  name  of  country- 
men and  kinsmen,  who,  from  Cape 
Breton  to  Vancouver's  Island,  and 
in  various  spheres  of  life,  are  carry- 
ing high  the  banner  of  our  race. 
How  ample  are  the  materials  for 
such  a  roll-cry  let  the  following 
facts  exemplify.  At  the  foot  of 
Lake  Ontario,  in  the  pleasant  city 
of  Kingston,  during  the  meeting  of 
the  Church  of  Scotland  Synod,  and 
round  the  hospitable  board  of  Pro- 
fessor John  Hugh  Mackerras,  I  met 
with  seven  ministers  of  the  Kirk 
who,  like  mine  host  and  myself, 
were  born  in  the  valley  of  the 
Nairn ;  and  in  one  Free  Church 
Presbytery  on  Lake  Huron,  I  found 
three  ministers,  all  cousins  of  my 
own,  who  hailed  from  the  parish  of 
Croy.  At  the  Synod  of  the  Church 
in  the  Lower  Provinces,  which  met 
at  Charlottetown,  in  Prince  Edward 
Island,  elders  and  ministers  were 
Highland,  almost  to  a  man  ;  and  I 
was  told  of  one  of  their  missionaries 
in  the  South  Sea  Islands,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Goodwill,  avIio,  though  by  blood 
a  Yankee,  was  a  powerful  preacher 
in  the  vernacular  of  Ossian.  He  is 
now  back  again  to  "  The  Island," 
and  ministers  to  "the  largest  con- 
gregation of  Gaelic-speaking  High- 
landers in  the  world."  And  when 
the  leader  of  the  House  at  Charlotte- 
town,  the  Honourable  Mr.  Sinclair, 
did  me  the  honour  of  showing  me 
over  the  "Lords"  and  "Commons" 
of  Prince  Edward  Island,  he  was 
able,  in  choice,  classic  Gaelic,  to 
explain  to  me  the  vhole  order  of 
business,  as  well  as  the  questions 
under  discussion.  And,  at  a  public 
breakfast  the  day  I  left  Charlotte- 
town,  when  we  filled  the  largest 
room  in  the  city,  we  had  Gaelic 
orations  of  great  pathos  and  beauty, 
mingled  wiUi  the  strains  of  Mac- 
Crimmon's  Lament  and  Caber  feidh  on 


316 


THE  GAEL. 


October,  187C. 


the  bagpipes.  But  of  Canadian 
Gaelic,  and  of  right  loyal  Highland 
feeling  on  the  part  of  Canada's  fore- 
most men,  there  is  in  truth  no  end. 
My  eight  months'  experience  of  it 
could  more  than  fill  a  volume  of 
your  Magazine. 

Rather,  hoAvever,  than  pursue  this 
strain  "  promiscuously,"  let  me  here 
inscribe  a  name  of  which  High- 
landers may  well  be  proud,  as  by 
men  of  every  race  in  Canada  it  will 
long  be  remembered  with  gratitude. 
The  Honourable  Oliver  Mowat, 
the  Premier  and  Attorney-General 
of  the  province  of  Ontario,  has  done 
more  to  consolidate  the  public  insti- 
tutions of  Canada,  and  purify  the 
fountain  of  her  national  life,  than 
any  man  of  the  present  or  the  past 
generation.  Even  his  predecessor 
in  the  Premiership  of  the  premier 
province,  the  Honourable  Alexander 
Mackenzie,  now  elevated  to  the 
Premiership  of  the  Dominion,  can- 
not be  excepted.  Both  men,  indeed, 
are  equally  honest ;  and  if  the 
former  has  the  advantage  of  profes- 
sional training,  and  even  of  judicial 
experience — for  he  left  the  Bench  to 
resume  political  life, — the  latter 
"  towers  aboon  them  a'  "  for  innate 
ability  and  a  truly  indomitable  force 
of  character.  But  the  entangle- 
ments of  conflicting  race  and  religion, 
especially  as  regards  the  French 
Catholics  of  Quebec,  have  sometimes 
been  to  Mackenzie  and  his  ministry 
what  Delilah  was  to  Samson ; 
while  Mowat,  in  Ontario,  has  fortu- 
nately been  more  free  to  think  for 
himself,  and  build  up  the  monument 
of  his  statesmanship  from  his  own 
ideal  plan  of  what  a  free,  God-fenr- 
ing,  and  independent  nation  ought 
to  be.  And  thus  it  comes  to  pass 
that,  during  the  five  years  of  the 
Mowat  administration,  the  Parlia- 
ment of  Ontario  has  done  a  work 
which,  while  an  unspeakable  bless- 


ing to  that  province  itself,  holds  up 
a  noble  example  to  the  sister  pro- 
vinces, and  even  to  the  Dominion 
itself — an  example  which  cannot 
long  be  resisted  in  a  country  where 
public  opinion,  if  in  some  places 
slow  to  form  and  not  easily  moved, 
is  everywhere  legally  free,  and  no- 
where unreceptive  or  unresponsive 
to  such  light  as  can  reach  it.  In 
the  administration  of  justice,  in  the 
department  of  public  education,  in 
the  much-needed  provisions  for 
purity  of  election  and  the  free  and 
fearless  representation  in  Parliament 
of  the  will  of  the  people,  in  procur- 
ing a  wise  yet  not  fanatical  revision 
of  the  licensing  laws,  in  the  codifica- 
tion of  the  public  statutes,  and  in 
the  adjustment  of  the  conflicting 
claims  of  law  and  equity,  the  work 
done,  and  being  done,  by  Mr. 
Mowat's  Administration,  moulded, 
of  course,  very  largely  by  his  own 
personal  honesty  and  by  his  great 
legal  experience  at  the  bar  and  on 
the  bench,  is  at  once,  in  the  words 
of  the  leading  journal  of  the 
Dominion,  "  thoroughly  safe  and 
eminently  progressive."  Mr.  Mowat, 
though  born  in  Canada,  is  in  blood 
and  sentiment  a  worthy  member  of 
a  Caithness  familj^,  long  celebrated 
for  native  worth  and  intelligence. 
His  father,  Mr.  John  ]\Iowat,  a 
Peninsular  veteran,  who  had  seen 
much  service  under  Wellington  in 
Portugal  and  Spain,  like  many  other 
retired  soldiers  of  that  day,  came 
out  to  seek  a  home  for  himself  in 
Canada  at  the  close  of  Bonaparte's 
career  at  Waterloo.  He  must  have 
inherited  much  of  the  pith  and  piety 
of  his  forefathers,  for  he  soon  be- 
came a  leading  man  in  business,  in 
politics,  and  in  the  Church.  Besides 
the  Premier  of  Ontario,  another  son 
— the  Professor  of  Church  History 
in  Queen's  College,  Kingston — still 
lives,  most  worthily  to  exemplify,  in 


October,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


317 


his  quieter  sphere,  that  love  of  truth, 
virtue,  and  country,  which  so 
strongly  marked  the  character  of 
their  stern  old  Loyalist  father. 

Before  passing  from  this  part  of 
my  paper,  I  would  like  to  inscribe 
here  the  names  of  two  rising  divines, 
an  honour  to  the  Scottish  High- 
lands, to  whose  courtesy  I  am  in- 
debted, not  less  for  many  acts  of 
genuine  kindness,  tlian  for  much 
valuable  advice  and  information. 
One  of  these  is  the  Rev.  Professor 
Mackerras  of  Queen's  College,  form- 
erly clerk  of  the  Church  of  Scotland 
Synod  of  Upper  Canada,  and  now 
joint  clerk  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Canada  and  the  other 
is  the  Rev.  Neil  Macnish,  LL.D.,  of 
St.  John's  Church  Cornwall.  The 
former  was  born  in  Nairn ;  and  his 
great-grandfather,  who  fought  for 
the  Prince  at  Culloden,  found  it  con- 
venient, after  that  "happy  disaster," 
to  change  the  family  name  of  Fergu- 
son into  the  Gaelic  equivalent,  which 
the  Professor  has  made  illustrious. 
The  latter,  when  yet  a  child,  emigra- 
ted to  Canada  with  his  father,  who 
is  still  Avell  remembered  in  Kintyre, 
Avhere  he  was  an  extensive  and  suc- 
cessful grazier,  as  well  as  land-steward 
on  the  Macdonald-Lockhart  estates. 
Dr.  ]\Iacnish,  besides  attending  the 
Toronto  Uuiversity,  studied  also  in 
the  Universities  of  Glasgow  and 
Edinburgh,  where  he  took  very  high 
honours.  He  is  the  youngest  LL.D. 
in  the  church.  His  widowed  mother, 
with  two  sons  who  inherit  much  of 
their  father's  skill  in  stock-raising, 
still  keeps  up  the  old  Highland  ways, 
and  delights  to  dispense  the  old 
Highland  hospitality  in  her  pleasant 
manor-house  at  Fingal  near  Lake 
Erie.  A  day  or  two  spent  under 
her  hospitable  roof  will  long  be  re- 
membered by  me  with  unmingled 
pleasure.  And  with  the  names  of 
Professor  Mackerras  and  Dr.  Mac- 


nish I  would  bracket  that  of  the  Rev. 
George  Grant  of  Halifax,  a  shrewd 
and  ready  debater  in  Church  Courts; 
an  able  administrator;  a  well-read, 
accomplished  divine,  who  can  match 
the  latest  transcendentalism  from 
Tubingen  with  the  notachan 
and  pious  traditionary  dicta  of  his 
ancestors  among  the  men  of  Suther- 
land. He  is,  moreover,  a  mighty 
hunter  like  Nimrod  ;  and  a  hot,  im- 
petuous horseman  like  Jehu,  and 
wields  withal  the  pen  of  a  ready 
graceful  writer,  as  witness  his  stir- 
ring narrative,  in  "  From  Ocean  to 
Ocean;"  of  his  ride  over  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  in  advance  of  the  Cana- 
dian Pacific  Railway. 

Thus  far  for  those  who  from  an 
humble  origin  have  made  for  them- 
selves in  Canada  a  name  of  which 
their  countrjTnen  in  the  Scottish 
Highlands  may  Avell  be  proud.  Let 
me  now  speak  of  men  among  the 
Canadian  Yeomanry,  who,  by  right 
of  birth,  bear,  more  or  less  creditably, 
names  that  are  dear  to  all  of  us,  and 
some  of  which  indeed  fill  no  mean 
place  in  Scottish  history.  Three  of 
these  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Inver- 
ness— the  Chisholm,  the  M'Gillivray 
and  Morar,  have  but  recently  been 
recalled  from  Canada  to  support  the 
ancestral  roof-tree  in  Scotland.  The 
Chisholm,  one  of  the  most  popular  of 
our  chiefs,  is  a  native  of  Montreal  ; 
and  Morar,  the  most  hand  some  man  in 
the  Parliament  house  of  Edinburgh, 
hails  from  the  far  west  of  Glengary. 
And  last  summer  I  had  a  visit  from 
another  Glengary  Canadian  who 
believed  himself,  and  was  believed 
by  others,  to  be  the  veritable  Morar. 
In  Glengary,  also,  I  met  a  claimant 
of  the  title  and  wide  domains  of 
Breadalbane — a  gentleman,  whatever 
the  technical  defects  of  his  claim, 
who  was  beheved  by  his  friends  to 
represent  a  branch  much  nearer  the 
trunk  of  the  old  Breadalbane  tree 


318 


THE  GAEL. 


October,  1876. 


than  the  family  of  Glenfalloch,  And 
of  late  the  cry  is  of  yet  another 
Breadalbane  among  the  blue  noses 
of  New  Brunswick !  The  name  of 
Corriemony  will  long  be  dear  to 
every  intelligent  Highlander.  The 
honours  of  that  name  are  worthily 
borne  by  a  leading  physician  in  the 
Dominion  capital,  who  is  the  grand- 
son of  the  patriotic  and  learned 
author  of  the  "  Gael."  And  Gorrie- 
mony's  cousin  of  Achtriachtan,  a 
name  closely  associated  with  Prince 
Charlie,  not  long  ago  practised  medi- 
cine also  in  the  same  province.  A 
late  number  of  Blackwood's  Magazine 
gives  us  a  narrative  of  the  Prince's 
wanderings  after  Culloden,  written 
in  his  lifetime  by  a  brave,  devoted 
Macdonald,  who  more  than  shared 
the  perils  and  privations  of  that 
memorable  flight.  The  descendants 
of  that  chivalrous  Highland  gentle- 
man are  highly  esteemed  citizens  of 
PrinceEdward  Island.  And  their  near 
neighbours  are  the  Bruce  Stewarts, 
whose  veins  carry  the  old  blood  royal 
of  Scotland.  One  of  the  Bruce 
Stewarts,  not  long  ago,  claimed  the 
honours  and  magnificent  estates  now 
Avorthily  held  by  the  young  Marquis 
of  Bute.  I  believe  that  my  friend, 
Mr.  Bruce  Stewart,  is  "no  con- 
nection "  of  a  weak  brother  of  the 
same  name,  near  Dundee,  who  had 
lately  been  venting  sentiments  the 
most  repugnant  to  the  feelings  of  all 
true  Highlanders.  For  among  all 
Her  Majesty's  subjects  the  whole 
world  over,  there  does  not  breathe  a 
more  loyal  man  than  this  grand  old 
Prince  Edward  Islander  ;  who,  with 
his  Greek  Testament  and  his  Horace, 
and  surrounded  by  a  highly  cultured 
family  of  as  handsome  sons  and  as 
beautiful  daughters  as  ever  graced 
Baronial  hall  or  bower,  lives  a  life 
of  pious  patriarchal  refinement  and 
simplicity  on  his  own  fair  scigneurie 
in  the  garden  of  British  North  Am- 
erica. 


That  brave  Jacobite,  Lord  Mar, 
who  fled  from  Scotland  in  1745  to 
save  his  head,  died  in  Canada  in 
1792,  and  his  numerous  descendants 
are  now  scattered  over  the  American 
continent.  His  grandson  set  out  for 
Scotland  in  1840,  to  claim  the  an- 
cestral estates  ;  but  unfortunately  he 
died  on  the  way,  and  with  him 
certain  documents,  valuable,  but  not 
essential  to  the  claims  of  the  family, 
disappeared.  Last  autumn,  however, 
several  of  his  heirs  consulted  to- 
gether, and  placed  their  case  in  the 
hands  of  the  highest  legal  authority 
in  the  colony ; — the  honourable 
Edward  Blake,  Minister  of  Justice 
of  the  Dominion,  who  is  said  by  the 
Toronto  Glohe  to  have  given  it  as 
his  opinion,  that  the  case  can  be 
clearly  proved.  And  now  the  matter 
has  gone  so  far,  that  a  strong  com- 
mittee has  been  formed  to  mature 
and  watch  over  the  case,  and  already 
a  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds 
sterling  has  been  paid  in  to  meet 
preliminary  expenses.  These  names 
represent  our  great  Highland 
families  in  the  main  line.  The 
Canadian  families  founded  by  cadds 
of  our  Highland  aristocracy,  such  as 
Squire  Eraser  of  New  Glasgow, 
representing  the  old  family  of 
Grothlick;  and  Mr.  Grant  Mac- 
donald of  Toronto,  representing  the 
yet  older  family  of  Glenmoriston, 
may  furnish  materials  for  a  third 
paper. 

What  are  the  prospects  of  the  old 
Gaelic  tongue  among  our  expatriated 
clansmen  in  the  Far  West  ?  It  is 
hard  to  say.  For  the  present,  in- 
deed, the  language  and  traditions  of 
the  Gael  are  everywhere  held  in 
high  esteem.  Not  only  in  what  I 
may  call  the  large  Gaelic  parishes — 
I  might  even  say  Gaelic  presbyteries, 
for  the  presbytery  of  Pictou  is  as 
truly  a  Gaelic  presbytery,  as  that  of 
Dornock,  or  of  Tain,  or  of  Abertarff 


THE  GAEL. 


319 


— but  in  the  great  cosmopolitan 
centres  of  New  York,  Montreal, 
Chicago,  and  Toronto,  Highlanders, 
and  men  of  Highland  origin,  not 
only  are  not  ashamed  to  speak 
Gaelic,  but  they  know  that  it  is  the 
proudest  feather  in  their  cap,  at  kirk 
or  market,  and  at  festive  baard, 
when  they  can  make  a  speech  or 
drink  a  health  in  the  tongue  of  their 
forefathers.  And  my  former  paper 
told  of  the  large  Gaelic  congregations 
I  met  with  all  through  my  tour  of 
6000  miles  on  the  American  con- 
tinent. But  still  I  am  not  confident 
that  the  next  generation  will  in  this 
respect  be  like  the  men  that  now 
are,  or  rather  that  are  fast  passing 
away.  Less  than  twenty  years  ago, 
Gaelic  was  preached  in  more  than 
twenty  pulpits  in  N.  Carolina.  In 
that  State,  Gaelic  is  now  for  ever 
gone — dead  ;  and  the  sons  of  the 
Carolina  Highlanders,  Flora  Mac- 
donald's  own  kith  and  kin,  are  being 
rapidly  absorbed  and  Yankified. 
And  everywhere  in  the  States  the 
same  process  is  at  work.  A  few 
patriotic,  warm-hearted,  native-born 
Highlanders,  still  redolent  of  the 
heather,  like  Crearer  of  New  York, 
and  Macpherson  of  Chicago,  may 
bitterly  mourn  the  degeneracy  of 
the  race,  or  in  more  hopeful  mood 
may  proudly  protest  and  boast  that 
the  Highland  blood  in  their 
children's  children's  veins  shall 
never  redden  lips  estranged  from 
their  dear  mother  tongue.  But  they 
are  kicking  against  the  pricks — 
])rotesting  against  the  inevitable. 
For  there  are  influences  at  work, 
against  which  I  fear  their  enthusiasm 
and  their  utmost  efforts  are  all  in  vain. 
Witness  the  degradation  which  in  a 
generation  or  two  has,  in  the  States, 
blurred  and  disguised  our  noblest 
clan  names.  The  proud  MTans  have 
gone  down  by  facile,  damnable 
descent    to     M'Keans,    M'Keands, 


M'Kins,  and  Keans.  The  most 
tolerable  form  of  Maclachlan  is 
Maglaughlin.  Yea,  the  very  chap- 
lain of  a  Celtic  Society  in  the  West, 
as  his  name  stares  me  now  on  the 
title  page  of  the  Society's  Eepoit, 
is  a  Rev.  Mr.  M'Clafflin ;  and  a 
celebrated  sister  of  the  clan  in  New 
York,  I  have  seen  figuring  appropri- 
ately, in  a  questionable  print,  as 
Miss  Claflin  !  In  conti^ast  to  this 
process  of  Celtic  degradation,  and 
to  rehabilitate  the  amour  propre  of 
fellow  Celts,  let  me  say  in  conclusion, 
that  ONE  name  I  met  with  which 
shows  a  stern,  inflexible,  conserva- 
tion of  pristine  purity,  and,  indeed, 
of  veritable  antediluvian  simplicity. 
Descending  from  the  cars  at  Hamil- 
ton, at  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario, 
the  first  thing  that  caught  my  eye, 
was  a  /huge  signboard,  with  the 
words — 

"M'NOAH'S  Dominion  Hotel!" 

What  will  the  Macleans  say  to  that? 
Had  M'Noah  too  an  ark  of  his  own, 
which  found  its  Ararat  on  Mount 
Washington,  or  among  the  Rocky 
Mountains?  This  name  fairly 
puzzled  me,  and  many  a  hearty 
laugh  I  had  with  witty  "  brither 
Scots"  in  Toronto  and  Montreal,  and 
Charlottetown  over  this  most  an- 
cient of  all  our  grand  Highland 
pedigrees.  Now  in  sober  verity 
Mr.  M'Noah  is  a  native  born  Scots- 
man, and  a  "  douce  decent  Presby- 
terian," though  he  neither  knows 
nor  is  known  to  the  Gaelic.  And 
since  returning  to  Scotland,  I  have 
learned  that  he  bears  the  name  of 
an  old  honoured  family,  some  mem- 
bers of  which  still  survive  to  suggest 
memories  of  the  day  when  their 
native  Galloway  was  a  Celtic  pro- 
vince. How  and  when  this  most 
ancient  family  came  to  settle  there, 
and  how  they  lost  their  Gaelic,   I 


320 


THE  GAEL. 


October,  IS" 


leave  it  to  the  learned  querists  and 
curious  philologists  of  the  Ard- 
Albanach  to  expiscate  ! 


AN  T-ORANAICHE.* 

This  is  the  first  instalment  of  a 
collection  of  Gaelic  songs,  edited  and 
published  by  Mr.  Archibald  Sinclair 
of  Glasgow.  The  work,  we  are  told, 
"  will  be  completed  (at  intervals)  in 
five  parts,  and  when  finished  will 
form  a  very  handsome  volume  of 
song."  The  part  before  us  contains 
upwards  of  sixty  pieces,  and  extends 
to  one  hundred  and  four  pages.  It 
is  very  correctly  written,  and  beauti- 
fully printed.  It  contains,  as  the  full 
title-page  informs  us,  many  songs 
now  published  for  the  first  time.  If 
the  succeeding  parts  will  equal  this  j 
first  instalment  in  intrinsic  excel- 
lence, and  in  typographical  accuracy 
and  finish,  we  have  no  hesitation  in 
saying  that  the  collection  will  far 
surpass  any  collection  of  popular 
Gaelic  songs  hitherto  published. 
Mr.  Sinclair  is  in  many  respects  well 
qualified  for  the  task  which  he  has 
undertaken.  His  residence  in  Glas- 
gow gives  him  peculiar  opportunities 
of  knowing  the  favourite  Gaelic 
songs  of  our  day  ;  while  his  know- 
ledge of  the  language,  and  his  liter- 
ary taste,  are  a  sufficient  guarantee 
that  good  sense  and  sound  judgment 
will  be  displayed  in  the  selection  of 
songs  within  the  somewhat  ample 
limits  which  he  has  allowed  himself 


*  An  t-oranaiche.  Comh-chruinneactadh 
de  Grain  Ghaidhealach.  Le  Gilleasbuig 
MaC-na-Ceardadh.  Glasgow:  Archibald 
Sinclair,  62  Argyle  St.  E.  M'Gregor  & 
Co.,  45  Bridge  St.     1876. 


in  his  collection.  We  rather  fear 
that  these  limits  are  too  ample.  A 
volume  of  five  hundred  pages,  con- 
taining three  hundred  separate 
Gaelic  pieces,  will  contain,  we  fear, 
many  songs  which  cannot  be  called 
popular  in  any  sense  of  the  term. 
In  former  collections  are  always  felt 
that,  with  the  exception  of  a  dozen 
songs  or  so,  which  appeared  in  every 
collection,  the  songs  chosen  were  not 
those  which  were  the  favourites  of 
Gaelic  singers.  The  most  valuable 
feature  of  this  work  is,  that  it  gives 
us  a  large  selection  of  genuine  fa- 
vourites. The  least  valuable  feature 
is,  that  we  have  a  considerable  num- 
ber, good  perhaps  in  their  way, 
which  nobody  ever  heard,  and  no- 
body ever  will  hear  sung  except  per- 
haps by  their  authors.  The  first  re- 
quisite in  a  collection  of  popular 
songs  is  that  the  songs  be  popular. 
They  must  have  already  taken  hold  of 
the  popular  ear,  or  they  must  show,  on 
the  face  of  them,  such  qualities  as  re- 
quire only  to  be  known,  in  order  to 
make  them  favourites,  before  they 
acquire  the  right  to  be  admitted  in- 
to such  a  collection  as  this.  A  few 
of  the  songs  printed  in  this  part,  we 
humbly  think,  are  not  destined  to 
be  commonly  sung,  and  we  hope 
that  the  number  of  these,  in  succed- 
ing  parts,  will  be  still  fewer.  Apart 
from  this,  the  collection  promises  to 
be  exceedingly  interesting  and  valu- 
able, and  we  hope  that  the  sale  of 
the  first  issue  will  be  such  as  to 
enable  ]\Ir.  Sinclair  to  finish  with 
credit  the  work  which  he  has  so 
successfully  begun.  We  need  scarcely 
add,  that  we  will  be  glad  to  give  him 
all  the  assistance,  as  well  as  aU  the 
encouragement  we  can. 


AN 


O^IDHE^L 


Mar  ghath  soluis  do  m'  anamfein 

Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fhalbh." — Oisean. 


V.  Leabh.]    CEUD  MHIOS  A'  GHEAMHRAIDH,  1876.        [59  Am. 


AOBHARAN    AIRSON    A    BHI 
SEACHNADH  AN  OIL. 

"  Chan  uisge-beatha  ach  uisge  bàis, 
An  t-uisg'  a'  chi-adb  mo  chridh'  a'  'm  chòm  ; 

An  t-uisge  dh'  fhag  mo  cheannsa  Hath  ; 
An  t-uisge  dh'  fhag  na  ciadan  lorn." — 

Seann  Rann. 

Tha  an  t-ol  a  toirt  iomad  olc  'n 
a  lorg ;  agus  tha  iomad  aobhar  aig 
daoine  airson  a  sheachnadh  gu  tur. 

1.  Tha  e  cronail  do  'n  f-slainnte  agus 
do  'n  inntinn.  Cha  chaisg  deoch 
laidir  patlia,  agus  chan  'eil  brigh 
innte  mar  bhiadh.  An  aite  sin  's 
ann  a  tha  i  a  losgadh  a  ghoile,  agus 
a  cur  buaireas  's  an  eanachainn.  Ma 
's  math  leat  a  thuigsinn  ciamar  a 
loisgeas  deoch  laidir  an  goile,  laidh 
air  do  dhruim,  agus  leig  le  aon 
bhoinne  uisge-bheatha  sileadh  a'  d' 
shine,  agus  an  sin  tuigidh  tu.  Tha 
an  deoch  cho  cronail  do  'n  ghoile  's 
a  tha  i  do  'n  t-suil.  Chuir  an 
Cruithear  am  fear  faire  aig  an 
dorus,  agus  chan  ann  am  meadhou 
an  taighe,  far  nach  deanadh  e  feum. 
Tha  bias  sgaiteach,  loisgeach  alcohol 
a  feuchainn  gu  soilleir  nach,  biadh 
na  deoch  e  :  ach  nuair  a  ruigeas  e 
'n  goile,  tha  e  staigh,  's  cha  ghabh  e 
toirt-amach  :  agus  uime  sin  tha  an 
goile  gun  fhaireachduinn. 

Bho  cheann  corr  a's  leth-chead 
bliana,  chaidh  gill'  òg,  d'am,  b'  ainm 
Alecsis  Saint  Martin,  a  lot'  's  a 
bhroilleach,  le  urchair  sgiorrail,  aig 
Macina,  am  Michigan;  Leighis  an 
lot ;  ach  dh'  f  huirieh  fosgladh  mu 
choinneamh  a  ghoile,  air  dhoigh  's 
gu'n  gabhadh   a   thaobli   a's   taigh 


faicinn.  Uair  air  'n  uair,  thug  Saint 
Martin  car  air  an  òl;  agus  's  e 
thainig  a  sin  gun  robh  a  ghoile  air 
fheargnach  a's  air  iongarach.  Ach 
cha  robh  mothachadh  aigese  nach 
robh  gach  ni  mar  bu  choir. 

An  aite  pathadh  a  chasgadh,  's 
ann  a  thogas  alcohol  tart :  agus  a 
thaobh  beathachadh,  cha  dean  e  aon 
chuid  feòil  na  cnaimh.  Bheir  e 
neart  a  mhain  mar  a  bheir  buaireas 
caothaich  neart  do  dhuine  gòrach, 
no  mar  a  bheir  a  chuip  's  an  spor 
spionnadh  do  'n  each.  Nuair  a  dh' 
fhalbhas  am  buaireas,  tha  e  a  fagail 
duine  fann,  mar  a  ni  buaireas  teas- 
aich ;  agus  ma  tha  duine  'g  a 
ghnàthachadh,  tha  e  a  togail  galaran 
no  eucailean  air  bitli  do  'm  bheil 
duine  buailteach.  Tha  e  a  sgalldadh, 
agus  uime  sin  ag  anfhannachadh, 
gach  ball  do  'm  bean  e,  am  feadh  's 
a  tha  an  fhuil  'g  a'  sgaoileadh  air 
feadh  a  cliuirp  gu  leir.  Tha  fiosra- 
chadh  shaighdeirean  agus  sheolad- 
airean,  anns  gach  tir,  a  feuchainn 
gum  bheil  iad  ni 's  cruadalaiche  agus 
ni  's  treise,  far  nach  'eil  iad  a 
faighinn  boinne  dibhe,  na  far  am 
bheil  i  air  a  dàladh  amach  's  ant-seann 
doigh ;  agus  tha  mothachadh  a 
chinne-daoine  air  fad  a  dearbhadh 
gum  bheil  iadsa  nach  eil  'g  a  bias 
gu  mòr  ni  's  fad-shaoghalaich  na 
iadsa  a  tha  'g  òl,  mar  a  theirear,  an 
cuimse. 

Tha    daoine    aineolach   ag   òl  ri 

fuachd  g'  am  blàthachadh,  agus  ri 

teas  g'  am  fionuarachadh,  mar  gun 

seideadh  i  teth  a's  fuar.     Agus  gu 

21 


322 


AN    GAIDHEAL.      Ceud  MMos  a*  Gheamliraidh,  ISVe. 


dearbh  tha  i  an  toiseach  a  leasa- 
chadh,  agus  a  ris  a  fuarachadh  ;  ach 
's  e  'n  truaighe  gum  bheil  am  beum 
teth  a  marbhadh  ri  teas,  agns  am 
beum  fuar  ri  fuachd.  Nuair  a 
sgaoileas  alcohol  air  feadh  na  fala, 
tha  e  a  car  teas  mionadurra  air 
feodh  a  chuirp  ;  agus  ma  thig  teas 
sgaiteach  bho  'n  taobh  amach,  aig  a 
cheart  am  cuiridh  iad  as  do  'u  duine. 
Bha  mise  am  baile-mor  New  York 
air  ciad  mhios  an  fhaoghair,  'sa 
bhliana  1853.  Air  latha  Sàbaid, 
mu  mheadhou  a  mhios,  dh'  eug  ceud 
pearsa  's  a  tri  le  beum  greine. 
Fhuaras  amach  gun  robh  gach  aon 
diu  sin  ag  òl,  an  deighe  an  tuarasdail 
fhaotuinn  Di-sathuirme.  Bha  an 
latha  roimhe  sin  ni  bu  teotha  na 
'n  t-Sabaid ;  ach  cha  do  bhàsaich 
moran  an  sin  leis  an  teas,  on  nach 
robh  moran  oil  air  uidh. 

Air  an  laimh  eile,  tha  teasach 
alcohol  a  fagail  duine  fann,  air 
dhoigli  's  gum  bheil  e  deas  air 
meileachadh  le  fuachd  ;  agus  tha  so 
trie  a  tachairt  an  America  mu 
Thuath,  far  am  bheil  geamhradh 
fuar  a  leantuinn  samhradh  teth. 
Bha  Iain,  mac  do  'n  Chuimeineach 
Mhòr,  a  dol  suas  an  duthaich,  a 
Kingston,  an  Canada,  latha  ro  f  huar 
geamhraidh  mar  ri  Fran  gach,  gach 
fear  'n  a  shlaod  fhein.  Bha  am 
Frangach  a  gabhail  gloine  no  dha 
de  bhranndai  aig  gach  tigh-osda  air 
an  rathad.  Thug  an  Cuimeineach 
rabhadh  dha  gun  robh  sin  cunn- 
artach  ;  ach  cha  do  ghabh  e  freisd. 
Nuair  a  rainig  iad  ceann  an  uidhe, 
cha  do  ghluais  am  Frangach  :  bha 
e  fnar  marbh. 

Tha  an  t-òl  a  milleadh  fradharc 
nan  sùl  agus  claisneachd  nan  cluas, 
cho  math  ri  lùs  nan  lamh.  Tha  am 
poiteir  prab-shuileach  a's  maol-chlu- 
asach ;  agus  tha  a  lamh  fuar,  bog, 
mar  mlnr  de  mhairtfheoil  amli.  Ach 
's  6  mar  a  dhruidheas  e  air  an 
•eanachainn,      caithir     na     beatha, 


buaidh  a  's  miosa  air  alcohol.  Tha 
duin'  air  mhisg  as  a  chiall,  agus  chan 
eil  a  thùr  nadurra  a  pilltinn  gus 
am  falbh  an  deoch.  Agus  ma  bha 
e  trom  oirre,  math  a  dh'  fhaoidte 
nach  pill  sin  ri  latha.  Tha  iomad 
neach  's  na  taighibh  caothaich  leis 
an  òl.  Tha  so  a  milleadh  na 
meamhaire,  agus  a  toirt  air  falbh 
toinisg  duine,  air  dhoigh  's  gum 
bheil  6  a  fas  leanabail,  no  mar  neach 
an  am  breisleach  na  h-aois. 

Uimè  sin  a  leughadair,  ma's  math 
leatsa  t'  f  hull  a  bhi  fallain,  do  shuil 
a's  do  chluas  geUr,  do  lamh  dion- 
galta,  agus  do  thuigse  gun  f  haillinn, 
seachainn  an  t-òl.  Thoir  aire, 
cuideachd,  gum  bheil  an  deoch  a 
claonadh  a  chridhe.  Tha  i  a 
deanamh  duine  brùideil,  fuar-chridh- 
each.  Ma  gheobh  am  poiteir  pail- 
teas  dibhe,  's  coma  leis  ciamar  theid 
leis  an  t-saoghal  gu  leir.  Chi  sinn 
e  gu  trie  a  caitheadh  a  thuarasdail 
airson  dibhe,  agus  e  gunsgoinn  d'  a 
chloinn  lom,  acrach.  Chunnaig  mise, 
uair  a's  uair,  an  Dun-eideann, 
sreathan  de  bhrogaibh  cloinne,  a 
ohuir  am  maithrichean  an  geall 
airson  uisge-beatha. 

2.  Tha  an  neach  nach  oil  loinne 
tearuinnte  bhdn  mhisg.  Chan  'eil 
neach  air  bith  titheach'  air  dibhe  gus 
an  cleachd  e  i :  agus  mur  oil  duine 
boinne,  is  cinnte  nach  tig  e  a 
chaoidh  gu  bhi  'n  a  mhisgeir,  no 
trom  air  òl.  Ach  tha  moran  an 
duil  gum  fan  iudsa  air  cuimse,  agus 
nach  'eil  cunnart  gum  bi  iadsa  air  an 
daoirich  fad  am  beatha.  Gidheadh 
tha  gach  aon  diu  sin  an  cunnart 
nach  beag.  Bha  gach  poiteir  air 
thalamh,  's  a  cheart  bharail ;  agus  's 
e  sin  a  thug  sios  e.  Nam  bitheadh 
e  miearbsach,  sheachnadh  e  an 
deoch  ;  ach  on  a  bha  e  cinnteach,  dh' 
oil  e ;  agus  uime  sin  thuit  e.  Tha 
fein-speis  iomad  fear  a  cagradh  'n  a 
chluais,  "Bheirmise  deagh  aire  nach 
tiij  mise  a  chaoidh  gu  bhi  'm  mhis- 


Cfeud  MWos  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876.       AN   GATDHEAL. 


325 


geir,"  Ach  co  no  ciod  tliusa,  thair 
na  milltibh  gun  aireamh  a  thug 
beagan  air  bheagan  gu  dubh  phoiteir- 
eaclul  ?  Mur  seachainn  thu  'n  t-òl, 
math  a  dh'  fhaoidte  gum  bi  thusa 
air  fear  de  na  mheallar  leis  an  dibhe, 
bho  laithibh  Sliolanih  gas  an  diugh. 
Ciod  air  bith  a  tha  o  a  creidsinn 
no  a  saoilsinn,  chan  'eil  cinnteachd 
air  bith  aig  an  fhear  a  dh'  òileas 
nach  tig  esagu  bhi  'n  a  phoiteir,  mar 
a  tliainig  cunntas  gun  aireamh 
roimhe.  Agus  uime  sin,  a  reir  an 
t-seanfhacail,  "  'S  fhearr  a  bhi  cinn- 
teach  na  bhi  caillte." 

Osbarr  's  e  an  t-òl  a  sheachnadh 
gu  h-ioralan  is  f  hasa,  mar  is  e  an 
doigh  is  sabhailte.  Mur  oil  duine 
boinn'  idir,  chan  'eil  sireadh  aigè  air 
dibhe,  na  togradh  rithe  :  ach  ma  dh' 
òileas  e  beagan,  tha  sin  ro  dheas 
air  iotadh  a  thogail  airson  tuille. 
Tha  a  chiad  ghloine  mar  sin  a  fosg- 
ladh  an  doruis  airson  pòit ;  agus  ma 
sheachnar  i  sin,  chan  eil  cunnart  's 
an  dara  gloitie.  "  Ma  gheobh  mise 
aon  ghloin,"  thuirt  duin'  uasal  rium- 
sa,  bho  cheann  ghoirid,  "  tha  mi  'n 
sin  titheach  air  te  eile."  "  Tha 
thnsa,  's  a  chuis  sin,"  f  hreagair  mise, 
"  coltach  lis  a  chuid  mhòr  de 
dhaoine."  Agus  chi  thusa,  a  leugh- 
adair,  gur  e  sin  an  fhirinn.  Uime 
sin  bi  thusa  ro  f  haicilleach  an  agh- 
aidh  na  ciad  ghloine. 

3.  Tha  an  neach  nach  oil  a  toirt 
deagh  eisimpleir  do  chàch.  Is  treise 
eisimpleir  na  earail ;  agus  uime  sin 
is  beag  brigh  do  dhuine  a  bhi  comh- 
airleachadhd'  a  chloinn  's  a  choimh- 
earsnaich  an  t-òl,  a  sheachnadh, 
f  had  's  a  tha  e  f  hein  ag  òl.  Bidh 
a  ghniomh  ni  's  druidhtiche  airson 
na  dibhe  na  bhios  fhacail  'n  a 
h-aghaidh.  Osbarr 's  e  eisimpleir  an 
duine  nach  òl  ach  beagan  is  f  haide 
theid  na  doighean  a  mhisgeir,  a  tha 
na  bhall-magaidh  aig  moran.  Agus 
gu  dearbh  's  iad  na  daoine  a  dh' 
oileas  am  measarrachd  a  tha  cumail 


suas  na  pòit.  Tha  na  misgeirean  a 
triall  do  'n  t-siorruidheachd  le 
ceuQiaibh  luath  ;  agus  cha  b'  fhad 
an  nine  gus  am  bitheadh  am  fear  rau 
dheire  dhiu  marbh,  mur  bitheadh 
an  aireamh  air  a  cumail  suas  bho 
f  heachd  nan  daoine  speisealta  nach 
oil  thair  tomhas — 's  a  chiad  dol 
amach.  Tha  moran  diu  sin  a  tigh- 
inn  gu  bhi  'n  am  poiteiribh  iad 
fheia,  agus  tha  an  droch  eisimpleir 
a  deanamh  misgeirean  de  mhoran 
eile,  eadhon  nuair  nach  'eil  iad  f  hein 
a  ruigsinn  na  criche  sgrathail  sin. 
Agus  nach  eagallach  an  smuaingum 
faod  fear  dhiu  sin  a  radh,  air  latha 
mòr  a  bhreitheanais,  "  Einn  t'  eisim- 
pleirse  misgear  dhiomsa ;  agus  mar 
sin  thug  thu  mi  gu  sgrios  siorruidh. 

4.  Tha  an  t-òl  'n  a  aobhar  air  cionf 
gun  aireamh.  Tha  deoch  laidir  a 
cur  buaireas  fo  anamianna  dhaoine, 
am  feadh  's  a  tha  i  a  toirt  an  tuigse 
uapadh:  agus  uime  sin  tha  iad  ro 
dheas  air  geilleadh  do  dhroch  run 
air  bith  a  dh'  eireas  's  a  chridhe, 
nuair  a  tha  'n  deoch  's  a  cheann. 
Tha  iad  an  sin  buailteach  do  chainnt 
f  heargach  a  thoirt  do  cheile ;  agusbho 
so  tha  iomad  caonag  agus  sabaid 
fhuilteach  a  sruthadh.  Chan  aun 
ainmig  a  chluinnear  mu  dhaoine  a 
mhort  am  mnathan,  an  clann,  no  'm 
pàrantan — nuair  a  bha  iad  for  chumh- 
achd  dibhe,  daoine  air  an  cuireadh 
ni  mar  sin  uamhann,  mur  bitheadh 
an  deoch. 

Tha  clann  mhisgeirean  gu  trie  a 
dol  air  seachran  bho  'n  òige.  An 
aite  deagh  oilein,  tha  iad  a  faigh- 
inn  droch  eisimpleir  :  agus  on  nach 
'eil  am  misgear  aon  chuid  dèanadack 
na  grunndail,  tha  iadsa  gu  trie  am 
bochduinn.  Mar  so  tha  iad  a  tigh- 
iim  gu  braid,  agus  bho  sin  gu 
spuinnneadh,  a's  corr  uair  gu  mort. 

5.  Tha  an  t-òl  'n  a  aobhar  air  call 
moran  beatha  agus  maoin.  'S  iomad 
long  a  chailleadh,  cheann  gun  robh 
cuid   de   'n   luchd   dreuchd   air  an 


324 


AN   GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Minos  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1S76. 


daoiricli  no  'm  breisleach  dibhe,  an 
am  a  chunnairt ;  agus  's  iomad 
sgiorradh  sgrathail  a  thacliair  air 
na  rathaidibh  iaruinn,  bho  'n  cheart 
aobhar. 

Tha  tuiir  eòrna  air  a  mhilleadh 
am  Breiteann,  a  deanamh  leanna  no 
uisge-beatha  na  dh'f  hoghnadh  airson 
na  tha  de  shluagh  bochd  air  fad  na 
tire.  Tha  moran  dhaoine  aig  nach 
'eil  ceaird  air  bith  ach  a  deanamh 
noareichdeadh  dibhe:  agusthaiomad 
neach  a  call  moran  airgid  leis  na 
h-euslainntibh  a  tha  'n  t-òl  a  togail 
dha.  Tha  na  daoine  do  'n  d'  rinn 
an  deoch  crochairean  a  cost'  moran 
do  'n  rioghachd,  eadar  an  glacadh 
's  am  peanasach,  a  bharr  air  na  tha 
iad  a  goid,  a  creach  agus  a  milleadh. 

Tha  an  call  sin  an  taobh  amach 
de  na  tha  daoine  a  costadh  an  ceann- 
ach  dibhe ;  agus  chan  e  sin  am 
beag.  Is  ai time  dhomhsafear-ceaird 
a  tha  cur  mu  dha  fhichead  punnd 
Sasunnach  's  a  bhliana  's  an  òl. 
Chan  'eil  e  call  latha  bho  obair,  agus 
is  ainmig  a  chithear  air  an  daoiricli  e  : 
ach  tha  a  bhean  's  a  chlann  'n  an 
eiginn  air  uairibh.  Tha  cunntasan 
luchd  na  cise  feuchainn  gum  bheil 
muinntir  Bhreiteann  a  cosd'  corr  a's 
ceud  muillein  punnd  Sasunnach  's  a 
bhliana  air  dibhe,  suim  nach  paidh- 
eadh  fearann  na  Gaidhealtachd  air 
fad. 

Thoir  aire  gum  bheil  sin  uile  'g  a 
sgapadh  an  deanamh  croin :  agus 
nuair  a  sheallas  sinn  air  cor  an 
t-saoghail,  chi  sinn  gum  bheil  an 
t-anacaitheadh  ro  choireach.  Tha 
moran  acrach,  lomnochd ;  agus  tha 
ro-mhoran  an  duibhre  aineolais  mu 
'n  t-soisgeil  a's  slighe  na  firinn. 
Agus  nach  truagh  an  ni  nach  'eil  a 
Chriostachd  gu  leir  a  paidheadh, 
chum  iad  sin  a  shoillseachadh,  leth 
na  suim  a  tha  iad  a  cur  's  an  òl. 
Bi  faicilleach,  a  leughadair,  nach  'eil 
thusa  coireacli  's  a  chuis  so. 

P.  M'Gregoe. 


THA  MO  RUN  MAR  AN  ROS. 

Tha  mo  run  mar  an  ròs 

'S  an  Ogmliios  fo  ùr  bhlàth, 
Tha  mo  ghaol-sa  mar  chaoin  cheòl 

A  's  bòidhche  fonn  air  chlàr. 

Cho  maiseach  thu,  mo  chailin  grinn, 
'S  cho  trom  mo  ghaol  's  cho  buan, 

'S  nach  trèig  gu  bràth  mi  fhein  mo  ghràdh, 
Ach  gus  an  tràigh  an  cuan. 

Ach  gus  an  tràigh  an  cuan,  a  ghaoil, 
'S  an  tèid  na  'n  caoiribh  dearg 

Gach  creag  'us  sliabh  mu  'n  iadh  a'  ghrian, 
Do  ghaol  am  chliabh  cha  shearg. 

Ach  soiridh  leat,  mo  chruinneag  mhath, 

Ceud  soiridh  leat  's  an  uair, 
'Us  thig  mi  'ris  ged  robh  an  t-sligh' 

Deich  mile  mhilte  buan. 

Eadar.  leis  A'  Bhaed  Luideagach. 


COMHEADH. 

EADAR  MURACHADH  BAN  AGUS 
COINNEACH  CIOBAIR. 

MuR. — Bheir  am  Freasdal  mòr 
a  ta  riaghladh  os  ar  ceann  solas  agus 
toilinntinn,  an  uair  nach  'eil  dùil 
sam  bith  riutha.  Tha  sin  air  a  thais- 
beanadh  dhomhsa  an  nochd,  le  cead 
gun  dliil  a  bhi  agam  mo  shliilean  a 
thilgeadh  aon  uair  eile,  air  fear  mo 
chridhe  Coinneach  Ciobair.  Fair 
do  làmh,  a  charaid  ionmhuinn. 
Dlùthaich  ris  a'  ghealbhan,  agus 
dean  do  gharadh  :  thig  bean-an-tighe 
gun  dàil. 

CoiNN. — Na  cuir  trioblaid  sam 
bith  ort  fein,  a  Mhurachaidh  choir  ; 
cha'n  'eil  fuachd,  no  acras,  no  sgios 
sam  bith  orm,  uime  sin  gabh  gach 
ni  gu  socaireach,  agus  innis  dhomh 
cor  an  teaghlaich  air  fad. 

M. — Tha  iad  gu  leir  gun  deireas, 
agus  uime  sin,  is  dan  a  bhi  'gearan, 
agus  beannachd  na  slainte  againn 
gu  leir.  Chaidh  bean-an-tighe  a  dh' 
amharc  air  bean  Alasdair  Mhic 
Dhomhnuill  Mhic  Sheumais  ann  an 
Coire-Mhuiltein,  air  di  mac  mor  eile 
a  thoirt  da  companach  's  a'  mhad- 


Ceud  Mhios  a'  Gheamraidh,  1S76 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


325 


uinn  an  diugh — ach  mo  dhiocli- 
uimhue,  ciamar  tha  Seònaid,  mo 
Bhan-ghoistidh  choir,  agus  na  pàis- 
dean  ? 

C. — Cha'n  fhaca  mi  o  cheann 
seachdain  iad,  ach  dh'  fhag  mi  gu 
gleusda  iad  air  fad. 

M. — Ciod  a  dh'  eirich  dhuit,  no 
c'àit  an  robh  thu  re  na  h-uine  sin  ? 
Air  ghnothuch  gun  teagamh  do 
Shir  Seumas. 

C. — Gle  cheart,  a  I\Ihurachaidh, 
bha  mi  air  ghnothuch  dha  gun 
teagamh,  co  fad  air  falbh  ri  Grian- 
aig,  agus  thug  mi  GLaschu  orm,  agus 
a'  sin  ghabh  mi  an  rathad  iaruinn 
gu  tuath,  agus  tha  mi  ann  a'  so  a 
nis. 

M. — Ach  ciod  fo'n  ghrein  a  thug 
a  Ghrianaig  thu,  a  charaid,  gu 
sonraichte  anns  na  làithibh  goirid 
so? 

C. — Innsidh  mi  sin  dhuit  ann  am 
beagan  bhria:thraibh,  a  ghràidh 
nam  fear,  agus  tuigidh  tu  e.  Bha 
òganach  ro  amaideach  maille  ri  Sir 
Seumas  o  cheann  da  mhios,  mac 
bràthar  dha  fein,  agus  re  na  h-iiine 
sin  bha  e  ga  'ghiùlan  fein  co  mi- 
riaghailteach,  co  anameasarra,  agus 
mi  stuama,  's  nach  b'  urraiun  do 
Shir  Seumas  cur  suas  leis.  Dh' 
fhàgadh  an  diùlnach  òg,  eu-cèillidh 
so  le  oighreachd  luachmhoir  a  b' 
fhiach  cuig  mile  's  a'  bhliadhna,  le 
athair  fein,  a  chaochail  o  cheann 
shia  bliadhna.  Gus  an  d'rainig  aa 
t-òganach  mi-chiallach  so  bliadhna 
thar  fhichead  a  dh-aois,  bha'n  oigh- 
reachd fo  chileadairean,  ach  aon 
uair  's  gu'n  d'  f  huair  e  na  'làimh  fein 
i,  thòisich  6  air  ruiteireachd,  aha- 
Cciitheadh,  agus  struigheas  gun  chèill. 
Bha  steud-eich  aige  nam  ficheadaibh, 
agus  coin  de  gach  gnè.  Cha  robh 
amaideachd  no  baoghaireachd  fo'n 
ghrein  anus  nach  robh  co'-roinn  aige. 
Cha  robh  siiim  aige  d'a  chuid  fein, 
ach  le  millteireachd  agus  cluiche, 
bha  e  'call  nan  ceudan  gach  la.     Ma 


dheireadh  rinn  lùdhaich  àraidh  ann 
an  Lunnainn,  a  thug  airgiod  dha, 
greim  air  an  oighreachd,  agus  dh' 
fhagadh  an  t-òganach  gòrach  gun 
sgillinn  ruaidh  's  an  t-saoghal.  Le 
truas,  chuir  Sir  Suemas  fios  air  dh' 
ionnsuidh  a'  chaisteil,  ach  air  do'n 
Eidire  fein  a  bhi  stuama  agus  glic, 
cha  b'urrainn  da  fulang  na  b'f haide 
le  giùlan  aingidh  mhic  a  bhràthar. 
Cha'n  fhanadh  e  as  an-tigh-òsda, 
agus  cha  b'urrainn  da  bhi  aon 
mhionaid  gu'n  a  bhi  'deanamh  gach 
uilc  na  'chomas.  ]\Ia  dheireadh  dh' 
ullaich  Sir  Seumas  saor-thuras  dha 
air  luing  a  bha  gu  seòladh  a  Grian- 
aig  gu  Australia,  agus  chuir  e  mise 
chum  cliram  a  ghabhail  deth,  gus 
am  biodh  e  air  bòrd  na  luinge. 
Ach,  Ochan  !  cha  robh  làmh  agam 
riamhann  an  obairbu  sheirbhe  agus 
bu  mhi-thaitnich  na  bhi  ga  'ghleidh- 
eadh  o  gach  aingidheachd  o'n  dh' 
fhag  sinn  an  caisteal.  Bu  chianail 
a  bhi  'ga  fhaicinn,  agus  bu  mhulad- 
ach  an  sealladh  e  air  an  tomhas 
truaighe  agus  dubhailc  dh'  ionnsuidh 
an  tuit  mac  an  duine,  an  uair  a 
thilgeas  e  uaith  fein  uile  chuibh- 
richean  an  iouracais  agus  a'  ghlioc- 
ais.  Bha  am  mac  struidheil  anns  a' 
chosamhlachd  na  'òganach  glic  an 
coimeas  ris  an  truaghan  ro  amaid- 
each so,  a  tha,  a  reir  coltais,  a'  ruith 
gu  leirsgrios  le  'shùilibh  fosgailte. 
Is  cumhachdach  an  eiseimpleir  e  do 
gach  òganach  eile,  chum  a  bhi  'g 
iarraidh  gliocais  agus  stiùiridh  o'n 
Ti  a's  Airde. 

M. — Gun  teagamh  is  cianail  do 
naigheachd,  a  Choinnich,  agus  is 
muladach  ri  smuaineachadh  ciod  dh' 
ionnsuidh  an  tig  mac  an  duine  an 
uair  a  dh'fhàgar  e  dha  fein.  Tha  e 
mile  uair  ni's  miosa  na  ainmhidhean 
na  macharach,  oir  cha  ghabh  iadsan 
ach  na  riaraicheas  iarrtas  an  nàdair 
fein,  an  uair  a  ghabhas  an  duine,  air 
an  do  bhuilicheadh  reusan  agus 
tuigse,  na  nithe  sin  a  thilgeas  sios  e 


326 


AN   GAIDHEAL,        Ceud  Mhios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876. 


gu  inbhe  nis  isle  gu  mòr  na  na 
bruidean  a  theid  a'm  mùgh.  Cha'n 
fhad  a  cluimas  an  crèutair  truagh 
ris  an  obair  sin  ;  ged  a  ruigeadh  e  an 
tir  chein  sin,  dh'  ionnsuidh  am  bheil 
e  'cur  roimh  dol,  ciod  a  ni  e  an  sin, 
no  ciod  a  dh'  èireas  da,  oir  is  fior 
gun  teagamb  an  sean-fbocal  a  deir, 
"  Am  fear  a  bbios  caracb  's  a'  bbaile 
so,  bithidh  e  caracb  's  a'  bbail'  ud 
thall." 

C. — Is  fior  sin,  a  Mhuracbaidb, 
acb  mur  dean  cumhacbd  a'  gbràis  e, 
tuitidb  e  gu  b-ealamb  na  'cbreicb  da 
'ana-miannaibh  peacacb  agus  graineil 
fein,  agus  ceilidh  an  uaigh  e  o 
sbùilibh  gacb  neach  nach  b'urrainn 
gun  a  bhi  fo  bhròn,  le  'bhi  'faicinn 
aingidheachd  a  chaithe-bheatha  fein 
anns  an  t-saoghal  so. 

M. — Gle  clieart,  a  Choinnich,  ach 
ciod  a  thug  do  bhaile  Ghlaschu  thu  1 

C.  —  Chaidh  mi  do'n  bhaile 
gbleadhrach,  mhhigeach,  smiiideach 
sin,  a  dh'fhaicinn  dithis  air  an  robh 
eòlas  agam,  agus  b'iad  sin  Alasdair 
Ban,  mar  a  theireamaid  ris,  mac 
Mhaighstir  Domhnull  am  ministear 
coir  againn,  agus  Ealasaid  Nic 
Dhughaill,  a  bha  re  f hichead  bliadh- 
na  a'gleidheadh  a'  chaisteil,  agus  a 
ta  nise  pòsda  's  a'  bhaile  mhòr  sin. 

M. — Tba  mi  'faicinn  do  ghnoth- 
uich  a  nis,  a  Choinnich,  ach  ciod  tha 
am  brogachan  ro  laoghach  sin  Alas- 
dair beag  ban,  mac  a'  mhinisteir 
a'  deanamh  ann  an  Glaschu  Ì 

C. — Chaidh  e  dh'  ionnsuidh  Oil- 
thigh  a'  bhaile  sin,  agus  cha  robh 
am  balachan  bochd  ach  òg  chum 
'athair  agus  a  mhathair  fein  Ihàgail, 
agus  dol  gu  àite  far  am  feum  e  a 
bhi  glic,  cùramach,  faiceallach,  air 
da  bhi  iDuailteach  do  thuiteam  ann 
an  droch  comunn,  agus  gu  bhi  air  a 
thoirt  gu  taobh  ann  an  àite  far  am 
bheil  e  na  'choigreach  agus  far  am 
bheil  6  air  a  chuairteachadh  le  cunn- 
artaibh  air  gach  taobh. 

M. — Tha  deagh   chuimhn'   agam 


air  Alasdair  ban  mac  a'  mhinisteir 
fhaicinn  a  ris  agus  a  ris  maille  ri  do 
chloinn  fein  anns  a'  Ghoirtein- 
Fhraoich  ;  ach  cia  mar  a  fhuair  thu 
mach  e  's  a'  bhaile  mhòr  sin,  'fhir 
mo  ghraidh  Ì 

C. — Ma  ta,  a  Mhuracbaidb,  dh'- 
f  heudainn  a'  cheart  co  maith  a  bhi  'g 
iarraidh  snàithide  ann  am  muinnlein 
fodair,  ri  bhi  'g  iarraidh  Alasdair 
bhig  a'm  measg  mhiltean  a'  bhaile 
sin  mar  b'e  an  ni  a  rinn  mi. 

M.— Agus  ciod  a  rinn  thu,  a 
ghraidh  nam  fear  Ì  Bha  thu  riamh 
innleachdach  agus  gleusda  'n  am  na 
h-airc  agus  na  h-èiginn,  ach  cia  mar 
a  fhuair  thu  an  t-òganach  a  mach  ? 

C. — Mata,  a  Mhuracbaidb,  chaidh 
mi  a  steach  do  bhiith  mor,  greadli- 
nach,  a  bha  Ian  obair- àirgid  agus 
oir,  agus  a  bha  'deàrsadh  le  soill- 
eireachd  a  bha  ga  m'  dhalladh,  agus 
ghrad-ruith  fear  suas  na  m'  choinn- 
eimh  a  rinn  uiread  a  dh'umhlachd 
dhomh  's  ged  bu  mhi  Sir  Seumas, 
a'n  duil  gu'n  robh  mi  'g  iarraidh  ni 
èigin  a  cheannachadh.  Ach  ghearr 
mi  goirid  e,  leis  a'  cheist,  am  biodh 
e  CO  maith  is  innseadh  dhomh  c'ait 
am  bheil  an  CoUaist  1 

M. — Agus  ciod  a  thubhairt  an 
t-òr-cheard  riut,  a  Choinnich  1 

C. — Bha  e  ciuin,  siobhalta,  agus 
le  snodh-gaire,  chuij:  e  ballach  beag, 
nach  bu  mho  na  cat,  a  dh'fheuch- 
ainn  na  slighe  dhomh.  Threòraich 
e  mi  troimh  shràid  an  dèigh  sràide, 
gus  an  d'fhag  e  mi  mu  dheireadh 
aig  geata  mor,  agus  air  an  taobh  a 
stigh  dheth  bha  aitreabh  àluinn  làn 
dhorsan  agus  uinneag,  agus  bha 
badailean  agus  luidheirean  gun 
àireamh  gu  h-àrd.  Bha  fear  na 
'sheasamb  an  sin  le  brèidibh  dearga 
air  amhaich  a  chota,  agus  bata 
buidhe  na  'làimh,  Chuir  mi  mo 
lamb  ri  m'  bhonait,  agus  dh'foigh- 
neachd  mi  dheth  cia  mar  a  chithinn 
òganach  àraidh  a  bha  's  a'  ChoUuist 
sin  ?      Rinn    e    gàire    rium,     agus 


Ceud  Mhios  a"  Gheamhraidh,  1876.       AN    GAIDHEAL. 


327 


thubliairt  e  nach  robh  sin  na  m' 
chomas  mur  faicinn  e  a'  ruith  a'm 
measg  chàich.  Air  ball,  bhuail  clag 
mor,  agus  aim  am  mionaid  bhruchd 
na  ceudan  a  mach  air  gach  dorus 
mar  sheilleinean  &  sgeap.  Bha 
trusgana  dearga  orra  sios  gu'n 
sàiltibh,  agus  bha  mòran  diubh  air 
an  rèubadh  na'n  luideagaibh  suas 
gu'n  guaillean.  Bha  iad  a'  ruith  's 
a'  lèum,  ag  èigheach  agus  ag  ullar- 
taich  mar  sgaoth  chonn-speach  an 
dèigh  an  nead  fhàgail.  Mu  dheir- 
eadh,  bhruchd  iad  a  mach  air  a' 
gheata,  agus  thuit  mo  shùil  gu 
h-iongantach  air  Alasdair  ban.  Rug 
mi  air  amhaich  air,  sheall  e, — 
spleuchd  e  suas  orm,  agus  ghrad- 
aithnich  e  mi.  Einn  e  solas  mor 
ri  m'  f  haicinn. 

M.— Chaidh  do  ghnothuch  gu 
maith  leat,  a  Choinnich,  ach  ciod 
an  t-atli  char  a  chuir  thu  dhiot  1 

C. — Chaidh  Alasdair  ban  maille 
riura  a  dh'fhaicinn  mo  bhan-charaid 
Ealasaid  Nic  Dhùghaill,  a  rinn 
gairdeachas  rium  nach  bu  bheag, 
agus  a  thug  dhuinn  gach  goireas 
feu  mail,  agus  a'  b'fheàrr  na  clièile. 
Ach,  a  charaid,  ma's  iad  sud  an 
treud  as  am  faigh  sinn  ar  ministeir- 
ean,  ar  lèighean,  agus  ar  luchd-riagh- 
laidh,  gun  seallteadh  ann  an  tròcair 
oirnn,  oir  is  mi-rianail  a'  ghràisg  iad. 
M. — Na  bi  bras  ann  a  bhi  'toirt 
breith,  a  Choinnich,  na'm  biodh  tu 
fein  air  do  dhruideadh  suas  la  an 
deigh  la  ann  an  seòmraichiljh  dùinte, 
teth,  agus  t-eanchainn  air  a  chuir 
'na  bhoile  le  leabhraichibh,  leumadh 
tu  mar  am  fiadli  air  duit  am  blar  a 
mach  a  thoirt  ort,  agus,  mo  làmh-sa, 
nach  b'fhurast  do  cheannsachadh 
gus  am  fàsadh  tu  sgith. 

C. — Tha  aogas  na  firinn  air  do 
bhriathraibh,  a  Mhurachaidh,  agus 
is  dan  learn,  uime  sin,  cur  na  d'  agh- 
aidh ;  ach  an  deigh  sin,  cha  'n  'eil 
idir  teagamh  nach  'eil  na  ballaich 
òga    ud   gu   trie   ri  milleadh  agus 


droch-bheairt  trid  sugraidh  agus 
raireadh-chleasachd  ;  ach  's  e  sin  an 
aois  d'am  bheil  iad. 

M. — Ach  c'ait  an  deachaidh  tu  a 
ris,  a'  Choinnich,  a  chur  an  latha 
seachad  1 

C.  —  Chaidh  Alasdair  mac  a' 
Mhinisteir  maille  rium  a  dh'fhaicinn 
gach  ni  iongantaich  mu'n  bhaile, 
agus  b'e  sin  an  sealladh,  a  Mhurach^ 
aidh,  ochan!  an  sealladh  da  rireadh  ! 
ni's  leòir  chum  duine  a  chur  na 
'^bhreislich,  agus  'eanchainn  a'  chu-r 
air  feadh  a'  cheile.  Ochan  !  cha  b'e 
an  Goirtean-Fraoicli  ged  tha  sinn  a' 
gearan  air.  Cha'n  fhanainn  's  a' 
bhaile  mhòr,  ghleadhrach  sin,  ged  a 
bheireadh  tu  mile  's  a'  bhliadhna 
dhomh  chum  sin  a  dheanamh ! 
Than  duthaich,  tha  'n  duthaich  ro 
fhallain,  a  ghraidh  nam  fear. 

M. — 'S  eadh,  's  eadh,  a  Choinn- 
ich, tha  thu  'toirt  gu  'm  chuimhne 
Sàmhla-bliriathar  an  t-  Sionnaich 
agus  na  Dearcan-fioua. 

C. — Ciod  e  an  Sumhla-bhriathar 
sin,  a  Mhurachaidh  ?     Innis  domh  e. 

M. — Ni  mise  sin,  a  Choinnich, 
Uime  sin,  thoir  deagh  chluas  da, 
gus  an  tuig  thu,  ciod  is  ciall  da. 
Tha  e  mar  a  leanas  : — "  Bha  Sionn- 
ach  ann  roimhe  so,  a  bha  aig  am 
àraidh  anabarrach  acrach.  Thach- 
air  gu'n  deachaidh  e  stigh  do 
ghàradh  far  an  robh  dearcau-fiona 
làn-abuich,  an  crochadh  gu  h-àrd 
na'm  bagaidibh  ro  bhòidheach. 
Thug  iad  an  t-uisge  m'a  fhiaclaibh, 
agus  rinn  e  solas  nach  bu  bheag 
ri'm  faicinn.  Leum  e,  agus  leum 
e  a  ris  's  a  ris  le  'uile  neart,  ach  air 
do  na  dearcan  a  bhi  tuilleadh  's  àrd, 
cha  robh  e  na  'chomas  ruigheachd 
orra.  Mu  dheireadh,  thog  e  suas  a 
shuilean,  agus  dh'amhairc  e  orra  le 
tàir.  Ghlaodh  e  a  mach,  "  Gabhadh 
na  thogaireas  iad,  cha  bhi  gnothuch 
agamsa  riutha.  Tha  iad  co  searbh 
ris  na  sealbhagaibh,  agus  cha'n  'eil 
annta  ach  nithe  grannda,  gèur,-glas, 


328 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Mhios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1S76 


an-abuich,  a  mhilleadh  air  ball  an  ti 
a  bhiodh  co  amaideach  's  gu'n  ith- 
eadh  e  iad."  A  nis,  a  Choinnich, 
tha  teagasg  an  t-Samhla-fhacail  so 
ro  fhreagarracli  agns  ro  slioilleir. 
Tha  tliusa,  a  charaid,  cosmhuil  ris 
an  t  Sionnacli  a  ta  na  'shamhladh  air 
mòran  dhe'n  chinne-daoine.  Miir 
faigh  iad  an  ni  sin  air  am  bheil  iad 
a'  suidheachadli  an  cridhe  fein,  tha 
iad,  a'  sin,  a'  deanamh  tàire  air, 
agus  gu  dian  a'  cur  an  cèill  nacli 
biodh  gnothuch  aca  ris,  ged  a 
gheibheadh  iad  e  an  nasgaidh. 
Direach  mar  sin,  a  Choinnich,  tha 
thusa  a  thaoWi  baile  Ghlaschu. 

C. — Cha'n  'eil  maith  a  bhi  'labh- 
airt,  a  IVIhurachaidh,  oir  gheibh  thu 
a'  chuid  a's  feàrr  dhiom-sa  anns  gach 
ciiis,  ach  aon  chuid,  cha  bhris  do 
bhuillean  mo  cheann. 

M. — Cha  bu  mhaith  eile ;  ach  cha'n 
eagal  do'n  cheann  no  do'n  choluinn; 
tha  iad  's  an  am  slan',  fallain,  agus 
gu  ma  fad  a  bhios  iad  mar  sin.  Ach 
a'  ghràidh  nam  fear,  tha  e  'fas 
anmoch,  agus  tha  bean-an-tighe 
'gar  n-iarraidh,  Gluaiseamaid  do'n 
t-seomar  eile,  dh'f  heuchainn  ciod  a 
gheibh  siun. 

Alasdair  Ruadh. 


DONULL  MAC  FHIONNLAIDH 

AGUS 

ORAN  NA  COMHACHAIG. 

Is  e  crannachur  "  Dhonuill  mhic 
Fhionnlaidh"  gu'm  beil  diithaich 
no  dhà  ann  a  tha  'tagairt  càirdis 
air.  Tha  feadhainn  ann  a  their  gur 
h-ann  de  mhuinntir  Bhràigh-Mhàr  a 
bhà  e,  feadhainn  a  their  gu'm  bu 
Chomhunnach  e,  agus  feadhainn  eile 
gu'm  b' Abrach  e;  agus  tha  feadhainn 
ann  a  their  nach  'eil  fhios  co  an 
saoghal  a  bha  e  ann.  Ach  tha  aon 
rud  ann  air  am  beileas  uile  air  an 
aon  seanchus  mu  'dhèighinn,  agus 
is  6  sin — gur  h-e  a  rinn  "  Oran  na 


Comhachaig."  Ach  neach  sa  bith  a 
tha  eòlach  air  eachdraidh  nam  Fin- 
eachan,  agus  a  ghabhas  beachd  air 
an  dan  so,  chi  e  gu  soilleir  gu  bheil 
mu  tliri  chiad  bliadhna  bho  'n  a  bha 
Dònull  ann,  agus  gu  'n  robh  e  co- 
dhiiibli  a'  fuireach  'am  Bràigh-Loch- 
abar.  Ach  ged  nach  biodh  Oran  na 
Comhachaig  idir  air  sgial,  cha  deach- 
aidh  Lochabar  fas  tur  f  hathast,  agus 
cha  dli  do  dhuthaich  sa  bith  a  daoine 
ainmeil  a  leigeil  air  diochuimhne  gu 
tur.     Is  cuimhne  leamsa, 

"  jMu  'n  do  chuir  mi  crios-f^ilidh 
Os  cionn  l^ine  no  còta," 

seann  daoine  'bhi  'bruidhinn  mu 
Dhònull.  A  rèir  an  innse-sgeòil-san 
ma  ta  is  ann  de  mhuinntir  Ghlinne- 
Comhunn  a  bha  e,  agus  b'  e  Fionn- 
ladh,  'athair,  fear-brataich  Mhic-'ic- 
lain.  Is  Ban-Abrach  a  bu  mhàthair 
dha.  B'  6  'sheanair,  a  thaobh  a 
mhàthar,  Bard  agus  Gioraanach  np 
Sealgair  Mhic-ic-Eaonuill,  agus  is 
ann  an  Creag-Guanach  a  bha  e  'fuir- 
each. Is  ann  aige  a  fhuair  Donuli 
'àrach  as  'òige ;  air  chor's  gu  'n  d' 
fhuair  e,  ionann's  bho  thus  a  làith- 
ean,  a  thogail  ris  an  Dan  's  ris  an 
t-Seilg,  mar  a  tha  e-fhein  ag  ràdh  : 

Bha  mi  bho  'n  a  nigadh  mi  riabh, 
Ann  an  caidreamh  fhiadh  'us  earb. 

An  uair  a  thàinig  e  gu  inbheachd, 
agus  a  dh'  eug  'athair,  chaidh  e  dh' 
fhuireach  do  Ghleann-Comhunn. 
Cha'n  eileas  cinnteach  c'fhad  a 
thug  e  'sin;  ach  chitear  's  an  dan 
gu  'n  do  chuir  e-fhein  's  a  thriath  a 
mach  air  a  cheile.  Ciod  sa  bith  a 
bu  cheann-fàth  do  'n  aimhreit,  dh' 
fhàg  Dònull  "Eoin  à  Tigh-na- 
Creige,"  's  bhòidich  e  nach  tilleadh 
e  'chaoidh,  's  cha  mho  na  sin  a  thill. 
Thàinig  e  air  a  sheann-eòlas  do 
Chreag-Guanach  's  fhuair  e  faoilte  's 
furan.  Thuit  gu  'n  robh  a  sheanair 
air  dol  bho  fheum  's  an  am,  agus  's 
e  bh'  ann  gu  'n  d'  rinn  Mac-ic-Raon- 
uill  Bard  'us  Giomanach  dha  fhein 


Ceud  Mhios  a'  Gheamhraidh, 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


329 


deth.  Thug  e  da  bhaile  dha — 
Creag-Guanach  agus  an  Fhearsaid- 
Eiabhach.  Bhiodh  e  re  an  t-samh- 
raidh  ionann's  air  àiridh  an  Creag- 
Guanach  aig  ceann  shuas  Loch- 
Treig,  agus  aig  ceann  a  bhos  an  loch 
bha  an  Fhearsaid  aige  mar  bhaile- 
geamhraidh.  An  uair  a  fhuair  e 
e-fhein  air  a  shocruchadh  agus  air  a 
chothrom  mar  bu  mhath  leis,  phòs 
e  te  de  Chloinn-Dònuill  a'  Bhràghad, 
ach  cha  do  mheal  iad  ach  goirid  a 
cheile.  Dh'fhuirich  esan  tuille  na 
'bhanntraich,  agus  an  aon  nighean  a' 
bh'  aca— Màiri,  dh'fhan  i  gun  phòs- 
adh  ag  cumail  an  tighe  ris. 

Bha  Dònull  na  'dhuine  cuimte, 
gun  a  bhi  ro  àrd  'am  pearsa.  Bha 
e  fuasgailteach,  fallain,  's  fhuair  e 
saoghal  fada.  Cha  robh  mac-samh- 
uilt  dha  ann  air  a'  bhogha.  Ei  fear 
a  bhios  math  air  cuspaireachd  their- 
ear  gus  an  latha  'n  diugh  gu'  m  beil 
e  cho  cuimseach  ri  Dònull  mac 
Fhionnlaidh.  Bha  ni  gun  chuibheas 
aige  de  dhàin  's  de  sgialachdan,  's 
rinn  e  f  hein  mòran  òran  ;  ach  cha  'n 
eileas  ag  ainmeachadh  air  ach  "Oran 
na  Comhachaig;"  chaghabh  "Miann 
a'  bhàird  aosda "  càradh  air,  mar  a 
b'  aill  le  feadhainn. 

Tha  ioma  sgial  air  'aithris  mu 
'chuspaireachd,  mu  'sheachran-seilge, 
uime-fhein  's  mu  mhac-an-riochd, 
mar  a  thialadh  e  gu  cluais  an  fheidh, 
agus  eile,  ach  foghnaidh  dhomh  a 
h-aon  no  dithis  ainmeachadh. 

Ri  linn  Dhònuill,  mar  is  minig  a 
bh'  ann  blio  sin,  bha  udlaiche  ainm- 
eil  a'  tathaich  Gual'-an-liathghiuth- 
ais,  agus  la  'bha  'sin  smaoinich  e  gu 
'n  tugadh  e  sgrib  a  null  a  ghabhail 
fàth  air.  Togar  air  ma  ta  thair  an 
Uisge-dhubh;  ach  mar  a  bha  an 
rosad  'an  dan,  co  'bha  an  latha  sin 
's  a'  bheinn-sheilg  ach  "Dunnachadh 
Dubli  a'  Churraic"  agus  a  ghillean 
air  an  t-slighe  chiadna,  agus  mu  'n 
d'  fhairich  Dònull  thall  no  bhos  e, 
bha  e  'an  'sàs  aca.     Cha  robh  comas 


air — b'  èudar  glacadh  a  ghabhail, 
agus  falbh  leotha  do  Fhionnlairig. 
Chaidh  ainm  Dhonuill  fada 's  goirid, 
agus  le  farmad-ciiirte  bha  na  gillean 
air  lunn  cur  as  da,  ach  bu  bhard  an 
Ridire  e  fhein,  's  cha  leigeadh  e 
leotha  lamb  a  chur  ann.  Mar  a  bha 
iad  ag  cumail  air  an  aghart  chunnaic 
iad  eilid  na  'laidhe  air  fuaran,  agus 
OS  iadsan  ris  's  iad  a'  fanaid  air, 
"  Bheir  sinn  do  chead  dhut  ma 
chuireas  tu  an  t-saighead  'an  sùil 
dheis  na  h-eilde  ud."  Bu  rud  mi- 
choltach  so  leis  mar  a  bha  an  eilid 
na  'laidhe,  agus  an  rathad  a  bha  a' 
ghaoth.  Ach  coma,  chuir  Dònull  a 
bhogha  air  lugh,  'us  ghèarr  e  gaoth 
'us  talamh  air  an  eilid;  ach  cha 
dianadh  e  calg  dhi.  An  uair  a  dh' 
fhairtlich  air  tialadh  oirre,  rinn  e 
seòrsa  miabhail  de  dh-f  head  's  thog 
an  eilid  a  ceann.  Rinn  e  rithist  i 
'us  thiondaidh  i  's  thàinig  i  na 
'choinnimh.  A'  sin  ghabh  e  'n 
cothrom,  's  chum  e  an  t-saighead  ri 
'sùil,  's  "  cha  ro  òirleach  gun  bhàth- 
adh  eadar  corran  a  gàine  's  a 
smeòirn."  An  uair  a  chunnaic  an 
Ridire  cho  ro  mhath  's  a  rinn  e  thug 
e  a  chead  da;  cha'n  e  mhàin  sin, 
ach  thug  e  cuireadh  dha  gu  fuireach 
còmhla  ris  fhein  'fhad  's  bu  bheò  e. 
Thug  Dònull  taing  dha,  's  thuirt  e 
ged  a  bheireadh  e  dha  Fionnlairig 
as  a'  ghrunnd  nach  b'  urrainn  da  na 
feidh  's  Loch-Treig  f  liàgail. 

'S  an  am  ud  bha  moran  de  Loch- 
abar  fo  choilltich  mhoir,  agus 
gheabhteadh  madadh-alluidh  ann  na 
'uaireannan.  Bha  Dònull  latha  's  a' 
ghlasanaich  air  sgrib  aig  taobh  an 
Dùbhlochain  (lochan  a  th'  air  cul  na 
Fearsaide-Mòire),  agus  faicear  an 
gòsganach  ud  air  feadh  nan  clach  's 
nan  sailthean  a'  tilleadh  as  a'  mhuil- 
eann  far  an  robh  e  air  tòir  cobhart- 
aich.  Chum  e  ris  agus  leag  e  e ; 
agus  cha  bu  bheag  ioghnadh  a 
mhnatha  mu  'n  chiad  chòmhlaiche  a 
a  thachair  oirre  an    craoibh   goirid 


330 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Mhlos  a*  Gheamhraidh,  1876. 


bho  'n  dorus,  Mharbh  e  fear  eile 
dhiubh  air  Lub-a'-Choire-chreagaich. 
Bha  tigh  Dhònuill  air  a'  cheart 
làraich  air  am  beil  tigh-bàn  na  fears- 
aid — an  diugh  mo  chreach  aig  bod- 
ach  Gallda.  An  deaghaidh  dha  dol 
blio  f  heum  's  nach  b'  urrainn  da  dol 
ach  eadar  an  leaba  's  an  teine,  bha 
e  uair  'an  ciaradli  nan  tràth  a'  seallt- 
ainn  a  mach  air  an  uinneig  ris  a' 
bheinn,  agus  thugar  an  aire  do  'n 
udlaiche  mhor  ud  ag  ialadh  thun  a' 
ghàraidh  air  cul  an  tighe.  Bha 
Màiri  na  'suidhe  aig  an  teine,  's 
chual  i  spàirn  a'  tighinn  air  anail  a 
h-athar.  Ghrad-eirich  i  's  dh'f  harr- 
aid  i  ciod  a  bh' air,  "Uist,"  os 
esan,  "fair  mo  bhogha."  Shaoil 
leatha  gur  breisleach  a'  bhàis  a 
thàinig  air — bha  am  bogha  air  an 
fharadh  bho  chionn  fhios  co  an 
uine,  ach  thug  i  nuas  e.  "Cuir  air 
lugh  e,"  OS  esan.  "Mo  chreach," 
osa  Màiri,  "  cha  'n  'eil  fear  air  fonn 
Lochabar  an  diugh  a  chuireadh  air 
lugh  e."  "Fiach  thusa  ris,"  os 
esan,  's  e  fhèin  a'  seòladh  dhi  mar  a 
dhianadh  i,  agus  's  na  cuir  a  bli'ann 
chaidh  am  bogha  air  lugh.  "  Càite 
am  beil  na  saighdean?"  os  esan. 
Thug  Màiri  làmh  air  a'  bhalg- 
shaighead,  's  chuir  i  air  a  ghlun  e. 
Thagh  Dònull  saighead  's  thuit  am 
fiadh!  "A  bhuidhe  ri  Dia,"  os 
esan,  "cha  robh  dtiil  agam  ri  a 
leithid  gu  bràch  tuille,  ach  's  sid  an 
t-sealg  inu  dheireadh  dhòmhsa." 
Dh'  òrduich  e  a  thiodhlaiceadh  am 
bian  an  fhèidh  sin,  agus  uaigh  a 
dhianamh  dha  aig  dorus  na  h-eaglais 
agus  'aghaidh  a  chur  ris  a'  Chroi- 
dheirg — beinn  a  tha  am  bràigh  na 
Fearsaid.  Cha  ruigear  a  leas  innse 
gu'n  d'  f  huair  e  'iarradas.  Chithear 
an  uaigh  aige  gus  an  latha  'n  diugh 
air  a  tarsainn  air  bile  na  bruaiche 
aig  dorus  eaglais  Chille-Chaorraiil, 
's  leac  oirre  a  thug  e-fhein  air  a 
mhuin  as  na  '  Monaidhnean.'  Chuala 
mi  'bhi  'g  innse  gur  h-e  a  thuirt, 


Thir  a  cli^umas  thair  mo  lie, 

Seall  a  rithist  as  do  dhèigh  ; 

'S  cuimhnich  ged  tha  mi  's  an  uaigh, 

Gu  'n  robh  mi  uair  cho  luath  riut  fhèin. 

A'  bhliadhna  roimhe  chuireadh 
gàradh-droma  's  coille-chuir  mu 
Chille-Chaorraill,  agus  na  buamas- 
tairean  a  bha  ag  obair  air  sin,  chuir 
iad  fear  de  na  maolanaich-iarrainn 
romh  theis-meadhoin  na  lice — ion- 
ann's  ga  chur  an  duileachd  ! 

Cha  d'  thàinig  facal  riabh  eadar 
Donull  'us  Màiri  a  nighean  agus  cha 
d'  iarr  i  ni  riabh  air  nach  d'  thug  e 
dhi,  ach  a  h-aon.  Ged  nach  robh 
mòrnaich  de  ni-dubh  aige,  bha 
beagan  ghobhar  aige  air  A'  Gliarbh- 
dhoire.  Latha  bha  'sin,  eadar 
fhaladhà  's  a  rlribh,  iarrar  Màiri  na 
gobhair  air  ;  ach  dhiiilt  e  i,  agus 
thuirt  e :  "  Beò  no  marbh  dhomh 
fhein  e  cha  dealaich  mi  ris  na  gobh- 
air." Thug  sin  air  fear  aincheard ach 
air  choirigin,  an  deaghaidh  sin,  port 
a  dhianamh  air 

Gobhair  Dho'ill  Mhic  Fhionnliadh. 

Eadarainn  a-ho,  o-hà, 

Gobhair  Dho'ill  'ic  Fhionnlaidh. 

Eadarainn  a-ho,  o-ha, 

Gobhair  Dho'ill  'ic  Fhionnlaidh. 

Eadarainn  a-ho,  o-ha, 

Gobhair  mo  chridhe  's  mo  ghràidh, 

Eadarainn  a-ho,  o-ha, 

Gobhair  Dho'ill  'ic  Fhionnlaidh. 

'S  e  gaol  nan  caorach  's  nan  gobhar, 
Gaol  nan  caorach  's  nan  gobhar. 
Gaol  nan  caorach  's  nan  gobhar, 
Gobhair  Dho'ill  'ic  Fhionnlaidh. 
'S  e  gaol  nan  caorach  's  nan  gobhar, 
'Us  mo  làmh-sa  'bhi  ga  'm  bleoghann, 
,Gaol  nan  caorach  's  nan  gobhar, 
Gobhair  Dho'ill  'ic  Fhionnlaidh. 
Eadarainn,  &c. 

Ach  mu  "Oran  nan  comhachaig." 
Ri  ceann-tuath  Loch-Trèig,  far  am 
beil  an  abhuinn  ag  èirigh,  theirear 
an  Dèubhadh.  Tacan  fo  'n  Dèubh- 
adh,  tha  Trèig  ga  'sgaoileadh  fhein 
na  'plod  leogach,  leathann,  mar  gu  ^m 
biodh  i  ionann's  a'  leigeil  a  h-analach 
mu'n  toisich  i  air  ruith-leumraich  a 


Ceud  Mhios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1S76.       AN    GAIDHEAL. 


331 


SÌ03  gu  lonarlàire.  Eis  a'  phlod  so 
theirear  an  t-Eadarloch.  An  teis- 
meadhoin  an  locbain  chitear  eilein 
beag — tigh-chrann,  no  crannog  mar 
a  their  cuid  a  dh-fheadhainn  ri 
'leithid.  Anns  an  eilein  so  tha  làr- 
ach  "  Tigli-nam-fleadh,"  agus  's  an 
am  ud  is  ann  ann  a  bhiodh  Mac- 
Mhic-Eaonuill  ag  cumail  coinnimh 
àraid  sa  bith  a  bhiodh  aige  fhein  's 
aig  uaislean  na  diithcha.  Air  taobh 
na  Fearsaid-Eiabhaich  chithear  làr- 
ach  "  Tigh-na-fuine  ;"  agus  ri  tart 
chithear  an  staire  bha  'dol  thun  an 
eilein.  Bho  'ii  a  b'  e  DonuU  am 
Bard 's  an  Sealgair  bha  e  air  a'  chiad 
fheadhainn  a  gheabhadh  cuireadh. 
An  deaghaidh  dha  dol  bho  fheiim 
thuit  do  choinnimh-sheilge  a  bhi 
aig  Eaonull  Gòrach,  agus  le  dear- 
mad  no  le  failmse  cha  deach- 
aidh  'f  hoighneachd.  Cha'n  'eil 
an  Fhearsaid  fada  bho  'n  Eadar- 
loch,  agus  smaoinich  a  gu'n  rachadh 
e  'n  àirde — e-fhein,  's  a  bliata,  's  an 
gadhar-ban.  Eàinig  e  Tigh-na-fuine, 
ach  bha  e  fadala.ch — bha  am  fleadh 
sgaoilte,  agus  "  luchd-a'-chruidh  " 
thall  cruinn  aige.  Cha  robh  aig 
DònuU  air  ach  'aghaidh  a  thoirt  ris 
an  Fhearsaid.  Air  a  ratha^d  dach- 
aidh  chual  e  thall  's  an  t-Sroin,  a 
bha  's  an  cam  fo  choille  dhluith, 
"  Ian  maol  a'  mhothair  choir,"  agus 
thòisich  e  's  an  uair  sin  fhein  air 
deilbh  "  Oran  na  comhachaig." 

Bha  na  seann  daoine  'am  beachd 
gur  h-i  a'  chomhachag  ian  a  bu  shine 
's  an  ealtainn.  Tha  sin  a'  tighinn 
fosnear  do  Dhònull  'an  am  fosgladh 
an  dàin,  Tha  e  ga  'coimeas  ris 
fhein  agus  ag  ràdh  ma  bha  i  ann 
bho  chian  nach  b'  iongantach  ged  a 
bhiodh  a  h-aigne  trom.  Tha  ise 
'freagairt  gu'n  robh  ;  's  tha  esan  a' 
sin  a'  farraid  co  bu  chuimhne  leatha 
fhaicinn  an  Lochabar,  agus  càite  am 
biodh  i  ga  'falach  ri  am  fuathais. 
Tha  i  'g  innseadh ;  agus  ri  cluinn- 
tinn  gu'm  biodh  i  'n  Creag-Guanach, 


tha  6  ionann's  a'  toirt  "  car  beag 
bharr  an  rathaid"  a  mholadh  an 
àite  sin.  Tha  e  'cur  suas  air  na 
feidh  's  air  an  cuilidh.  A'  sin  tha 
e  'cuimhneachadh  air  luchd-eolais 
dha  nach  maireann — an  aoidheachd 
a  f  huair  e  am  feasgar  sin — Tigh-na- 
creige  'tighinn  a  stigh  air — agus  cliu 
diomain  's  a  tha  an  saoghal.  Tha  e 
rithist  a'  moladh  nam  fiadh  's  nam 
beann  's  ag  gabhail  a  chead  diubh  ; 
agus  a'  tionndadh  gu  tairis  ris  a' 
ghadhar-bhàn,  tha  e  le  cianalas  ag 
agairt  na  h-aoise  agus  ag  codhunadh. 
"Diarmad. 

A'  CHOMHACHAG. 

A  chomhachag  bhochd  na  Sròine, 
'Nochd  is  brònach  learn  do  leaba  ; 
Ma  bha  thu  ann  ri  linn  Dhonnshuil, 
Cha  'n  ioghnadh  ge  trom  leat  d'  aigne. 

"  'S  comh-aoise  mise  do  'n  daraig 
Bha  na  'faillein  anns  a'  chòinnich  ; 
'S  ioma  linn  a  chuir  mi  romham — 
'S  gur  mi  comhachag  bhochd  no  Sròine." 

Nise  bho'n  a  tha  thu  aosda, 
Dian-sa  d'  Fhaoisid  ris  an  t-sagart  : 
Agus  innis  dha  gun  èuradh 
Gach  aon  sgeula  ga  bheil  agad. 

"  Cha  d'  rinn  mise  braid  no  breugan, 
No  cladh  no  tèampull  a  bhristeadh  ; 
Air  m'  fhear  fhein  cha  d'  rinn  mi  iomnadh — • 
Gur  cailleach-bhochd  ionraic  mise. 

Chunnacas  mac  a'  Bhrithimh  chalma, 
Agus  Fearghus  Mor  an  gaisgeach. 
Agus  Torradan  Hath  na  Sròine — 
Sin  na  laoich  bha  dòmhail,  taiceiL" 

Bho  'n  a  thòisich  thu  air  seanchus, 
'S  eudar  do  leanmhainn  na  's  fhaide  : 
Gu'n  robh  'n  triùir  sin  air  foghnadh, 
Mu'n  robh  Donnshuil  anns  an  Fhearsaid. 

' '  Chimnaic  mi  Alastair  Carrach, 
An  duine  b'  allaile  bha  'n  Albainn  ; 
'S  minig  a  bha  mi  ga  'eisdeaehd, 
'S  6  aig  reiteach  nan  tom  sealga. 

Chunnaic  mi  Aonghus  na  'dheaghaidh, 
'S  cha  b'  e  sin  roghainn  bu  tàire  ; 
Is  ann  's  an  Fhearsaid  a  bha  thuinidh, 
'S  rinn  e  muileann  air  AUd-Làire." 

Bu  lionar  cogadh  'as  creachadh, 
'Bha  'n  Lochabar  's  an  uair  sin  ; 
Càite  'm  biodh  tusa  ga  d'  fhalach, 
Eoin  bhig  na  mala  gruamaich  Ì 


332 


AN   GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Mhios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876. 


"  'S  ann  a  bha  'chuid  mhòr  de  m'  shinnsir, 
Eadar  Innse  's  an  Fhearsaid  ; 
Bha  cuid  eile  dhiubh  mu'n  D^ubhadh, 
'S  bhiodh  iad  ag  èigheach  mu  fheasgar. 

An  uair  a  chitbinn-sa  'dol  seacbad 
Na  creacban  agiis  am  fuatbas, 
Bbeirinn  car  beag  bbarr  an  ratbaid, 
S  bbitbinn  gi-atbunn  'an  Creag-Guanach." 

Creag  mo  cbridbe-sa  Creag-Gaanacb, 
Creag  'an  d'  fhuair  mi  greis  de  m'  àracb  ; 
Creag  nan  aigbean  's  iian  damb  siùbblach, 
A'  cbreag  ùror,  fbonnar,  fhiaracb. 

A'  cbreag  mu'n  iatbadb  an  fbagbaid, 
Bu  mbiaiin  leam  a  bbi  ga  tagbal, 
'N  uair  'bu  bbinn  gutb  gallain  gadbair 
Ag  cur  greigb'  gu  gabhail  cbumhaing. 

'S  binn  na  b-iolairean  mu  'bruacban, 
'S  binn  a  cuachan,  's  binn  a  b-eala  ; 
Is  binne  na  sin  am  blaogban 
A  ni  'n  laoigbein  mean-bbreac,  ballach. 

Gur  binn  leam  torman  nan  dos 
Ei  uilinn  nan  coixa-bbeann  cas  ; 
'S  an  eiHd  bbioracb  a  's  caol  cas, 
'Ni  foÌ3  fo  dbuillacb  ri  teas. 

Gun  de  cb^il'  aic'  ach  an  damb, 
'S  e  's  muime  dbi  feur  "us  creamb  ; 
Màthair  an  a  laoigb  mbeanbb-bbric  mbir — 
Bean  an  fbir  mball-rosgaicb  ghloin. 

'S  siubblacb  a  db'  fbalbbas  e  raon, 
Cadal  cha  dian  e  's  a'  smùir  ; 
B'  fbfeart  leis  na  plaide  fo  tbaobb, 
Barr  an  fbfaoicb  bbadanaicb  ùir. 

Gut  b-kluinn  rgèimb  an  daimb  dbuinn, 
A  tbearnas  bbo  sbireadb  nam  beann  ; 
Mac  na  b-èilde  ainm  an  t-suinn 
Nacb  do  cbrom  le  spid  a  cbeann. 

Eilid  bbinneacb,  mheargant',  bballach, 
Odbar,  eangacb,  ucbd  rèidb,  àrd  ; 
Damb  togalacb,  cròic-cbeannacb,  sgiambacb, 
Crònanacb,  ceann-riabbacb,  dearg. 

Gur  gasda  a  ruitbeadh  tu  suas 
Ri  leacuinn  cbruaidb  'us  i  cas  ; 
Moladb  gacb  aon  neacb  an  cù, 
Acb  molam-s'  an  trùp  tba  'dol  as. 

Creag  mo  cbridbe-sa,  'Cbreag-mhòr, 
'S  ionmbuinn  an  Ion  tba  fo  'ceann  ; 
'S  annsa  'n  lag  a  tb'  air  a  cùl 
Na  macbair  'us  miir  nan  Gall. 

M'  annsacbd  beinn  sbeasgair  nam  fuaran, 
An  riasgacb  bbo  'n  dian  an  damb  rànan  ; 
Cbuireadb  gadbair  a's  glan  nuallan, 
Fèidb  na'n  ruaig  gu  lonar-Mbeòirein.] 


B'  annsa  leam  na  dilrdan  bodaich, 
Os  cionn  lie  ag  earraradb  sil, 
Bhirein  an  daimb  am  bi  'gbnè  dbuitine 
Air  leacuinn  beinne  's  e  ri  shi. 

'N  uair  'bbùireas  damb  Bbeanna-beaga, 
'S  a  bb^iceas  damb  Beinn-na-creige, 
Freagraidb  na  daimb  ud  a  cbeile, 
'S  tbig  feidb  d  Coire-na-snaige. 

Bba  mi  bbo'n  a  rugadh  mi  riabb 
Ann  an  caidreamh  fbiadb  'us  earb, 
'S  cba  'n  fbaca  mi  datb  air  am  bian, 
Ach  buidbe,  riabbacb,  'us  dearg. 

'Cha  mbi  fbin  a  sgaoil  an  comunn 
A  bba  eadar  mi  's  Creag-Guanach, 
Ach  an  aois  ga  'r  toirt  bbo  cbeile — 
Gur  gratbunn  an  fbèil'  a  fbuaras. 

'S  i  Creag  mo  cbridbe-sa  Creag-Guanach, 
A'  cbreag  dbuilleach,  bbiolaireach,  bbraon 

acb, 
Nan  tulacb  krd,  àluinn,  fiarach — 
Gur  cian  a  gbabh  i  bbo'n  mhaorach. 

Cha  mhinig  a  bba  mi  'g  èisdeacbd 
Ri  sèitricb  na  muice-mara  ; 
Acb  's  trie  a  chuala  mi  mòran 
De  cbrònanaicb  an  daimb  allaidh. 

Cha  do  cbuir  mi  dùil  's  an  iasgach, 
'Bbi  ga  'iarraidb  leis  a'  mbadhar  ; 
'S  mor  gu'm  b'  annsa  leam  am  fiadbacb, 
'S  a  bbi  'falbb  nan  sliabb  a  's  t-fh-Jghar. 

'S  aobhainn  an  obair  an  t-sealg, 
'S  ait  e  cuairt  an  krd  gu  beacbd ; 
Gur  binne  a  h-aigbir  's  a  fonn, 
Na  long  'us  i  'dol  fo  bheairt. 

Thad  's  a  bbitbinn  bo  no  maireann, 
'S  deò  de  'n  anail  ann  am  cborp, 
Dh'  fbanainn  am  focbair  an  fbtìdb — 
Sin  an  sprèidb  a  'n  robh  mo  thoirt. 

Càite  'n  cualas  ceòl  bu  bhinne 
Na  motbar  gadbair  mb<5ir  a'  teachd  ; 
Daimb  sheanga  na  'n  ruith  le  gleann, 
Miol-choin  a'  dol  annta  's  ast'. 

An  uair  a  bba  mi  air  an  d^  cbois, 
'S  moch  a  sbiiibblainn  bhos  'us  tball  ; 
Acb  a  nis  bbo  'n  fhuair  mi  'n  tri, 
Cha  ghluais  mi  ach  gu  min,  mall. 

Tba  blaigb  mo  bhogba  am  ucbd, 

Le  agh  maol,  odbar,  a's  ait ; 

Ise  geanail  's  mise  gruamacb — 

'S  cruaidh  an  diugh  nacb  buan  an  t-slat. 

'S  truagh  an  diugh  uach  beo  an  fbeadhain 
(Gun  anu  acb  an  ceo  de'n  bhuidhinn), 
Leis  'm  bu  mbiannacb  glòir  nan  gadbar, 
Gun  mbeaghail,  gun  òl,  gun  bhruidhinu. 


Ceud  Mhios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876.      AN   GAIDHEAL. 


333 


Bratach  Alastair  nan  gleann, 
An  sròl  farumach  ri  crann, 
Suaicbeantas  soilleir  Shiol-Chuinn, 
Nach  d'  chuir  suim  an  clanna  Ghall. 

An  Cinne-ghiùbhsaioh  na  'laidhe, 
Tha  nàmhaid  na  greighe  deirge  ; 
Lamh  dheas  a  mharbhadh  a'  bhradain, 
Bu  mhath  e  'n  sabaid  na  feirge. 

Dh'  fbàg  mi  's  an  ruidbe  so  shios 
A'  fear  a  b'  olc  dhomh  a  bhàs  ; 
Is  trie  a  chuir  e  thagradh  'an  cruas, 
An  cluais  an  daimh  chabrakh  a'  sks. 

Eaonull  mac  Dhònuill  Ghlais, 
Fear  a  fhuair  foghlum  gu  deas  ; 
Deagh  Mhac-Dhonuill  a'  chùil  chais, 
Cha  bheò  neach  a  chòmhraig  Ms. 

Alastair  cridhe  nan  gleann, 
;Gun  e  'bhi  ann,  mòr  a'  chreach,) 
'S  trie  a  leag  thu  air  an  torn, 
Mac  nan  sonn  leis  a'  chu-ghlas. 

Alastair  Mac  Ailein  mhòir, 

'S  trie  a  mharbh  's  a'  bheinn  na  f^idh, 

'S  a  leanadh  fad  air  an  tòir, 

Mo  dhòigh  gxir  DonuUach  treun. 

Is  DonuUach  thu  gun  mhearachd, 
Gur  tu  boinne  geal  na  cruadhach  ; 
'S  ckirdeach  thu  do  Chlann-Ghatain, 
Gur  dalta  thu  do  Chreag-Guanach. 

Ma  dh'  fhàgadh  Dònull  a  muigh, 
Na  'onar  aig  Tigh-nam-fieadh, 
'S  gearr  bhios  gucag  air  bhuil — 
Luchd-a'-chruidh,  bidh  iad  a  stigh. 

Bu  mhath  mo  bhuachaille  cruidh, 
B'  e  sid  uasal  nam  fear, — 
Bu  deacair  dhomh  tarmus  air  d'  fhuil, 
Cha  bu  dubli,  ach  aobharraeh  glan. 

Bu  mhath  mo  bharanta-cogaidh, 
Ged  a  thogair  mi  tigh'n  bhuaithe — 
Gur  h-Eoin  à  Tigh-na-ci'eige — 
Bho'n  a  bhagair  e  mo  bhualadh. 

'S  bho  'n  a  bhagair  e  mi  gu  teann, 
Cho  fad  's  a  mhaireas  crann,  no  clach, 
Cha  tog  mi  h-uige  mo  thriall, 
_Ni  mo  'dh'  iarraim  dol  na  'theach. 

Mi  'm  shuidh'  air  sith-bhruth  nam  beann, 
Ag  coimhead  aig  ceann  Loch-Trèig, 
Creag-Guanach  am  biodh  an  t-sealg, 
Grianan  àrd  am  biodh  na  feidh. 

Chi  mi  'n  Dilbh-loehan  bhuam, 
Chi  mi  'Chruach  'us  Beinne-Bhric, 
Chi  mi  Strath-Oiseann  nam  fiadh, 
'S  chi  mi  'ghrian  air  Meall-nan-leac. 


Chi  mi  Beinn-Nibheis  gu  h-h,rd, 
'S  an  Ch,rn-dearg  aig  a  bun, 
'Us  coire  beag  eile  ri  taobh, 
Chi  mi  fonn,  'us  fraoch,  'us  muir, 

Gur  rimheach  an  Coire-dearg, 

Far  'm  bu  mhiannaeh  leinn  bhi  'sealg  ; 

Coire  nan  tulchagan  fraoich 

Innis  nan  laogh  's  nan  damh  garbh. 

Chi  mi  brkigh  Bhidein  nan  dos, 
An  taobh  so  bhos  de  Sgurra-Lith, 
Sgurra-Chòinnich  nan  damh  seang, 
'S  ionmhuinn  learn  an  diugh  na  chi, 

Chi  mi  Smth  farsuinn  a'  chruidh, 
Far  an  labhar  guth  nan  sonn  ; 
'S  Coire- Creagach  a'  Mhaim-bhkin, 
'Am  minig  an  d'  thug  mo  lamh  toll. 

Chi  mi  Gairbeinn  nan  damh  donn, 
Agus  Lap-bheinn  non  torn  sith  ; 
Mar  sin  'us  an  Leitir-dhubh 
A's  trie  a  rinn  mi  full  na  'frith. 

Soiridh  gu  Beinn-Eòlair  bhuam, 
Bho  'n  's  i  'fhuair  urram  nam  beann  ; 
'S  gu  slios  Loch-Eireachd  an  fheidh — 
Gu  'm  b'  ionmhuinn  leam  fhdin  bhi  ann. 

Thoir  soiridh  bhuam  thun  an  loch 
Far  am  faictesadh  bhos  'us  thall ; 
'S  gu  Uisge-Leamhna  nan  lach 
Muime  nan  laogh  breac  's  nam  meann. 

'S  e  loch  mo  clu?idhe-sa  'n  loch, 
An  loch  air  am  bitheadh  an  lach, 
Agus  iomad  eala  bhàn, 
'S  bhiodh  iad  a'  snàmh  mu  seach. 

Olaidh  mi  à  Trèig  mo  theann-shath, 
Na  'dhèigh  cha  bhi  mi  fo  mhulad  ; 
Uisge  glan  nam  fuaran  fallain, 
Bho  'n  seang  am  fiadh  a  ni  'n  langan. 

Soiridh  bhuam  gu  Coire-na-cloich', 
An  c.  are  'm  bu  toigh  leam  'bhi  'tàmh  ; 
'S  gu  Uisge-Labbair  nam  faobh, 
Cuilidh  nan  agh  maol  's  nam  mang. 

Soiridh  eile  gu  Bac-nan-craobh, 

Gu  da  thaobh  Bealach-nan-sgilrr  ; 

'S  dh'  ionns'  an  Eadar-bheallaich  mhòir, 

Far  nach  cluinnear  glòir  non  Gall. 

'S  buan  an  comunn  gun  bhristeadh, 
'Bha  eadar  mise  's  an  t-uisge, 
Sùgh  nam  mòr  bheann  gun  mhisge, 
Mise  ga  'Ò1  gun  trasgadh. 

'S  ann  a  bha  an  comunn  bristeach 
Eadar  mise  's  a'  Chreag-  heilich  ; 
Mise  gu  bràch  cha  dirich — 
Ise  gu  dilinn  cha  teirinn. 


334 


AN   GAIDHEAL,       Ceud  MLIos  a*  Gheamiii-aidh,  1S76. 


Bho'n  a  labhair  mi  umaibh  gu  l^ir, 
Gabhaidh  mi  fh^ia  dibh  mo  cbead  ; 
Dearmad  cba  dean  mi  's  an  am, 
Air  fiadbach  gbleann  Bbeanna-beag. 

Cead  a  's  truaigbe  'gbabb  mi  riabh, 
Do  'n  fhiadhacb  'bu  mbòr  mo  thoil ; 
Cba'n  fbalbh  mi  le  bogba  fo  m'  sg^ith, 
'S  gu  làth-bhràtb  cba  leig  mi  coin. 

Mise  's  tuaa,  'ghadhair  bbain, 
'S  tùrsach  ar  turns  do  'n  eilein  ; 
Chain  sinn  an  tatbunn  's  an  dan, 
Ged  'bbà  sinn  gratbunn  ri  ceanaL 

Tbug  a'  choille  dhiats'  an  earb', 
Thug  an  t-àrd  dbiamsa  na  f^idh  ; 
Cba'n  'eil  nàire  dbuinn,  a  laoich, 
Bho  'n  laidh  an  aois  oirnn  le  chèil'. 

'Aois, — cba  'n  'eil  tbu  meacbair, 
Ge  nacb  fheudar  leinn  do  sbeacbnadb, 
Cromaidb  tu  an  duine  direacb 
A  db'  fbàs  gu  mileanta,  gasda. 

Giorraicbidb  tu  a  sbaogbal, 
'  Us  caolaichidb  tu  a  cbasan  ; 
Fàgaidb  tu  a  cbeann  gun  ddudaich 
'Us  ni  tbu  èudann  a  chasadb. 

A  sbine  cbas-aoilnacb,  pheallacb, 
A  sbream-sbuileacb,  odhar,  èitidb  ; 
Cuime  'leiginn  leat,  a  lobbair, 
Mo  bbogba  tboirt  dbiom  air  eiginn. 

Bbo  'n  's  mi-fbin  a  b'  fbèarr  an  airidh, 
Air  mo  bbogba  's  ra  mbatb  iubhar, 
Na  tbusa,  'aois  bbodbar,  sgallacb, 
'Bbios  aig  an  teallaicb  ad  sbuidbe. 

Labbair  an  aois  rium  a  ritbist : 
"Is  mo  's  ruigbinn  'tba  tbu  'leanailt 
His  a'  bogba  sin  a  gbitilan — 
'S  mòr  gu  'm  bu  cbuibbe  dbut  bata.  " 

Gabb  tbusa  bbuamsa  am  bata, 
'Aois  gbnada,  cbairtidb  na  plèite  ; 
Cba  leiginn  mo  bbogba  leatsa, 
Do  d'  mbatbas  no  air  i^iginn. 

'"S  ioma  laocb  a  bb'  fbearr  no  tbusa, 
'Db'  fhkg  mise  gu  tuisleacb  anfbann, 
'N  dèigb  fbaobbachadb  as  a  sbeasamh, 
Bba  roimbe  na  fbleasgacb  meanmnacb. 


'S  beatba  bbeag  gacb  la.  Cba  'n  eil  na'r 
beatba  gu  lèir  acb  la  air  a  cbur  ri  la.  Bba 
Jacob  a'  cunntas  a  bbeatba  le  Faitbibb, 
agus  bba  Maois  ag  iarraidb  gu  'm  biodb  e 
air  a  tbeagasg  mar  bu  choir  db'a  laitbean, 
cba  'n  iad  a  bbliadhnaicbean,  aireamb  gu 
ceart. 


SUIRIDHE  A'  MHADAIDH- 
EUAIDH, 

NO 

'S  I  'N  ONOIR  A  BHEIR  BUAIDH. 
Sgeulachd  a  reir  nos  nan  seann 

SUEULHACHDAN   GaIDHEALACH. 

RoiMHE  SO  o  cliionn  fhada  an 
t-saoghail  (ma's  fior  an  naigheachd) 
bba  deadb  Gbàilig  mbilis  bbbasda 
aig  uile  bbeathaicbean  na  tire,  agus 
cba  robb  gamblas,  no  mi-run,  no 
naimbdeas  air  bitb  eatorra,  mar  a 
cbi  sinn  a  nis ;  ach  bba  iad  uile 
caoimbneil  cairdeil  carannacb  r'a 
cbeile,  mar  a  bu  cbòir  do  Gbàidbeil 
a  bbi.  Db'  òladb  iad  taobh  ri  taobb 
as  an  aon  srutb — cbaidleadb  iad 
anns  an  aon  pbreas — agus  cbiteadh 
iad  a'  mireag  r'a  cbeile  air  an  aon 
reilean  ;  raonadb  an  dai-a  b-aon  gu 
minic  air  cbeilidb  do  tbigb  an  aoin 
eile,  's  bba  ceòl  a's  aoidbeachd  as 
aigbear,  bba  fala-dhà  agus  siigradh 
a's  cridbealas,  bba  suiridbe  's  gaol 
a's  pòsadb  a'  dol  air  agbaidb  'nam 
measg.  Cliiteadb  am  miol-cbu  's  a' 
mbaigbeacb,  an  dòbbran-donn  's  an 
t-abbag  riabbacb,  an  t-uainein  beag 
geal  's  an  sionnacb  ruadb,  guala  ri 
guala,  gu  miiirneacb,  caidreacb, 
cairdeil — ag  còmbradb  r'a  cbeile  le 
briodal  blàtb  's  le  mànran  milis. 

San  am  so  ma  ta  '(a  reir  ar  sgeòil) 
bba  cat  òg  ann,  aig  an  d'fbàg  a 
b-atbair  's  a  matbair  moran  stòrais, 
agus  cba  robb  cat  san  dutbaicb  uile 
bba  CO  maiseacb.  Bba  a  bian  co 
sliom  mbin  ri  sioda  na  gailbbeinn, 
's  a  siiilean  co  loinnreach  àluinn  ri 
aon  cbloicb  dbeàrrsaicb  luacbmbor 
uaine  bba  riabb  ann  am  fàinne  na 
ban-rigb.  Mar  is  furasda  tbuigsinn, 
bba  iomadacb  leannan  aig  an  àilleig 
òig ;  cba  robb  cù  no  cat,  sionnacb 
no  feòcullan,  dòbbran-donn  no  coin- 
ean  san  tir,  nacb  robb  air  a  toir. 
Acb  do  na  suiridbicbean  uile,  'se  cù 


Ceud  Mhios  a'  Gheamhraidh, 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


335 


àraidh  agus  sionnach  a  V  iomraitiche,  ] 
agus  orra  so  iniisidh  sin  sgeul.  j 

Bha  'n  cii  'na  mhadadh  coir  j 
tlachdmhor,  ionraic,  onorach  ;  agus 
'nuair  cliual'  e  gu  'n  robh  a  liughad  ! 
fear  an  tòir  air  nighean  peathar  a  j 
sheanmhar,  (oir  bha  e  cho  càirdeach 
a's  so  dhi)  chuir  e  roimhe  gu'n  tug- 
adh  e  fein  tairgse  dhi.  "  Innsidh  ] 
mi 'n  fhirinn"  thuirt  esan  "  mu  m' I 
stoc  's  mu  m'  ghabhaltas,  mu  m'  i 
chuid  's  mu  m'  chreideas,  cha  cheil 
mi  an  ni  a's  laoine — ma  ghabbas  i 
mi  's  math,  's  mur  gabh,  cha  bhris 
mi  mo  chridhe  air  a  son. 

Thog  am  madadh  coir  air  leis  an 
run  so  ;  ach  bha  'n  sionnach  'na 
choimhearsnach  dha,  agus  thuig  e 
ciod  a  bha  air  'aire.  Chuir  e  roimhe 
na'm  b'  urrainn  da,  gu  'n  tugadh  e  an 
car  as  a  chii  's  gum  faigheadh  e'n 
cat  òg  beairteach  dha  fòin.  Tha 
fios  aig  a  ii-uile  duine  gu  bheil  na 
sionnaich  carach,  cuilbheartach, 
seòlta,  sloighteil ;  agus  bha  'm  fear 
so  cosmhuil  r'a  sheòrsa. 

'Nuair  chunnaic  e  an  cU  an  dèigh 
falbh  cha  robh  fios  aige  'n  toiseach 
ciod  a  dheanadh  e  :  oir  bha  eagal  air 
nam  bruidhneadh  an  cii  mun  ruig- 
eadh  esan  nach  biodh  moran  tuit- 
eamais  aige-san  air  airgiod  a'  chait — 
acli  cha  d'  fhuaras  neas  riabh  'na 
cadal,  cha  mhòfhuaras  sionnach  ruadh 
gun  chleas.  Ghabh  e  stigh  do  choille 
bha  'n  sin — fhuair  e  athghoirid 
roimhpe  thug  chum  an  rathaid- 
mhoir  e  air  thoiseach  air  a'  chii, 
agus  aig  taobh  an  rathaid  chunnaic 
e  beul-fo-fhraoch  cumhann,  domhain, 
agus  aige  so  stad  e,  a'  cur  roimhe 
gum  milleadh  e  suiridhe  a'  choin- 
mhoir  fhathasd.  'Nuair  a  mhoth- 
uich  e'n  cii  a'  tighin,  leig  e  e  fein  'na 
shineadh  agus  thòisich  e  ri  tuirse  's 
ri  caoineadh  mar  gum  biodh  e  a' 
call  an  deò.  Chunnaic  an  cii  e,  agus 
thubhairt  e  ris  fein,  "  tha  'n  sionnach 
an  sàs — tha  na  cluipearan  carach  sin 
daonnan   a'   tachairt  ri  tubaist  air 


chor-eiginn,  le  tuille  's  a'  choir  do 
sheòltachd.  Air  mo  shon  fein  cha 
d'  fheuch  mi  ach  firinn  a's  onoir 
riabh,  's  cha  d'  thainig  cruaidh-chas 
no  aimlisg  fhathasd  orm ;  ach  feumar 
cuideachadh  leis  an  t-sionnach  o'n 
tha  e  ann  an  eiginn.  Ghreas  an  cii 
air  ais  agus  dh'  fheòraich  e  d'a 
choimhearsnach  ciod  a  dh'  eirich  dha. 
"Mo  thruaighe  1  mo  thruaighe  !" 
ars'an  sionnach,  "  thuit  mo  phiuthar 
bheag  san  t-slochd  so  's  cha  'n  eil 
fios  agam  ciod  a  ni  mi — tha  eagal 
orm  gum  bi  i  tachdta  a  thiota. 
"Nach  teid  thu  as  a  deigh  's  nach 
toir  thu  'nios  i  1  a  bheathaich  gun 
rath,"  arsa  'n  cii.  "  0  !  's  mi  bhiodh 
toileach,"  thuirt  esan,  "  ach  nach 
fhaic  thu  ann  a'  feuchainn  ri  ruigh- 
eachd  oirre  cheana  gu  'n  do  shniomh 
mi  mo  dhruim,  's  cha  'n  eil  gluasad 
agam — Och  a's  ochoin  !  mo  phiuthar 
bheag  bhoclid,  's  e  'n  diugh  latha  na 
dunach,  an  latha  dubh  dhomhsa  !" 
"  Ma  tha  a'  chilis  mar  sin,"  ars  'an 
CÙ,  "  cha  'n  fhàg  mise  thu  an  am  na 
h-èiginn,  bheir  mi  nios  do  phiuthar 
bheag  ma  ghabhas  e  deanamh."  Gun 
tuilleadh  a  ràdhainn  leum  am  mada 
'coir  caoimhneil  sios  do  'n  t-shlochd. 
Bha  'n  sionnach  gu  grad  air  a  bhonn- 
aibh  's  chuir  e  leac  mhor  chloiche  air 
beul  an  tuill  's  rinn  e  glag  gàire. 
"  Fan  thusa  'n  sin,  a  choin  choir," 
ars'  esan,  "  theid  mise  's  bheir  mi 
beannachd  uat  gu  d'  bhana-charaid 
an  cat."  "  A  shloightire  !  a  bhiasd  ! 
a  chluipear  ruaidh  !  an  ann  mar  so 
a  rinn  thu  orm?"  arsa  'n  cù  ;  ach 
cha  d'  èisd  an  sionnach  ri  smàdadh. 
Dh'  fhalbh  e  gu  siiibhlach  siinndach 
do  thigh  na  ban-oighre,  lan-thoil- 
ichte  le  'thapachd  fein.  'Nuair  bha 
6  dllith  do'n  tigh,  chuir  e  roimhe 
gu  'n  taghladh  e  aig  a  mhnaoi-eòlais, 
a'  phioghaid,  chum  an  sin  gum  faigh- 
eadh e  gach  naigheachd  a  bha  'falbh. 
Bha  'phioghaid,  ro-chaoimhneil  ris, 
"ach"  ars'  ise,  "  ciod  thug  sibh  fein 
CO   fada   bho   'n    bhaile  ?    mur   mi- 


336 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  Mhios  a  Gheamhraidh,  1876. 


mhodhail  r'a  f  heòraich  e."  "  Ma  tà, 
le  'r  cead,"  f  hreagair  esan,  "  bha  aon 
aobhar  mòr  agam,  tighin  a  chòmli- 
radh  ri  mnaoi-uasail  cho  glic,  fios- 
rach,  ribh  fèin  ;  ach  a  thuilleadh  air 
so,  b'  èiginn  domli  a'  chuirt  san  robh 
mi  fhàgail.  Bha  a'  bhan-leòmliann, 
bean  an  righ,  gu  math  muirneach 
umam ;  ach  ghabh  esan  'na  cheann 
gu  'n  robh  i  tuille  's  gaolach  mu  m' 
dheighinn.  Thòisich  esan,  am  burr- 
aidh  mòr,  ri  eudach  rithe,  agus 
smuaintich  mise  gum  bu  mhithich 
dhòmhsa  bhi  'bogadh  nan  gad.  Cha 
'n  fhala-dhà  leòmhann  a  bhios  le 
eudach."  "  Ach  ciamar  a  leig  e  air 
falbh  sibh  ?"  arsa  'pliioghaid,  "  nach 
h-iongatach  nach  do  mharbh  e  sibh 
gun  dàiU"  •  "0!  's  ann  tha  e  ro- 
chaoimhneil  rium,"  ars'  esan,  "  cha 
robh  a  dhith  air  ach  gum  bithinn 
air  falbh  o'n  bhan-righ  ;  agus  mar 
dhearbhadh  air  a  chàirdeas  do  m' 
thaobh,  thug  e  dhomh,  an  ni  luach- 
mhor  so  tha  agam  ann  an  so,  ni 
nach  fhaighinn  a  leithid  eile  eadar 
ceithir  chearnaibh  an  domhain 
mhòir."  "  'D  è  sin  ?  'd  è  sin  V  arsa 
'phioghaid.  "  Cha  'n  f  haod  sibh 
innseadh"  arsa 'n  sionnach.  "  Inn- 
seadh  !  air  focal  onorach  na  pioghaid 
cha  chluinnear  diog  uamsa  dheth  gu 
bràth,"  deir  ise.  "  'S  e  'n  rud  a 
th'ann,  ma  tà,  tri  ròinneagan  a  bha 
air  a  chuigeamh  cois  aig  a'  bheathach 
mhòr  a  bha  'n  Loch-odha,"  thuirt  an 
sionnach.  "  Ciod  am  beathach  mòr  Ì 
— ciod  na  casan  Ì — ciod  na  ròinn-. 
eagan  ]  innis  domh,  innis  domh" 
thuirt  a'  phioghaid  's  a  suilean  a' 
lasadh  's  a  guth  air  chrith  le  h-iogh- 
nadh.  "  Nach  'eil  fios  agaibh  mu'n 
bheathach  mhòr  a  tha  'n  Lochodha 
bho  chionn  tri  cheud  bliadhna,  gu 
bheil  coig  casan  air;  agus  na  tri 
ròinneagan  a  tha  aig  bun  na  h-ionga- 
moir  aig  tè  dhiubh  gu  'n  gleidh  iad 
an  t-aon  aig  am  bi  iad  am  maise  's 
an  àilleachd  na  h-oige,  gun  liathadh, 
gun   phreasadh,  gun  seargadh  gun 


seacadh,  ged  a  bhiodh  e  beo  co  fada 
ris  a'  bheathach  mlior  fèin.  Fhuair 
mi  iad  so  bho  'n  righ  's  tha  iad 
agam  air  mo  shiubhal."  "  0  !  nach 
leig  sibh  fhaicinn  iad'?"  ars'  ise  *"s 
bidh  mo  bheannachd  oirbh."  "'S 
ro-dhuilich  leam  ur  diultadh"  ars' 
esan,  "  ach  gheall  mi  do'n  righ  nach 
leiginn  fhaicinn  iad  do  the  gu  bràtb 
ach  an  tè  a  phòsas  mi — gabhaibh  mo 
leisgeul."  B'  èiginn  do  'n  phioghaid 
cur  suas  leis  an  diultadh  ;  agus  o'n 
dh'  innis  an  sionnach  uiread  do 
nithibh  iongatach  dhise,  dh'  innis  ise 
dhàsan  gach  ni  a  bha  'dol  air  aghaidh 
mu  'n  àite,  agus  moran  naigheachdan 
mu  'n  chat 's  na  suiridhichean.  Bha 
sionnach  tuille  's  seòlta  glic  gus  a 
h-uile  rud  a  chual'  e  a  chreidsinn  ; 
ach  thuig  e  gu  'n  robh  an  cat  glè 
mhor  aisde  fèin,  agus  gu'n  taitneadh 
miodal  a's  moladh  a's  brosgul  gu 
math  rithe.  Dh'  f  hag  e  beannacnd 
aig  a'  phioghaid,  ag  earalachadh 
oirre  gun  diog  a  ràdhainn  mu  na 
chual'  i.  "  'N  e  mise?"  ars'  a'  phiogh- 
aid, "  cha  'n  ann  de  'n  t-sebrsa  sin 
mi.  Na  biodh  cùram  oirbhse  uime 
sin  ;  's  iomadh  carraig  air  an  caoch- 
ail  sruth,  ach  cha  chluinnear  piogh- 
aid a'  tighinn  thairis  air  na  chluinn- 
eas  i." 

Dh'  fhalbh  an  sionnach  's  ghabh 
e  mu  thàmh  rè  na  h-oidhche  sin. 
'S  a'  mhaduinn  am  màireach,  gun 
f  hios  ciamar,  chual'  a'  chuthag  's  an 
f  heannag,  chuala  'n  cat 's  an  coinean, 
chuala  gach  beathach  a's  duine  a 
h-uile  facall  a  bha  eadar  an  sionnach 
's  a'  phioghaid  ;  's  bha  gach  maigh- 
deann  's  a'  bhaile  air  bàineadh  gu 
eolas  fhaotainn  air  aon  co  ainmeil, 
Cha  do  chain  esan  moran  liine  gun 
dol  an  còmhradh  a'  chait,  agus  bha 
e  CO  grinn  sgiolta,  bha  e  co  beulach 
miodalach  's  gu  'n  do  ghabh  an  cat 
dèigh  mhor  dheth  a  thiota,  agus  a 
rèir  coltais  bha  'shaod  gum  faigheadh 
e  gach  ni  mar  bu  mhath  leis. 

Ach.  faiceamaid  a  nis  ciod  a  dh' 


Ceud  Mhios  a' Gheamhraidh,  1876.      AN    GAIDHEAL. 


337 


èiricli  do  'n  chù.  Blia  'u  toll  aims 
na  thuit  e  tuille  's  cumhann  gu 
tionndadh  ami,  agus  cliuir  aim  leac 
a  cliàirich  au  sioimacli  air  beul  an 
t-sluic,  as  a  chomas  faotainn  a  macli 
le  streapadli.  "  Mur  teid  siim  air 
ar  ii-ais"  arsa'n  cii,  "feucliaidh  sinn 
dol  air  ar  n-aghaidh,"  agus  le  mor 
stiigh  dh'  oibrich  e  rathad  air  agh- 
aidh  tre  'u  t-slochd  gus  an  d'  tliainig 
e  gu  uaiinli  mlior  fliarsuing  reidh, 
far  am  fac'  e  na  chuir  iongatas  gu 
leoir  air. 

Blia  'n  so  dli'  or  's  do  airgiod  na 
dh'  fhognadh  do  rigli,  agus  do 
clilachan  riomliach  loinnearacli,  na 
blia  dealradli  cosnihuil  ris  a'  ghrein  ; 
acli  am  meadlion  na  h-uaimh  bha 
uile-bheist  mlior  uamhasacli  'na 
suidhe,  beitliir  sgiathach,  agus  clia 
b'e  sealladli  blàtli  a  thug  i  air  a'  cliii, 
'"De  thug  au  so  thul"  thuirt  ise, 
'•'  an  ann  a  ghoid  mo  stòrais  a  tliainig 
thu  ?  thig  an  so — la  t'  athar  's  do 
sheanar  dhuit  a  mhèirlich,  bheir  mis 
'ort  nacli  toir  thu  an  oidhirp  cheudna 
'rithist — thig  an  so  !"  "  Cha  'n  ann 
a  ghoid  do  chodach  a  thinig  niise" 
thuirt  an  cli,  "  agus  nam  b'  aithne 
dhuit  mi  cha  tugadh  tu  a  leithid  do 
mi-mheas  oriii — 's  ni  e  nach  d'  rinn 
beathach  no  duine  orm  riabh  roimhe, 
agus  ni  nach  'eil  guothuch  agadsa 
dheanamh  na's  mo. 

"  'S  ann  agad  tha  'bhathais,  a 
bheathaich  pheallagaich,  robaich, 
f  had-chluasaich,"  arsa  'n  uile-bheist 
's  i  seddeadh  gu  li-eagalach  's  a 
suilean  a'  lasadh  le  feirg,  nach  'eil 
fhios  agad  gur  h-urrainn  domh  do 
phronnadh  fo  m'  chasan  ann  am 
prioba  na  suU"  "Faodaidh  tu  sin 
a  dheanamh,  gun  teagamh,"  arsa  'n 
cu,  "  ach  cha  bliiodh  e  ach  gle  nàr, 
allauta  dhuit  sin  a  dheanamh  's  tu 
na's  mo  na  mise— cha  d'  thug  mi 
fein  aghaidh  air  aon  riabh  bu  lugha 
na  mi  f  hein,  agus  's  ann  a  b'  f  hèarr 
dhuit  an  rathad  a  sheoladh  dhomh 
gu  uaclidar  an  talamhainn — 's  ann  an 


sin  tha  'mhiann  orm  a  bhi — tha  fior 
dheigh  agam  air  tilleadh  ann  car 
tacain  co  dhiubh,  gu  aon  deagh 
phabadh  a  thoirt  do  bheisd  shionn- 
aich  a  thug  droch  car  asam  an  diugh 
fein  ;"  agus  an  siii  dh'  iniiis  e  gu 
lom,  soilleir,  do  'n  nathair-sgiathaich 
mar  a  dh'  eirich  dha. 

"  Am  fan  thu,"  arsa  'n  nathair 
sgiathach,  "gu  bhi  a 'd  f  hear-muinn- 
tir  agamsa  Ì  "  "  Cha  'n  f  han  mi 
fein  "  thuirt  an  cii.  "  Mur  bi  thu  a 
'd  fhear-muiimtir  agam"  arsa  'n 
uile-bheist  eagalach,  '"  bidli  tu  a'd 
loll  feasgair  dhomh,  gun  dol  a  null 
no  nail  freagair  mi,  am  fuirich  thu 
'n  so  a'd  òglach  agamsa  1  freagair  mi 
a  thiota — ciod  tha  thu  'g  ràdhainn  1 " 
ars'  ise  le  colg  eagalach  's  i  'fosgladh 
a  mach  a  sgiathan  oillteil,  's  teine- 
sioimachain  a'  sradadh  as  a  suilean, 
's  a  craos  dearg  fosguilte.  "  Labh- 
air,"  ars'  ise.  "Mur  'eil  dol  as," 
fhreagair  an  cii,  "  cha  'n  eil  comas 
air,  fanaidh  mi."  "  Thoir  dhomh 
crathadh  do  d'  spòig  air  a'  chùis, 
matà,"  arsa  'n  nathair  sgiathach. 
"  So  dhuit  i "  arsa  'n  cii,  cha  do 
gheall  mi  rud  riabh  ris  nach  do  sheas 
mi,  's  nach  do  choimhlion  mi  a  reir 
mo  cliomais." 

An  sin  dh'  innis  an  nathair 
sgiathach  dha  gu  'n  robli  mòran  do 
bheathraichean-nimhe,  nathraichean 
gnàda,  bha  ann  an  seòrsa  do 
chàirdeas  fad  as  d'a  teaghlach-se,  a 
bha  'sior  f heuchainn  ise  mharbhadh, 
a  chum  's  gum  faigheadh  iad  a 
beairteas,  nach  robh  fois  aice  a  la 
na  dh'  oidhche  leò,  's  gur  h-e  bhiodli 
mar  obair  aigesan  faire  dheanamh 
nuair  a  bhiodli  ise,  an  nathair-sgiath- 
ach,  'na  cadal,  agus  a  diisgadh  'nuair 
thigeadh  na  nathraichean-nimhe 
gnada  mach  as  na  sluic.  Gheall 
an  cli  a  dhianamh  mar  a  b'  f  hearr  a 
dh'  fhaodadh  e.  Phaisg  an  nathair 
a  sgiathan,  tharruing  i  a  h-earball 
mu  thimchioll  a  cinn.  Bha  'n  cu 
gle  thiirsach  tròm,  's  an  t-acras  air 
22 


338 


AN   GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  IVIhios  a'  Gheamhi-aidh,  1876. 


cuideachd.  Clrunnaic  e  meall  mòr 
feòla  agus  mòran  chnàmh  ann  an 
oisinn  do  'n  uaimli,  agus  thug  iad 
uisge  air  'fhiaclan  a  bhi  'g  amharc 
orra  ;  ach  o  nacli  d'  fhuair  e  cead  an 
itbeadh  cha  do  hliean  e  dhoibh ; 
chuir  e  roimhe  bhi  ionraic,  onoracli, 
mar  bha  e  riabh,  agus  rinn  c  faire 
re  na  h-oidhche.  Thainig  na  iiath- 
raichean-nimhe  uair  a's  uair  ach  rinn 
an  cli  tathunn  daonnan,  dhiiisg  a' 
bheithir-sgiathach,  agus  co  luath  's 
a  chrath  ise  i  fein,  theich  iadsan  air 
falbh. 

Sa'  mhaduinn  bha  'bheithir-sgiath- 
ach mòran  na  bu  chaoimhneile  ris 
a'  chu,  thug  i  dhà  a  shàth  r'a  ith- 
eadh,  agus  labhair  i  ris  le  baigh. 
Chaidh  latha  's  La  mar  so  seachad, 
an  cu  a'  fuireach  dileas,  agus  a' 
bheithir-sgiathach  a'  faighinn  deagh 
chadail,gus  mu  dheireadh  aon  oidh- 
che  'n  d'  thainig  measan  beag  bòidh- 
each,  balLach,  donn,  a  stigh  do  'n 
uaimh,  agus  thòisich  e  ri  mòran 
miodail  a's  beadraidh  a  dheanamh 
ris  a'  chu.  "  'S  duiUch  learn,"  arsa 
'ra  measan,  "  fear  do  choltaisfhaicinn 
'na  leithid  so  do  shlochd,  a'd  thràiU 
aig  a'  bheisd  ud  ;  falbh  thusa  leamsa 
's  bheir  mi  an  ùine  ghoirid  gu  uachd- 
ar  an  t-saoghail  's  gu  d'  chàirdean 
fein  thu."  "  'S  mi  bhiodh  deònach 
aighearach,"  arsa  'n  cu,  ach  gheall 
mi  do'n  bheithir-sgiathaich  fuireach 
a'm  fhear-muinntir  aice,  thug  mi 
dhith  mo  spòg  air  a'  chuis,  cha 
ghabhainn  an  saoghal  agus  m'  fhac- 
•all  a  bhristeadh,  èireadh  dhomh 
mar  thogras,  bidh  mi  dileas."  "  An 
toir  thu  dhomh "  arsa  'm  measan, 
"  cuid  do  na  cnàmhan  ud  r'a  ithe  's 
an  t-acras  'gam  thoHadh  1"  "  Nam 
bu  leam  fein  iad,"  arsa  'n  cu,  "  b'e 
do  bheatha  mile  agus  mile  uair,  ach  I 
buinidh  iad  dhise  dona  gheall  mi 
bhi  dileas,  agus  cha  chuir  mise  làmh 
air  cuid  duin'  eile  airson  ni  air  bith  " 
arsa  'n  cu.  Dh'  f  heuch  am  measan  i 
mòran  brìodail  a's  miodail,  ach  cha  I 


ghèilleadh  an  cu  a  bheag  no  mhòr 
gus  mu  dheireadh  's  mu  dhiu,  ann 
am  prioba  na  sul,  an  d'  fhàs  am 
measanbeag,bòidheach.hallach,donn, 
'na  nathair  mhòir  stiallaich,  làban- 
aich,  shleamhuin  !  a  suilean  mar  an 
teine,  gach  fiacaill  'na  craos  mar 
sgolb  tighe,  agus  an  caramh  a'  choin 
ghabh  i.  Thug  an  cu  bochd  .sgal 
cruaidh  as,  ?gns  gu  fortanach  dhàsan 
dhuisg  a'  bheithir-sgiathach,  's  cha 
b'  ann  a  chrathadh  a  cluasan  no  g'a 
taclias  fein  a  dh'  f  huirich  i,  ach  an 
tiota  na  boise  bha  i  air  a  bonnaibh 
's  an  sàs  san  nathair  mhòir.  B'e  sin 
an  oath,  's  cha  'n  fhacas  a  leithid. 
Bha  sgreadail  a's  sgriachail  a's 
raoicich  a's  rànaich,  srannraich  agus 
sèidil  oillteil,  ni's  leòir  chum  na 
creagan  a  sgoltadh,  agus  a  thoirt  air 
bras-shruthaibh  an  aonaich  stad  a 
dh'  eisdeachd.  Bu  duilich  a  radh- 
ainn  co  bu  treasa,  ach  mu  dheireadh 
fhuair  an  nathair-nimhe  lubach  làb- 
anach,  air  muin  na  beithir-sgiath- 
aich,  agus  bha  i  'ga  suaineadh  fein 
'na  cuairt  eagalaich  mu  'timchioll,  le 
fead  agus  sèidil  choimheich,  'nuair 
a  leum  an  cu  agus  le  'uile  neart 
shàth  e  'fhiaclan  ann  an  earball  na 
nathrach.  Co  luath  's  a  mhothuich 
ise  dha  so,  ghrad  thionndaidh  i  mu 
'n  cuairt  gu'  cur  as  da,  ach  mun 
d'ràinig  i  an  cu  bha  a'  bheithir- 
sgiathach  air  a  cois  agus  ann  an 
amhaich  na  nathrach-nimhe;  ghleidh 
i  greim  air  a  sgòrnan  gu  teann 
trèun,  gu  dluth  dionach,  gus  nach 
robh  sgrid  innte. 

Nuair  a  bha  chomhrag  seachad, 
thug  a'  bheithir-sgiathach  mile  agus 
miletaing  do  'n  chu  ;  dh'  innis  i  dha 
gum  b'e  sud  righ  nan  nathraichean- 
nimhe,  gu'n  robh  comas  aige  air  a 
chruth  atharrachadh  mar  a  thogradh 
e,  agus  nan  geilleadh  an  cu  ann  an 
aon  ni  no  ni  eile,  gu'n  grad  sgrios- 
adh  e  iad  le  cheile ;  "  ach  tha  mi 
'faicinn  nach  'eil  dion  ann  cosmhuil 
ri  dilseachd  agus  ri  h-onoir."     "  A 


Ctud  Mhios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876.       AN   GAIDHEAL. 


339 


nis,"  ars'  ise,  "  clia  'n  eil  feum  tuill- 
idh  agam  air  do  sheirbliis,  leigidh 
mi  f  haicinn  dait  an  ratliad  gu  uachd- 
ar  an  t-shaogliail,  agus  o'n  tlia  thu 
CO  dileas  dòmhsa,  bheir  mi  dhut 
seòladh  no  dha  a  ni  tliu  comasach 
air  bbi  suas  lis  an  t-sionnach 
chuireideach,  carach,  seòlta  's  ge 
bheil  e."  "  Gu  robh  math  agaibh- 
se"arsa  'n  cu,  "  tha  mi  fada  'nur 
comain,  ach  's  coma  leam  cuir  a's 
cleasaii,  cha  d'  fheuch  mi  riabh  iad 
's  cha  'n  f  heueh,  cha  chreid  mi  nach 
f  haigh  ionracas  a'  chnid  a's  fearr  do 
na  cuilbheartan  a's  mo  aig  a'  cheann 
mil  dheireadh."  "  Gabh  do  dhòigh 
fèin  air,  ma  ta,"  arsa  'bheithir 
sgiathach,  "  slàn  leat !  chuir  thu 
comain  mhòr  ormsa  's  cha  dl- 
chuimhnich  mi  dhuit  e  ma  thig  do 
ghnothuch  a'm  charamh." 

Fhuair  an  cu  a  chas  air  lorn  aon 
uair  eile  ;  ghrad  dh'  fhalbh  e  gu  tigh 
a'  chait  agus  ge  b'  fhada  bhuaithe 
cha  b'  fhada  g'a  ruigheachd.  'Nuair 
ràinig  e  thuig  e  gu'n  d'  rinn  an 
sionuach  a  leithid  de  chàineadh  air 
's  gu  'n  robh  gach  beathach  sa' 
bhaile  ann  am  fuath  air.  Cha 
togadh  an  cat  suil  no  mala  ris,  agus 
cha  'n  iarradh  i  cuideachd  air  bith 
ach  cuideachd  an  t-sionnaich  a  bha 
gach  mionaid  r'a  gualainn. 

Bha  tuille  spioraid  sa'  chu  na  gu'n 
cuireadh  e  'na  comas  a  dhiultadh, 
ach  'nuair  a  chunnaic  e  'n  sionnach 
aig  an  uinneig  a'  toirt  pòige  dhi,  ise 
le  a  spòig  ghil,  bhòidliich,  a'  cireadh 
earbill  ruadh  dosrach  an  trusdair, 
ghabh  e  fearg  nach  bu  bheag,  agus 
ghlaodh  e  risa'bhalgaire  charach,  "A 
sloightire  chuilbheartaich  bhrèug- 
aich,  ma  tha  a  chridhe  agad 
thig  a  mach  an  so  's  bheir  mise  aon 
f  hasgadh  air  do  chnàmhan  a  ghleidh- 
eas  tu  gun  do  chuireidean  f  heuch- 
ainn  air  cu  eile  'n  da  latha  so ! 
Bheil  a  chridh'  agad  tighin,  a 
bhradaire  chealgaich,  mheirgich 
ruaidh?"  Chuir  an  sionnach  a  thean- 


ga  'na  phluic,  chuir  e'n  sin  a  spòg 
air  a  shròin,  chaog  e  shuil,  chuir  e 
drèin  air,  a.^us  an  sin  dh'  fhàff  e'n 
uinnea 
a'  chu. 

"  Cha  'n  eil  fhios  am  faigh  thu  as 
mar  sin  f  hathast  ge  cuireideach  thu  " 
arsa'n  cu.  Dh'  fhalbh  e  agus  luidh 
e  aig  bun  craoibhe  bha  dlu  do'n 
tigh,  a'  cur  roimhe  nan  cuireadh  an 
sionnach  a  chas  air  blàr-lòm,  gu  'n 
tugadh  e  aon  deagh  chrathadh  dha. 

Faiceamaid  a  nis  ciod  a  rinn  a' 
bheithir-sgiathach — cha  do  leig  i 
air  di-chuimhn  seirbhis  mhath  a' 
choia,  agus  smaointich  i  nach  bu 
mhisd  e  cuideachadh  an  aghaidh 
caran  an  t-sionnaich.  Sgaoil  i  a 
sgiathan  's  a  thiota  bha  i  aig  a' 
bhaile  san  robh  'n  t-suiridhe  dol  air 
a  h-aghaidh,  agus  ghabh  i  comhn- 
uidh  ann  an  uaimh  a  bha  mu 
choinneamh  tigh  a'  chait.  'S  iad 
na  beathraichean-sgiathach  na  beath- 
aichean  a's  seòlta  's  a's  beartaiche 
sam  bith,  agus  mar  so  tha  mòr 
mheas  aig  na  beathaichean  eile  orra, 
ged  tha  iad  co  grànnda. 

Rinn  tighin  na  beithir-sgiathaich 
ma  ta,  fuaim  mhòr  air  feadh  a' 
bhaile.  'S  gann  a  bha  i  gu  math 
air  suidhe  'na  tigh  iidlaidh  dorcha 
'nuair  bha  pioghaid  luath  na  gleadh- 
raich  aig  an  dorus,  a  dh'  fheuch- 
sinn  ciod  a  chluinneadh  i.  "  Ciod 
an  naigheachd  tha  agad  dhomh  Ì " 
arsa  'bheithir-sgiathach.  "  Cha  'n 
eil  a  bheag  do  naigheachd  san  àite 
so,  le  'r  cead  "  thuirt  ise,  "  ach  mu 
dheighinn  na  ban-oighre  riomhaich 
so,  an  cat,  a  tha  'tionndadh  ceann 
na  h-uile  fir,  ach  tha  i  dol  a  phòsadh 
an  t-sionnaich  mun  tig  ceann  seachd- 
ain."  "Ise  'na  ban-oighre!"  thuirt 
a'  bheithir,  "  nam  biodh  fios  agad 
air  na  bheil  de  dh-br  aig  mo  nighin- 
sa,  cha  'n  abradh  tu  gu'n  robh  aon 
beairteach  ach  i  fein."  "  'Bheil 
teaghlach  agaibh  ma  ta  Ì "  dh' 
f  heòraich  a'  phioghaid.     "  Cha  'n  eil 


340 


AN    GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  MMos  a*  Gheambmidh,  ISTS. 


agam  acli  an  aon  nigliean,  agus  tha 
de  stòras  air  f  hàgail  aice  le  bràthair 
dhi  a  bha  sna  h-Innsean,  gun  tighin 
air  na  th'  agam  fèin,  nach  'eil  fhios 
aice  ciod  a  ni  i  ris,  agus  tha  i  'gam 
shàruchadh  le  leannain  agus  suiridh- 
ichean  a  tha 'tighin  g'a  h-iarraidh." 

"  Ma  phòsas  i  gun  ur  ceadsa,  am 
faighian  t-airgiod?"  thuirt  a' phiogh- 
aid.  "Gheibh  na  h-uile  sgillinn," 
thuirt  a'  bheithir-sgiathach,  "  's  ann 
aice  fein  a  dh'  fhàgadh  e,  ach  feuch 
nach  bi  thnsa  'g  innseadh  so  air 
feadh  a'  bhaile,  oir  cha  'n  eil  toil 
agam  dragh  a  bhi  'ga  chur  orm." 
"  'Ne  mise  1 "  arsa  'phioghaid,  "  cha 
'n  ann  diubh  sin  mi,  cha  chan  mi 
facall  gu  bràth  m'a  dheighinn. 
Moch  air  an  làmàireach  ràinig  a' 
phioghaid  tigh  a'  chait,  agus  dh. 
innis  i  na  h-uile  diog  mu  'n  bheithir- 
sgiathaich  's  a  nighean  bheairteach. 
Chuala  'n  sionnach  's  ged  nach  do 
ghabh  e  a  bheag  air,  chuir  e  roimhe, 
nam  faodadh  e,  gu'n  deanadh  e 
greim  air  an  tochar  mhÒT  a  bha  'n 
so,  's  gu'n  leigeadh  e  leis  a'  chat  a 
bhi  sealltuinn  airson  leannain  eile. 
'Nuair  thainig  am  feasgar  chuir  e 
roimhe  dol  a  chur  eòlais  air  nighean 
na  beithir-sgiathaich ;  ach  ciamar  a 
gheibheadh  e  d'  a  h-ionnsuidh  ? 
Bha  'n  cu  air  an  rathad,  agus  bha 
fios  aige  noch  b'e  'n  siigradh  dol  'na 
dhàil.  Dè  th'  agad  air,  cha  robh 
sionnach  riabh  gun  char,  agus  so  an 
dòigh  a  ghabh  e  chum  an  cii  chur 
as  an  rathad. 

{Ri  leantainn.) 


SOP  AS  GACH  SEID. 

Nan  gabhadhmaid  uiread  a  shaothair  gu 
bhi  mar  bu  choir  dhuinn  a  bhi  's  a  tha  sinn 
a'  gabhail  gu  bhi  'cur  falaich  air  an  ni  a 
tha  sinn,  dh'fhaodamaid  a  bhi  coltach  ruinn 
fhèin  gun  bhi  aig  an  dragh  a  bhi  f alach  ni 
sam  bith. 

■  Tha  e  mòran  ni's  fhusa  a'  cheud  mhiann 
a  chumail  fodha  na  na  miannan  a  Iganas  a 
I'iarachadh. 


Cha  robh  duine  riamh  ann  'a  cha  mho 
bhitheas  a  fhuair  a  huile  ni  a  rèir  a  mhiann 
gun  dad  a  thighinn  na  aghaidh. 

Tha  'n  duiae  eas-onorach  a'  ceiltinn  a 
lochdan  uaithe  fhèin  cho  maith  'us  o  chkch  ; 
is  aithne  do'n  duin'  onorach  iad,  agus  a 
bharracd  air  sin  aidichidh  e  iad. 

Bha.  duin'-uasal  araid  aig  bM  dannsa 
agus  o  nach  robh  e  na  dheadh  dhannsair 
bha  feadhainn  thall  's  a  bhos  a'  magadh  air. 
Cha  robh  so  a'  còrdadh  ris,  's  mu  dheireadh 
thionndaidh  e  le  feirg  's  thuirt  e  ri  neach  a 
bha  laimh  ris,  "  Ged  nach  'eil  mi  gle  mhaith 
air  dannsa  tha  mi  anabarrach  maith  air 
sabaid."  "  Ma  ta,"  ars'  am  fear  eile  's  e 
freagairt,  '"s  e  mo  chomhairle-sa  dhut  a 
bhi  sabaid  an  còmhnuidh  's  gun  a  dhol  gu 
brath  tuilleadh  a  dhannsa." 

Bithidh  daoine  deanamh  uaill  as  an 
gniomharaibh  mora  ;  ach  tha  iad  air  an 
toirt  gu  bull  na's  trice  le  tuiteamas  na  le 
run. 

'S  e  cothrom,  saighdear  a's  fhearr  na 
dhuadas. 


Bha  Frangach  deaghfhacla,ch  ann  uair 
eigin  aig  an  robh  seann  each  a  bha  gu 
tuiteam  as  a  sheasamh  leis  an  laige,  's  air 
dha  bhi  la  kraid  a'  dol  thar  aon  de 
dhrochaidaibh  na  S^imhaimhne  co  thach- 
radh  ris  ach  oifigeach  airm  's  e  marcachd 
eich  a  bha  ro  eireachdail  agus  meanmnach. 
■'  Cuiridh  mi  deich  buinn  oir  air  a'  gheall 
riut,"  arsa  'm  Frangach,  "  gu'n  toir  mi  air 
an  t-seann  each,  bhochd,  lag  so,  rud  a 
dheanamh  nach  dean  an  t-each  bras  meanm- 
nach sin  agadsa  dh'  aindeoin  's  na  tha  mhoit 
ort  mu  dheidhinn."  "Mata,"  ars'  an  t- 
oifigeach,  "  cuiridh  mi  riut  e."  Air  so 
thainig  am  Frangach  air  làr  's  chuir  e 
ghualainn  ris  an  each  's  thilg  e  leis  an  amh- 
ainn  e.  "  Mur  toir  thusa  air  d'  each  fhein 
a  leithid  sid  a  dheanamh,"  ars'  esan,  '  grad 
phàigh  dhomhsa  'n  gealL'  Phàigh  an  t- 
oifigeach  an  geall. 

Bha  oifigeach  ann  air  an  robh  cas  mhaide 
'bha  air  a  deanamh  cho  fior  mhaith  's  nach 
aithnicheadh  neach  sam  bith  nach  i  cas 
cheart  a  bh'  innte.  La  dha  bhi  's  a'  bhlàr 
thug  peilleir  gunna  mhòir  air  falbh  a  chaa- 
mhaide.  Mhothaich  saighdear  dha  'tuiteam 
's  ghlaodh  e,  "Each  air  toir  an  lighiche 
cho  ealamh  's  is  urrainn  dut  's  an  t-oifigeach 
air  a  leonadh."  "Cha  teid,"  ars'  an  t- 
oifigeach,  gu  socrach,  "an  saor  ^a  tha  dhlth 
orm." 


Ceud  Mhios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1S76.       AN   GAIDHEAL.  341 

LITIE  'US  CEONAX  BHO'N  BHAED  MAC-COLLA. 

A  Ghaidheil  Ioxnx'huixx, 

Is  cuimhne  leam,  air  dhomh  bhi  fathast  ann  am  ghiullan  beag,  a  bin  'g 
eisteaclid  le  toileachas  mòr  ri  seisd  an  òrain  so  a  leanas  'ga  sbeinn,  le 
mnaoi  choir  a  b'  aithne  dhomh,  mar  òran-cadail  do  leanabb-ciche.  Air 
dhomh  a  blii  nis  a'  cur  an  ceangal  ris  rannan  freagarrach  do  spiorad  a 
chiùil,  b'e  mo  mhiann  crònan  cho  milis  a  chumail  gun  del  air  di-chuimhne. 
So  agul,  ma  tà,  an  oidheirp  a  thug  mi  air  sin  a  dheanamh. 

EOGHAN  MaC-CoLLA. 

Cronan-cadail  Leaxabh  Bean-a-Chiobair, 

FONN — "  Siiid  0,  iiùd  Ì,  said  uaUackcin 

Cka  chiiirr  mi  tku,  ^scha  bkuatl  jni  ihu." 

0  bà,  0  bà,  mo  cheallan  beag  ! 

Gu'm  bheil  mi  air  mo  phianadh  leat ! 

O  bà,  O  bà,  mo  nianag  bheag, 

Cha'n  f  haigh  mi  fear  am  bhadhna  dhut  I 
O  caidil  clis,  mo  chiocharan, — 
Ged  's  faoia  dhomh  bhi  ga  'innseadh  dhut ! 
'S  olc  thug  do  cheile  ciobaire 
A  cuibheioll  a  bhi  diomhanach. 

O  bà,  0  bà,  &c. 
Ma  thig  an  latha  phèsas  tu, 
Bi'dh  feum  air  plaidean  clòimh  agad ; 
""Us  gheabh  thu  sin,  ma's  heò  mise, 
Le  deise  bhreacain  ccmhla  ris. 

O  be,  O  bà,  &c. 
Cha  taghainn-sa  mar  cheile  dhut 
Fear-malairt  carach,  beul-bhreugach ; 
'S  e  b'  annsa  leam  ri  d'  thaobh  geaJ-sa, 
Fear-baile  a's  crobh-laoigh  aige. 

O  bà,  O  bà,  &c. 
Am  fear  a  gheabh  mo  leanabh-sa, 
Bi'dh  toehradh  aige  'dh-f  hanas  leis 
"is  a.  dreach  's  'na  dcigheau  banal ta, — 
B'e  dual  a  dream  bhi  ceanaita. 

O  bà,  0  bà,  &C. 
TJist !  uist  1  a  ghràidh  ghil,  uaineinich, — 
Cha  b'  àiU  le  d'  mha  ir  bhi  gruamach  riut, 
'S  a  bhlàth  na  d'  chruth  's  na  d'  ghruaidhean  ruin 
"G'ur  h-ann  o  Nèamh  a  f  huair  mi  thu. 

O  bà,  0  bà,  &c. 
l!^is  1  nis  ]  gun  taing  do  m'  riinan-sa 
Tha  do  dhà  shùil  bheag  dùinte  nis  ! 
'Nuair  thig,  a  ghràidh,  tim  dùsgadh  dhut 
^i'dh  broilleach  Ian  ga  'rùsgadh  dhuit  ? 

0  bà,  0  bà,  &c. 


342 


AN   GAIDHEAL.       Ceud  MWos  a' Gheamhraidh,  isre. 


OEAN  A'  PHRIONNSA. 
Le  Alasdair  Mac  Mhaighstir  Alasdair. 


Gleus  D. 


Chorus. 


— ^  Fine. 


:D^  I  m:m.r|ni:D^|m..<i^:tll.,l:D^|m:m.rlm:M^|m\r\d^t|l.,l  || 


B.C. 


rs^x^^^i 


:L  I  l.,d^:ni|m.,s:L  |  l.,s:mls.,s:M^|m\,r^:dMt.,l:L  \  l^,iii:l  |  l.,t  j| 


Seisd. — Hug  6,  kill  6, 

Hug  6,  ho-r6  'n  kill  leibh, 

Hug  6,  laill  6, 

Seinn  6  ho-rò  'n  kill  leibh ! 

MocH  's  a'  mhadaimi  's  mi  'dùsgadh, 
'S  mor  mo  shunnd  's  mo  cheol-gkire, 
Bho'n  a  chuala  mi  'm  Prionnsa 

Thigh'mi  a  dhùthaich  Chlann-Eànuill. 
Hùg  ò,  etc. 

Bho'n  a  chuala,  etc. 
Gràimie-mullaich  gach  righ  thu  ! 
Slàn  gu'n  till  thusa,  Thekrlaich ! 
Hug  6,  etc. 

Grainne-mullaich,  etc. 
'S  ann  tha  'n  fhior-fhiiil  gim  truailleadh 
Amis  a'  ghruaidh  is  mor  nàire ! 

Hug  6,  etc. 

'S  ann  tha  'n  fhior-fhuil,  etc. 
Mar-ri  barrachd  na  h-uaisle, 
'G  èirigh  suas  le  deadh  nkdur. 

Hug  6,  etc. 

Mar-ri  barrachd,  etc. 

'S  na  'n  tigeadh  tu  rithist, 

Bhiodh  gach  tigheam  'n  a  kite. 

Hug  6,  etc. 

'S  na  'n  tigeadh,  etc. 
'S  na  'n  ckiricht'  an  criin  ort, 
Bu  mhidmeach  do  chkirdean. 

Hug  6,  etc. 

'S  na  'n  ckiricht,  etc. 
Bhiodh  Loch-iall  mar  bu  choir  dha, 
'Cur  an  òrdugh  nan  Gkidheal. 

Hug  6,  etc. 


Bhiodh  Loch-iall,  etc. 

A's  Clp-nn-Dònuill  a'  chruadail, 

'Choisiim  buaidh  anns  na  blkraibh. 
Hug  6,  etc. 
A's  Clann-DÒnuill,  etc. 
'S  iad  a  chumadh  a'  chòmh-strith 
Ri  luchd  chòtaichean  mkduir 

Hhg  6,  etc. 
'S  iad  a  chumadh,  etc. 
Sud  a'  chuideachd  bhiodh  foirmeil, 
Le  boineid  ghuirm  a's  coc-ard  innt\ 
Hug  6,  etc. 
Sud  a'  chuideachd,  etc. 
'S  bhiodh  am  fèile  'a  an  fhasan, 
Mar-ri  gartana  egkrlaid. 

Hhg  6,  etc. 
'S  bhiodh  am  f^ile,  etc. 
Fèile-cuaich  air  bhac-easgaid 

Paidhir  phiostal,  's  lann  Spkinteach. 
Hug  (5,  etc. 
r^ile-cuaich,  etc. 
'S  na  'm  faighinn  mo  dhùrachd 

Bhiodh  an  Diùc  *  air  dhroch  ckramh ! 
Hug  6,  etc. 
'S  na  'm  faighinn,  etc. 
Gu  'm  biodh  "  Buidsear  "  na  feòla. 
A's  a'  chòrcach  m'  a  bhrkghad ! 
Hug  Ò,  etc. 
Gu  'm  biodh  "Buidsear,"  etc. 
A's  gu  'n  gibhtinn  "A'  mhaighdean," 
Mar  oighreachd  d'  a  bhrkthair  ! 
Hug  6,  etc, 
A's  gu  'n  gibhtinn,  etc. 
Ach  slan  gu  'n  tig  thu  's  gu  'n  niig  thu, 
Slan  gu  'n  tig  thusa,  Thekrlaich  ! 
Hug  Ò,  etc. 

*  Cumberland. 


THE     G^A.EL 

ENGLISH  DEPARTMENT. 


Vol  V.  NOVEMBEE  1876.  No.  59. 

OUGHT  GAELIC  TO  BE  TAUGHT  IN"  HIGHLAND  SCHOOLS? 

By  Professor  Blackie. 

'^  The  answer  to  this  question  implies  an  inquiry  into  two  very 
different  questions  of  educational  principle ;  first,  an  inquiry  into  the 
l^roper  use  of  the  mother-tongue  as  an  adjunct  or  engine — as  the  ad- 
junct of  that  foreign  language,  the  English,  which  all  Highlanders 
eagerly  desire  to  learn,  and  which,  it  is  admitted  by  all  wise  men,  they 
ought  primarily  to  be  taught ;  second,  an  inquiry  into  the  nature 
and  character  of  the  Gaelic  language  and  literature,  as,  for  their  own 
sake,  natural  and  necessary  elements  in  a  reasonable  scheme  of 
early  training  for  Highland  lads  and  lasses. 

The  question  whether  Gaelic  ought  to  be  taught  along  with 
English  in  the  Gaelic-speaking  districts  of  the  Highlands,  depends  on 
another  and  a  wider  question — How  far  the  mother-tongue  ought  or 
ought  not  to  be  used  as  a  useful  or  necessary  adjunct  in  the  teaching  of 
any  foreign  language?  If,  in  the  general  case,  it  shall  be  found  that 
the  use  of  the  mother-tongue  is  advisable  in  the  acquisition  of 
foreign  languages,  then  in  the  case  of  Gaelic  the  burden  of  proof  will 
lie  with  the  parties  who  wish  to  make  that  language,  as  at  present 
spoken  and  written  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  an  exceptional 
case.  That  tins  question  is  by  no  means  an  easy  one,  will  readily  be 
admitted  by  every  one  who  considers  how  little  the  principles  and 
practice  of  education  have  hitherto  been  submitted  to  any  test  of 
scientific  validity,  and  how  much  the  prejudices  of  the  public  and 
the  ignorance,  indifference,  and  laziness  of  teachers  may  often  have 
combined  in  this  matter  to  drive  nature  into  the  background,  and 
plant  pedantry,  blind  tradition,  and  unreasoned  routine  in  the  front. 

The  first  step  in  the  learning  of  languages,  because  at  once  the 
simplest  and  the  most  necessary,  is  the  naming  of  OBJECTS.  Merely  by 
naming  a  certain  number  of  the  most  common  objects,  accompanied, 
it  may  be,  by  a  gesture  or  indication  of  the  fingers,  any  man  of  common 
intelligence  might  find  his  way  through  any  country,  of  whose 
language,  as  an  organic  whole,  he  was  altogether  ignorant.  The  wise 
teacher,  therefore,  of  English,  in  a  Gaelic  school,  Avill  start  from  this 
clear  indication  of  the  method  of  Nature  in  the  matter,  and  commence 
by  naming  in  English  every  object  in  the  room — and  the  more  objects  in 
the  shape  of  pictures,  busts,  models,  etc.,  that  are  in  a  schoolroom, 
always  the  better, — of  course  in  a  clear  and  distinct  voice,  and  making 
the  learners  repeat  the  word  after  him  while  they  point  with  their 
fingers  to  the  object.  Now,  it  is  clear  that  in  this  first  commence- 
ment, so  long  as  the  object  is  before  the  eye  of  the  learner,  there  can  be 


344  THE   GAEL.  November,  1876. 

no  possible  use  of  the  mother-tongue — to  drag  in  it,  at  this  stage, 
between  the  ear  and  tongue  of  the  scholar  and  the  object  will  rather 
be  a  hindrance.  And  if  this  be  the  proper  method  with  objects  inside 
the  room,  objects  outside  the  room — that  is,  whatever  is  in  heaven 
above,  or  on  earth  beneath,  an  object  of  sensuous  apprehension — 
must  follow  the  same  law.  An  immense  vocabulary  may  thus  be 
acquired,  and  a  ready  medium  of  communication  without  the  slightest 
reference  to  the  mother-tongue.  By  this  method  a  direct  and  immediate 
connection  is  established  between  the  learner  and  the  new  instrument  of 
thought — ^just  like  that  which  exists  between  the  fencer  and  his  foil,  or 
the  boatman  and  his  oar ;  and  this  is  the  method,  no  doubt,  by  which  a 
sensible  teacher  will  proceed,  when  he  has  the  misfortune — being  ignorant 
of  Gaelic  himself — to  be  appointed  the  instructor  of  children  almost 
entirely  destitute  of  English.  It  will  be  observed,  however,  that  so  far, 
at  least,  as  my  observation  has  gone,  the  wise  indication  of  Nature  in 
this  matter  has  not  been  followed,  or  rather,  has  been  systematically 
■neglected  by  most  teachers  of  Greek  and  Latin  in  our  classical  schools. 
Their  practice  has  been,  in  all  stages  of  the  educational  process,  to  inter- 
pose the  mother-tongue  between  the  learner  and  the  object,  and  thus,  for 
instance,  instead  of  making  him  say  direct  sol,  while  he  points  to  the 
sun,  he  asks  him  rather  what  is  the  Latin  for  the  sun.  The  origin  of 
this  unnatural  and  roundabout  process  was,  no  doubt,  the  habit  of  using 
books  for  all  purposes,  and  fixing  the  eye  of  the  pupils  upon  a  written 
symbol  in  a  gray  page,  rather  on  the  living  object  with  all  its  natural 
hues  and  features.  This  habit,  with  a  large  class  of  our  classical  scholars, 
has  become  so  inveterate,  that  they  prefer  to  learn  the  proper  quantity 
and  accent  of  words  painfully  from  the  witness  of  the  eye  or  from 
memory,  rather  than  in  a  natural  and  living  Avay  from  the  witness  of  the 
ear  and  the  tongue ;  and  they  have,  in  fact,  given  up  altogether  the  old 
habit  of  speaking  the  languages  which  they  teach ;  or,  when  they  do 
speak,  they  use  a  systematically  false  enunciation,  satisfied  if  they  have  read 
in  a  book,  and  in  their  memory  know,  the  rules  according  to  which  the 
word  ought  to  be  pronounced.  Absurdities  of  this  kind  may  easily  go 
on  in  the  teaching  of  dead  languages,  where  no  Demosthenes  or  Cicero 
can  rise  from  their  grave  to  laugh  at  the  continuous  stream  of  oddity  and 
unintelligibility  which  flows  from  the  mouth  of  the  teacher ;  but  those 
who  teach  living  languages  are  happily  free  from  the  danger  of  practising 
any  such  gross  violation  of  common  sense  as  is  implied  in  this  procedure. 
It  may  fairly  be  expected  from  them,  therefore,  that  they  will  appeal 
directly  to  the  ear  and  the  tongue  of  the  learner,  and  not  substitute  a 
dead  letter  for  a  living  sound  in  a  field  of  exercise,  where  articulate 
audible  breath  is  the  reality,  and  printed  letters  only  its  weak  shadow  or 
feeble  photograph.  They  will  be  in  no  danger  of  saying  men  when  they 
ought  to  say  mane,  or  the  contrary,  as  when  classical  teachers,  without 
any  compunction,  allow  their  scholars  to  say  os,  a  hone,  for  6s,  a  mouth,  or 
the  contrary.  So  far  well.  The  next  stage  requires  the  help  of  the 
mother-tongue ;  and,  unless  for  the  good  luck  that  the  little  Highland 
lad  or  lassie,  who  is  to  be  taught  English  by  a  teacher  altogether  ignorant 
of  Gaelic,  knows  generally  at  least  some  stray  elements  of  English,  the 
Saxon  pedagogue  in  a  remote  Highland  glen  would  fiud  that  he  had  no 


>'ovember,  1S76.  THE   GAEL.  345 

easy  job  to  force  or  wriggle  his  way  through.  Observe;  the  moment  I 
go  beyond  the  simple  name  of  the  object,  say  sun,  and  Avith  the  addition 
of  a  verb  make  a  sentence,  as  The  su/i  s/iines,  I  must  tell  my  young 
Highlander — because  I  can  tell  him  thus  most  readily — that  shhies  is 
the  English  equivalent  for  the  Gaelic  iha  a  dearsadh,  or  tha  a  hoilegeadh, 
and  that  the  short  English  sentence.  The  sun  shines,  is  the  full  equivalent 
of  the  longer  Gaelic  tha  a  ghrian  a  dearsadh. 

This  is  the  first  stage  at  which  the  mother-tongue  naturally  comes  in ; 
and  the  teacher  who  cannot  bring  in  Gaelic  in  this  way  is  not  the  best 
teacher  of  an  ignorant  Celtic  boy  in  a  remote  glen  or  island,  Avishing,  as 
all  Highlanders  do,  with  all  possible  speed  and  correctness,  to  acquire 
the  language  of  the  Lowlander.  But  here  note  an  important  caution, 
which,  as  I  have  before  remarked,  classical  teachers,  so  far  as  I  have 
observed,  generally  neglect.  Though  the  mother-tongue  must  be  brought 
in  at  this  early  stage  to  explain  things  invisible — anything,  in  fact,  that 
is  not  brought  directly  before  the  eyes, — it  must  not  be  allowed  to  plant 
itself  in  a  middle  position  between  the  thought  of  the  speaker  and  the 
sentence  he  is  about  to  utter ;  for  this  would  simply  be  to  interpose  a 
hindrance,  and  to  apply  a  drag  where  a  spur  is  rather  necessary.  The 
wise  teacher,  therefore,  will  immediately  revert  to  the  original  direct 
method  indicated  above  ;  and  instead  of  asking  the  learner.  What  is  the 
English  for  tha  a  ghrian  a  dearsadh  Ì  he  will  say.  Look  out 
at  the  window,  and  say  after  me,  without  thinking  in  Gaelic,  The 
sun  shines ;  and  this  process  must  be  repeated  till  the  learner  gets  into 
the  habit  of  thinking  a  number  of  short,  easy  sentences  in  English 
without  the  slightest  reference  to  the  mother-tongue.  That  this  is  at 
once  the  most  natural,  the  most  easy,  and  the  most  expeditious  procedure 
every  one  will  confess  who  has  learned  to  speak  a  foreign  language  in  the 
country  where  it  is  spoken.  In  such  case,  the  direct  method  of  Nature 
readily  asserts  its  natural  supremacy;  and  the  cumbrous  process  of 
translating  from  one  language  into  another  mentally  very  soon 
disappears.  The  practical  conclusion,  therefore,  that  we  come  to  may  be 
expressed  simply  thus  :  While  a  great  deal  may  be  done,  in  the  very 
first  stage,  of  inculcating  a  foreign  language  without  the  aid  of  the 
mother-tongue,  and,  though  the  teacher  ought  always  to  keep  the 
principle  steadily  in  view,  that  the  object  of  his  work  is  to  produce  and 
maintaiu  in  the  organs  of  his  pupil  a  dexterous  habit  of  using  the  foreio-n 
tongue  directly  as  an  instrument  of  thought,  yet  the  readiest  and  the 
most  accurate  way  of  achieving  this  result  is  constantly  to  have  the 
mother-tongne  at  hand,  for  the  purpose  of  comparison  and  contrast ;  in 
other  words,  in  learning  a  foreign  language  the  mother-tongue  is  to  be 
used  wisely  as  an  ally,  but  kept  at  a  respectable  distance  as  a  master. 
It  may  serve  as  pioneer,  scout,  or  interpreter  in  a  campaign,  but  should 
never  be  allowed  to  usurp  the  generalship. 

The  above  remarks  as  to  the  second  stage  of  linguistic  indoctrination 
relate  only  to  syntactical  forms,  or  the  formation  of  sentences  as 
distinguished  from  the  naming  of  objects.  But  the  mother-tongue  may 
be  useful  as  a  pioneer  or  ally  in  several  ways,  of  which  the  grammar 
takes  no  cognisance.  Writers  on  language  have  long  ago  called  attention 
to  the  fact,  with  regard   to   synonyms,    that   however   many  may   be 


346  THE   GAEL.  November.  ISTG. 

marslialled  forth  in  a  vocabulary,  there  are,  in  reality,  no  real  synonyms 
in  any  language  ;  there  is  always  some  slight  shade  of  difference  in  the 
signification,  or  the  application,  or  the  association,  which  prevents  ?i parson, 
sa.y,  and  a  j^riest,  a  minister,  a  churchman,  and  a  clergyman,  from  being 
used  indiscriminately.  Several  terms,  in  fact,  however  they  seem  to 
denote  the  same  thing,  may  include  a  great  variety  of  differentiating 
elements,  which  must  be  carefully  and  anxiously  considered,  before  the 
word  can  be  used  with  idiomatic  propriety.  Now,  what  takes  place  in 
this  way  between  the  apparent  synonyms  of  one  language  must,  in  the 
nature  of  things,  take  place  even  more  in  the  corresponding  terms  of  any 
two  languages,  used  to  express  the  same  or  a  similar  idea.  It  follows 
from  this  that,  in  teaching  any  foreign  language,  the  peculiar  tone  or  hue 
that  belongs  to  any  of  these  general  terms  in  the  foreign  tongue  may  often 
be  best  inculcated  either  by  finding  its  exact  counterpart  in  the  mother- 
tongue,  or  by  skillfully  composing  and  contrasting  the  two  apparent 
synonyms  in  the  two  languages.  Thus,  a  student  of  Greek,  for  instance, 
may  be  profitably  taught  how  the  celebrated  eipu)veia  of  Socrates  differs 
from  the  English  irony,  and  how  far  it  seems  to  agree  rather  with  the 
Scotch  sly,  dry  humour.  Teachers  of  Greek  and  Latin  in  classical  schools 
in  Scotland  must  be  all  aware  how,  in  not  a  few  cases,  they  have  been 
able  to  make  clear  the  force  of  a  Greek  or  Latin  word  by  calling  in  the 
aid  of  the  expressive  vulgar  Scotch.  And  not  only  does  this  auxiliary, 
when  wisely  called  in,  give  the  learner  a  more  exact  idea  of  what  the 
Greek  or  Latin  word  means,  but  it  gives  a  life-blood  and  a  vivid  hue  to 
the  word,  such  as  words  in  the  mother-tongue,  by  native  privilege, 
always  possess.  The  value  of  the  mother-tongue  in  this  way  operated,  I 
have  no  doubt,  along  with  other  reasons,  powerfully  in  the  relinquish- 
ment of  the  once-universal  habit,  in  classical  schools,  of  teaching  Greek 
through  the  medium  of  Latin.  It  was  found,  in  hundreds  of  cases,  that 
the  English  language  afforded  a  more  apt  and  significant  expression  of 
some  Greek  word  than  was  to  be  found  in  the  more  limited  and  less 
familiar  vocabulary  of  the  Latin.  The  same  advantage,  of  course,  will 
flow  from  the  native  Gaelic,  wdien  the  young  Highlander  aspires  to  an 
exact  appreciation  of  the  significance  of  many  English  general  terms.  It 
will,  indeed,  be  impossible  to  convey  to  his  mind  the  peculiar  features  of 
such  words  by  any  better  method  than  by  the  comparison  of  similar 
terms  in  the  mother-tongue.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  an  English 
teacher  in  the  Highlands,  who  knows  only  English,  must  labour  under 
one  signal  disadvantage  in  the  explanation  of  general  terms.  But 
further,  it  may  be  that  the  foreign  language  which  the  pupil  learns  is,  as 
an  organ  of  significant  expression,  greatly  inferior  to  the  mother-tongue  ; 
and  in  this  case  the  aid  of  the  mother-tongue  is  necessary  in  seven  cases 
out  of  ten,  in  order  to  give  the  pupil  a  more  vivid  and  dramatic,  or  a 
more  pregnant  und  suggestive,  picture  of  the  spoken  symbol  which  he 
is  called  on  to  appropriate.  The  extreme  example  of  this  contrast 
between  two  languages  is  where  a  mixed  language,  such  as  English,  is 
taught  to  a  pupil  whose  native  tongue  has  been  developed  naturally  out 
of  itself  as  a  beautiful,  consistent  organism.  Now,  this  is  the  case  with 
the  Highland  laddie,  when  called  on  to  appropriate  the  utterly  inorganic 
and    bap-hazard    huddlement    of    words    which    compose    an  •  English 


November,  1876.  THE   GAEL.  347 

dictionary.  If  we  exclude  the  single  Saxon  element,  it  is  very  rarely 
indeed  that  an  English  word  shows  its  signature  upon  its  face.  A  long 
process  of  etymological  investigation  is  often  necessary,  tracing  a  word 
from  Latin  and  Greek,  down  through  Low  Latin,  medieval  French,  and 
Norman-French,  before  the  distinguishing  features  of  an  English  vocable 
can  be  recognised.  Without  some  knowledge  of  Greek  and  Latin, 
indeed,  the  learning  of  Engish  is  a  mere  unintelligent  parrot 
work  —  of  practical  use,  no  doubt,  but  of  no  educative  virtue ; 
for  nothing  surely  can  be  of  less  value  as  an  educational  organon 
than  the  mere  repetition  of  an  array  of  irregular  and  arbitrary  sounds 
incapable  of  reasonable  analysis.  It  is,  of  course,  in  this  case  also,  a 
practical  consideration  of  great  importance,  that  words  whose  sound  to  the 
learners  is  altogether  arbitrary,  are  much  more  difficult  for  the  memory 
to  retain  than  when  the. anatomy  of  the  word  is  exposed,  and  the  cause  of 
its  signifying  so  and  so  made  clear  to  the  reasoning  faculty.  An  ex- 
ample will  make  this  clear.  Suppose  a  Highland  boy  is  reading  the 
English  Gospels,  and  comes  upon  the  word  jmblicaii.  He  may  or  may 
not  have  heard  this  term  applied  to  the  vendor  of  spirits,  porter,  and  ales, 
and  the  keeper  of  a  drinking-shop,  but  in  any  case,  a  learned  explanation 
from  Latin — a  language  which  he  does  not  know — will  be  necessary  before 
he  can  understand  that  this  word  properly  signifies  a  tax-gatherer.  Give 
him  his  own  Gaelic  Bible,  however,  side  by  side  with  the  English,  and  he 
has  the  idea  bodily  before  him.  A  publican  is  a  cis-iiihaor  whicli 
explains  itself.  A  double  consequence  follows  from  this.  First,  the 
young  Celt  will  remember  the  English  word  and  its  significance  more 
easily,  by  associating  with  it  the  self-explaining  Gaelic  term  ;  and  again, 
the  analytic  exercise  of  mind  called  into  play  when  using  the  Gaelic 
term,  finds  no  room  in  the  appropriation  of  the  English  word,  so  long  as 
the  learner  is  not  thoroughly  drilled  in  the  organism  of  the  Greek  and 
Latin  languages — an  accomplishment  not  to  be  expected,  nor  indeed 
wisely  to  be  demanded  in  one  little  Celtic  ballachan  out  of  a  thousand. 
That  this  point  has  been  so  often  overlooked  by  those  whose  ideal  is  to 
banish  the  Gaelic  from  English  schools,  is  surely  only  too  staring  a  sign 
of  the  entire  absence  .of  the  first  principles  of  educational  science  from  the 
minds  of  the  persons  who  think  so  superfically  and  judge  so  perversely. 
la  order  to  make  the  immense  superiority  of  Gaelic  to  English  as  an 
educative  organ  in  this  respect  more  strikingly  obvious,  I  will  here 
append  a  short  list  of  Gaelic  words  which  I  have  picked  up  in  reading, 
with  the  English  in  a  parallel  column. 

L  Giiuis-fJiiosachd  physiognomy. 

2.  Gmds-mheall  counterfeit. 

3.  Coimh-thional assembly. 

4.  Cruthaich    create. 

5.  Uachdaranach authority. 

6.  Tuiteam epilepsy. 

7.  Lamhachas dexterity, 

8.  Cis-mhaor  a  publican. 

9.  Meirle theft,  i.e.,  fingering. 

1 0.  Leth-sgeul   an  apology. 


348  THE   GAEL.  November,  1876. 

11.  Coimh-cheangal  a  covenant. 

1 2.  Co-aontaich to  agree. 

13.  lonilan perfect. 

14.  Neo-sheasmhach unstable. 

15.  A  naharrach    superfluity,  excess. 

1 6.  Diadhaidh religious. 

17.  Ainfiach debt. 

1 8.  Deas-bhrialhrach eloquent. 

19.  Saobk'Crabhach    superstitious. 

20.  Do-luhaidh inexorable. 

Now,  what  I  say  with  regard  to  all  such  words  (and  their  number 
might  be  multiplied  indefinitely),  is  that  the  Gaelic  speaks  intelligently 
to  a  pupil  who  understands  Gaelic,  while  the  English  is  merely  a  con- 
catenation of  pa'bitrary  syllables,  and  that  the  teacher  who  does  not  know 
or  care  to  take  the  aid  of  the  native  Gaelic  in  explaining  the  English, 
does  not  understand  his  business,  and  the  school  authorities,  Avhoever 
they  be,  that  appoint  English  teachers  to  Highland  schools  unskilled  in 
the  mother-tongue  of  the  pupils,  are  acting  on  principles  not  less  un- 
reasonable than  unkindly,  impolitic,  and  unprofitable. 

It  will  be  observed  that  I  have  in  the  above  remarks  said  nothing 
special  about  exercises  in  reading  and  writing,  and  that  I  have  put 
forward  the  living  voice  as  the  grand  instrument  in  the  early  acquisi- 
tion of  languages.  This  I  believe  to  be  an  all-important  point  if  the 
absolutely  best  method  of  inculcating  the  form  of  foreign  speech  is  to  be 
adopted.  But  as  above  observed,  our  modern  teachers,  especially  the 
classical  masters,  bring  books  into  play  as  an  instrument  of  scholastic 
indoctrination  on  a  large  scale  from  the  very  first ;  and,  though  their 
method  is  certainly  not  according  to  nature,  many  things  force  us  to  humour 
them  a  little,  and  to  use  reading  and  writing,  and  such  paper  adjuncts 
of  the  natural  method  from  the  very  first.  Neither  have  I  any  very 
strong  objection  in  the  present  state  at  least  of  our  scholastic  appliances, 
to  doing  so,  provided  always  that  reading  and  writing  be  not  accepted  as 
substitutes  for,  but  only  as  helps  or  aids  to,  hearing  and  speaking.  By 
all  means,  therefore,  as  soon  as  the  young  student  of  English,  in  a  High- 
land school,  has  learned  with  a  clear  and  distinct  utterance  to  look  the 
sun  in  the  face  and  say  SUN,  let  him  read  that  word  in  a  printed  book, 
and  prove  how  each  visible  symbol  on  the  dead  page  corresponds  to  each 
audible  symbol  in  the  living  ear.  Let  him  also,  as  soon  as  he  can  read 
such  short  English  sentences  as,  /  see  the  sun,  the  sun  is  bright,  and  so 
forth,  be  called  upon  to  say  the  same  thing  in  his  native  Gaelic,  and  at 
next  lesson  to  reverse  the  process,  by  turning  his  Gaelic  back  into  English. 
This  is  Koger  Ascham's  famous  method  of  double  translation,  which  he 
used  in  teaching  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  to  the  utility  of  which  in  forming  a 
good  classical  style,  many  elegant  scholars  in  Oxford  and  Cambridge  can 
bear  ample  testimony.  And  of  course  the  teaching  may  go  on  in  this 
way,  according  to  a  graduated  scale,  where  there  is  time,  till  the  scholar 
has  acquired  the  dexterity  to  turn  whole  English  themes  into  idiomatic 
Gaelic,  and  from  Gaelic  back  into  idiomatic  English.  In  this  double 
exercise  the  student  will  soon  find  that  he  has  a  double  advantage,  for 


November,  1S76.  THE   GAEL.  3  49 

while  by  the  first  exercise  he  acquires  both  facility,  elegance,  and  cor- 
rectness in  the  use  of  his  mother  tongue,  in  the  second  he  is  learning  to 
disengage  his  English  from  that  colouring  of  Celtic  idiom  which  is  so 
apt  to  cleave  to  it.  All  this  is  very  good  ;  too  good  a  great  deal,  I  much 
fear,  for  the  habits  of  scholastic  inculcation,  and  the  capacity  of  school- 
masters, as  they  have  hitherto  existed  in  the  Highlands.  But  at  the 
same  time  I  wish  formally  here  to  go  back  to  the  key-note  with  wliich  I 
started.  The  habitual  interposition  of  the  mother-tongue,  between  the 
mind  and  the  foreign  language  in  the  actual  use  of  speech  is  to  be 
avoided,  and  Ascham's  method  of  translation  and  re-translation  is,  with  all 
its  excellence,  to  be  regarded  only  as  a  step  in  the  process,  and  more 
necessary  for  finished  exactness  than  for  rich  fluency  and  ready  dexterity. 
The  ideal  unquestionably  of  the  process,  is  to  think  and  speak  in  the 
foreign  language  directly  without  using  the  mother-tongue  as  a  cumbrous 
steppmg-stone ;  an  ideal  by  our  methods  of  proceeding  from  which  the 
classical  student  now,  as  classics  are  mostly  taught,  is  more  likely  to 
remain  a  stranger  than  the  poor  kilted  laddie  in  a  lone  Highland  glen. 
This  laddie,  however,  whatever  his  direct  fluency  in  English  may  be, 
must  necessarily,  lose  a  great  amount  both  of  English  accuracy  and  of 
linguistic  drill,  if  he  has  been  kept  systematically  apart  from  the  signi- 
ficant comparisons  and  suggestive  contrasts  which  his  native  tongue 
afi'ords. 

So  much  for  Gaelic  as  an  aid  to  English.  I  now  proceed  to  discuss 
what  to  me  appears  a  no  less  important  matter,  the  place  and  power  of 
Gaelic  for  its  own  sake  in  the  educational  training  of  a  young  High- 
lander. Those  who  are  in  the  habit  of  depreciating  and  pooh-poohing  the 
literature  of  a  language  Avhich  they  have  never  taken  the  trouble  to  study, 
will,  I  hope,  bear  in  mind  that  we  are  dealing  here,  not  with  the  value 
of  Celtic  literature  to  Englishmen  or  Lowlanders,  who  may  take  the 
trouble  to  acquire  it  as  a  foreign  language,  for  this,  to  them,  is  a  question 
simply  of  whether  it  may  repay  the  great  labour  which  the  acquisition  of 
any  new  language  necessarily  implies ;  but  the  question  here  is,  whether 
persons  who  naturally  speak  the  Gaelic  language,  and  hear  sermons  every 
Sunday  in  that  language,  should  be  systematically  kept  apart  from  that 
sort  of  reading  which  is  at  once  most  natural,  most  easy,  most  interesting, 
and  in  many  respects  most  profitable  for  them.  The  only  possible  reason 
I  can  imagine  for  such  an  unnatural  procedure,  is  the  supposed  difiiculty 
of  reading  the  language  of  the  Celts.  But  this,  when  looked  at  in  the 
face,  is  simply  a  bug-bear  of  ignorant  Lowlanders.  Gaelic  is  not  like 
Irish  written  in  a  strange  character,  the  very  sight  of  which,  like  old 
English  black  letter,  is  suflicient  to  raise  molehills  into  mountains  of 
difiiculty  with  feeble  and  faint-hearted  scholars ;  but  it  is  written  in  the 
common  English  character ;  and  not  only  so,  but  the  rules  which  regulate 
the  reading  of  English  in  many  cases,  regulate  likewise  the  reading  of 
Gaelic,  so  that  the  passage  from  the  one  language  to  the  other  is  assisted 
by  the  presence  of  familiar  analogies.  I  allude  particularly  to  the  silent 
letters  which  in  both  languages  play  a  notable  part.  If  sigh  and  might, 
and  thigh  and  plough,  show  printed  symbols  to  the  eye  in  an  English 
primer,  which  to  the  ear  are  utterly  void  of  all  significance,  so  athar, 
gabhar,  gahhail,  gaoth,  in  Gaelic,  and  many  others.     Few  things  can  be 


350  THE  GAEL.  jTovember,  isra 

imagined  easier  than  for  a  Highland  boy  who  has  already  mastered  the 
oddities  of  English  spelling,  to  turn  to  his  Gaelic  Bible,  and  recognise 
in  their  written  form  the  sounds  with  which  he  is  already  quite 
familiar  in  daily  speech.  Observe,  we  do  not  say  that  it  is  always  easy 
for  a  Highland  boy  to  spell  a  Highland  word  any  more  than  an  English 
one.  *  I  do  not  see,  indeed,  any  necessity  why  he  should  be  formally 
taught  Gaelic  spelling  at  all — this  might  take  up  too  much  time.  I  only 
say,  that  when  once  he  can  read  English,  nothing  can  be  more  easy  than 
to  make  out  the  words  in  his  Gaelic  Bible,  by  the  simple  expedient  of 
omitting  the  silent  letters.  And  if  he  can  once  read  his  own  language, 
it  is  impossible  to  imagine  any  reason  why  he  should  not  be  allowed  to 
read  the  literature  that  belongs  to  it,  which,  if  not  equally  excellent  in 
some  respects,  is  much  better  suited  to  the  capacity  of  a  Highland 
laddie  than  the  stately  march  of  Milton,  or  the  elaborate  simplicity  of 
Tennyson.  I  am  no  great  admirer  of  Ossian,  and  for  my  own  private 
taste  would  not  think  of  comparing  him  to  Milton — no,  not  for  a  mo- 
ment ;  but  when  I  consider  the  natural  associations  of  a  Highland  boy, 
and  his  position  among  bens  and  glens,  and  rushing  rivers  and  floating 
mists,  and  when  I  take  into  account  also  the  undoubted  sublimity  and 
pathos  of  not  a  few  passages  in  the  book  of  the  blind  old  son  of  Fingal, 
together  with  the  fine  chivalrous  sentiment  that  inspires  its  every  page, 
then  I  can  imagine  nothing  more  fit  for  reading  in  Highland  schools  than 
some  of  the  episodes  in  Ossian.  If,  again,  we  take  any  such  collection  of 
historical  ballads  and  choice  lyrical  pieces  as  lie  ready  for  use  in 
Mackenzie's  beauties  of  Gaelic  poetry,  he  must  be  blind  indeed  who  does 
not  see  that  this  is  the  very  proper  stuff  on  which  the  growing  intellects 
of  young  Highlanders  may  most  profitably  feed.  What  Homer — or  the 
materials  rather  of  Avhich  Homer  is  made  up  were  to  the  Greeks — that 
the  rich  pages  of  their  luxuriant  lyric  poetry  are  to  the  Gaels.  What- 
ever else  may  be  omitted  in  the  scanty  intellectual  equipment  of  the 
poor  Highlander,  these  should  be  present  not  simply  an  account  of  the 
noble  sentiment,  pathetic  narrative,  and  pictorial  description  which  they 
contain,  but  also,  and  not  less  on  account  of  the  singularly  beautiful  and 
thrilling  music  with  which  they  are  accompanied.  Then  as  to  prose 
reading,  we  have  in  the  first  place  the  Gaelic  Bible,  which,  in  not  a  few 
places  is  admittedly  superior  to  the  English,  and  to  a  young  Highlander  is 
certainly  more  expressive  and  more  significant.  And  again,  we  have  the 
Teachdair  of  Dr.  Norman  Macleod,  father  of  the  late  Norman — a 
book  throughout,  both  in  its  comic  and  serious  sections,  stuff'ed  with  all 
that  is  best  to  interest  the  imagination  of  the  young  Highlander,  to 
brace  his  nerves,  to  enlighten  his  intellect,  and  to  elevate  his  character. 

These  last  observations  should  seem  enough,  and  more  than  enough,  to 
have  brought  forward  in  proof  of  what  ought  to  appear  a  self-evident  pro- 
position, that  the  mother  tongue  must  always  form  an  element,  and  not  the 
least  important  element  in  any  well-considered  place  of  popular  education. 
So  evident  is  this  indeed,  in  the  general  case,  that  special  causes  of  Aveighty 

*  The  saying  of  the  late  Professor  Wilson's  brother  in  reference  to  this  matter,  is  well 
known.  "  Gaelic  is  a  language  ivhich  few  persons  can  read  and  nobody  can  spell."  He 
might  have  said  with  equal  truth  in  reference  to  John  Bull's  mother  tongue,  English  is 
a  language  which  few  persons  can  analyse  and  nobody  ccm  pronounce. 


November,  1876.  THE   GAEL.  351 

influence  must  be  sought  for,  in  order  to  render  intelligible  the  anomalous 
position  of  those  who  would  exclude  this  so  natural  element  from  the 
early  training  of  the  young  Highlander.  These  causes,  so  far  as  I  have 
been  able  to  hunt  them  out,  seem  to  me  to  be  the  following : — 

(1.)  In  some  parts  of  the  Highlands  English  holds  such  a  firm  position 
alongside  of  Gaelic,  that  the  children  there  born  may  seem  to  have 
two  mother-tongues.  In  this  case,  those  who  influence  public  opinion, 
that  is  generally  the  Saxon  rather  than  Celtic  stratum  of  the  popula- 
tion, naturally  prefer  the  culture  of  the  language  which  is  at  once  more 
useful  in  the  race  of  life,  and  infinitely  more  rich  in  its  literary  resources, 
while  the  Gaelic  is  contemptuously  thrown  aside  as  an  old  rag  not  to  .be 
stored  in  the  wardrobe  of  a  person  richly  provided  with  stout  broadcloth 
and  purple  robes. 

(2.)  In  other  parts  of  the  Highlands,  of  which  the  above  completely 
bilingual  position  cannot  be  predicated — where  the  children  for  the 
most  part  speak  only  Gaelic  in  the  streets  and  at  the  fireside — the  in- 
fluential members  of  society  who  direct  school  boards,  are  either  pure 
Lowlanders  or  Highlanders,  so  thoroughly  Saxonised  as  to  have  no  li\'ing 
appreciation  of  the  value  of  a  characteristically  Highland  training  for 
Highlanders.  These  persons  practically  care  not  a  straw  if  the  variety 
of  tlie  British  man  called  Highlander,  were  blotted  out  with  a  brush  from 
the  map  of  society ;  nay,  go  sometimes  so  far  as  to  parade  their  imperious 
dictum  that  all  the  evils  under  which  the  Highlanders  labour,  or  have 
laboured,  are  owing  to  "Gaelic  and  feudalism."  These  men  in  fact  would 
have  the  Highlanders  treated  in  all  respects  exactly  as  the  Poles  are 
treated  by  the  Russians.  Their  policy  is  violently  to  stamp  out  every 
thing  peculiar,  popular,  and  characteristic  in  the  district  which  they 
control. 

(3.)  But  not  only  have  the  great  mass  of  the  common  people,  by  this 
social  dominance  of  the  Saxon  element  in  the  middle  and  upper  classes,  been 
cheated  out  of  the  intellectual  nutriment  best  suited  for  them,  but  the 
lower  classes  themselves,  subordinated,  neglected,  and  ignored  as  they 
were  in  many  cases,  began  to  be  incapable  of  any  desire  for  or  delight  iu 
genuine  Highland  culture.  In  fact,  culture  as  the  expression  of  that 
higher  element  in  education  which  rises  above  the  urgent  necessity  of  the 
hour,  was  a  thing  of  which  they  had  ceased  to  dream.  What  they 
wanted  was  such  a  knowledge  of  the  English  language  as  along  with  the 
beggarly  elements  of  "  reading,  writing,  and  'rithmetic,"  would  enable 
them  to  earn  their  bread  and  push  their  fortunes  outside  the  Highlands, 
since  nobody  seem_ed  to  care  for  them  parti-cularly  inside.  Sunk  down 
to  this  lowest  level  of  the  basest  educational  necessities  and  the  vulgarest 
utihtarianism,  it  is  no  wonder  that  they  ceased  to  offer  any  resistance  to 
the  pet  notion  of  their  Saxon  superiors,  to  stamp  out  the  Gaelic ;  and  thus 
a  generation  of  Highland  lads  and  lasses  grew  up,  who,  though  they 
preferred  to  hear  a  Highland  sermon  when  they  could  get  one,  had  not 
the  most  remote  idea  of  looking  into  their  own  Gaelic  Bibles,  or  singing 
their  own  Highland  songs.  By  a  combination  of  unhappy  influences,  the 
Highlander  had  been  enfeebled  and  emasculated,  and  grew  up  incapable 
of  even  a  desire  for  the  food  which  was  best  calculated  to  make  him  a 


352 


THE  GAEL. 


November,  1S76. 


(4.)  The  habitual  ignoring  of  the  Gaelic  tongue  by  the  upper  classes, 
had  brought  matters  to  such  a  pass,  that  very  few  teachers  could  be 
found  who,  possessing  the  other  qualifications,  were  at  the  same  time 
accomplished  in  the  use  of  the  mother-tongue.  The  consequence  was, 
that  purely  English  teachers  were  planted  in  Highland  districts,  who,  if 
there  is  any  truth  in  this  paper,  could  not  be  expected  to  teach  in  the 
best  possible  way,  but  rather  in  the  worst.  To  bring  these  evils  to  a 
culmination,  came  the  New  Education  Act,  the  proclamation  of  Anglified 
codes,  and  the  appointment  of  inspectors  in  Highland  districts  ignorant 
of  the  Highland  tongue.  Under  this  system,  based  on  the  ignorance  and 
prejudice  of  the  middle  classes  of  the  Lowlands  and  not  on  the  intellect- 
ual wants  of  the  Highlanders,  the  schoolmasters  were  actually  bribed  not 
to  use  the  best  engine  of  intellectual  training  in  their  hand,  viz.,  the  native 
language  and  literature  of  the  people  whom  they  educate ;  and  in  Gaelic 
schools,  of  a  strictly  Protestant  country,  it  became  the  fashion  and  the 
law  that  Gaelic  Bibles  should  not  be  read.  How  far  there  may  yet  be 
vitality  enough  in  the  people  to  assert  their  own  best  interests,  and  claim 
their  own  natural  rights  in  this  matter,  it  is  not  for  me  to  say.  One 
thing  only  I  know,  that  it  is  always  easier  to  go  on  in  tlie  groove  of  a 
bungling  old  routine  in  such  matters,  than  to  adopt  the  right  courss;  and 
if  the  right  course  is  to  be  adopted,  it  will  require  an  amount  of  intelli- 
gence, decision,  and  unity  of  purpose  in  the  Highlanders,  of  which  it  were 
an  innocent  delusion,  I  fear,  to  presume  that  they  are  everywhere  or  even 
generally  possessed. 


GU  MA  SLAN  A  CHI  MI. 


TPANSLATION. 


Full  happy  may  I  see  thee 
My  faithful  auburn  maid  ! 

Thou  fair  of  flowing  tresses 

■   In  ready  smiles  arrayed. 

My  soul  when  it  is  weary 

Is  soothed  by  thy  sweet  voice  ; 

When  to  thy  strain  I  listen 
Thou  makest  my  heart  rejoice. 

This  night  to  me  how  dreary 

Upon  the  ocean  high  ! 
My  slumber  is  full  cheerless — 

For  thee  afar  I  sigh. 
My  thoughts  are  often  with  thee  ; 

Apart  from  thee  I  pine  ; 
Unless  thou  still  wilt  love  me 

My  days  will  fast  decline. 


Warm  eyes  are  thine  like  berries 

"Neath  lashes  closely  rare  ; 
Those  cheeks  of  thine  like  rowans 

'Neath  brows  so  meekly  fair. 
That  I  have  loved  thee  fondly 

I  never  would  conceal  ; 
While  ever  since  I  left  thee 

The  days  like  years  I  feel. 

They  said,  before  we  parted, 

I  shunned  my  love  to  see, 
My  kiss  I  had  denied  thee, 

And  had  forsaken  thee. 
Let  no  such  tale,  dear,  grieve  thee 

Reject  their  speech  with  scorn^ 
Thy  breath  to  me  smells  sweeter 

Than  de%vy  grass  in  mom. 

H.    SCOTUS. 


*  Tor  the  Original,  see  the  Gaelic  Department  of  No.  14,  April  1873. 


AN 


G^A-IDHE^L. 


"  Mar  ghath  soluis  do  m^  anamfein 
Tha  sgeula  na  h-aimsir  a  dh'  fhalbh. " — Oisean. 


V.  Lk\eh.]     DARA  MIOS  A'  GHEÀMHRAIDH,  1876.         [60  Air, 


LITREACHAS  NAN  GAIDHEAL. 
rV.     NA    LAOIDHEAN. 

Dughall  Buchannan. 

Anns  an  linn  anns  an  do  shaoithrich 
Dughall  Buchannan,  Mac-Mhaigh- 
stir-Alastair,  Donnachaclh  Ban  Mac- 
an-t-saoir,  agus  Rob  Donn,  bha 
luchd-aiteachaiJh  Gaidhealtachd  na 
h-Alba  air  deireadh  air  luchd-aiteach- 
aidh  a'  chorr  de'n  rioghachd  ann  am 
foghlum  agus  am.  fiosrachadh  mar 
tha  iad  air  an  la  diugh  agus  mar 
bhitheas  iad  a  reir  coslais  anns  gach 
linn  ri  teachd.  Ach,  cho  fada  agus 
is  leir  dhomh,  cha  robh  na  Gaidheil, 
ceud-gu-leth  bliadhna  roimhe  so,  cho 
fada  air  deireadh  air  na  Goill  anns 
na  feartan  so  agus  a  tha  iad  a  nis  ; 
agus  tha  aobhar  againn  a  chreidsinn 
gu'm  bi  cothrom  aig  ar  daoine,  ceud- 
gu-leth  bliadhna  'na  dheigh  so,  air  a 
bhi  na's  dluithe  air  an  coimliears- 
naich  anns  na  cuisean  so  na  tha 
againne  an  diugh.  Ann  an  tir  leth- 
oireach,  neo-thorach,  mar  tha  Gaidh- 
ealtachd na  h-Alba  tha  e  soilleir 
gu'm  bi  cor  an  t-sluaigh  air  deireadh 
air  cor  luchd-aiteachaidh  machraich- 
ean  torach  taobh  deas  na  rioghachd. 
Agus  cho  fada  agus  a  bhitheas 
foghlum  an  t-sluaigh  ri  fhaotainn, 
anns  a  chuid  is  mo,  ann  an  sgoilean 
agus  an  leabhraichean  bithidh  coth- 
rom a'  Ghoill  OS  cionn  a'  Ghaidheil 
ro  mhor.  Tha  cumhachd  na  sgoil 
agus  an  leabhair  mor  an  diugh ; 
bithidh  iad  gun  teagamh  na's  mo 
fathast.       Ach      cha'u     urrainnear 


sgoilean  maith  a  chur  far  an  ruig 
gachbalach'us  caileaganns  a'Ghaidh- 
ealtachd  orra ;  agus  bithidh  bochd- 
ainn  an  t-sluaigh  'nan  aghaidh  airson 
a  bheag  de  leabhraichean  a  chean- 
nach.  Ach  tha  fiughair,  mu'n  tig 
ceann  ceud-gu-leth  bliadhna  no  ceann 
leth-cheud  bliadhna  gu'm  bi  modh- 
teagaisg  nan  sgoilean  air  a  choth- 
romachadh  ri  feum  an  t-sluaigh  air 
dhoigh  agus  gu'm  faighclannGhaidh- 
ealach  buannachd  o'n  sgoil.  nach 
'eil  comasach  an  diugh.  Agus  bith- 
idh fiughair  ann  am  beagan  nine 
gu'm  bi  barrachd  leabhraichean 
freagarrach  airson  teagasg  Ghaidheal 
r'am  faotainn  na  gheibhear  a  nis, 
agus  bithidh  fiughair  gu'm  fas  a' 
chleachduin  na's  cumanta  am  measg 
ar  sluaigh  na  tha  i,  a  bhi  cosd  roinn 
d'an  tuarasdal  ri  leabhraichean  agus 
ri  paipearan-naigheachd. 

Ceud-gu-leth  bliadhna  roimhe  so 
cha  b'anu  an  sgoilean  no  à  leabh- 
raichean a  bha  'n  sluagh  a'  faotainn 
a'  mhor  chuid  d'an  eolas,  gu  son- 
ruichte  anns  a'  Ghaidhealtachd.  'N 
ar  latha-ne  is  duine  aineolach  duine 
gun  sgoil ;  ach  cha  robh  a'  chuis 
mar  so  o  shean.  Cha  bhi  an 
duine  nach  leugh  'na  dhuine 
fiosrach  gu  brath  tuilleadh ;  ach 
am  measg  ar  n-aithrichean  bha 
daoine  gu  trie  ri  fhaotainn  nach 
b'urrainn  leughadh  no  sgriobhadh  a 
chuireadh  ann  an  eolas  agus  an  tuigse 
naire  air  moran  d'an  cloinn.  Mar 
is  mo  a  leigeas  tu  do  thaice  ri  d' 
leabhar  agus  ri  d'  mhaighstir-sgoil 
airson  d'eolais  a  mheudachadh  agus 
23 


•354 


AN   GAIDHEAL,         Dara  Mìos  a' Gheamhraidh,  187«. 


buaidhean  d'  inntinn  a  ghiullachd,  is 
ann  is  lugha  a  chuireas  tu  earbsa 
aunad  fein,  ann  ad  luchd-eolais,  agus 
anns  an  t-saoghal  mu'n  cuairt  dhuit 
— meadhonan  airson  fior-iunnsach- 
aidh  a  tha  ann  anrathad  na's  feum- 
aile  agus  na's  cumhachdaiche  na 
na  maighstirean-sgoil  agus  na  leabh- 
Taicheau  is  fearr.  Cha  'n  'eil  teag- 
amh  nacli  robhgoinne  nan  cotbroman 
a  bha  aig  na  seann  daoine  a'  toirt 
air  a'  cbuid  a  b'airde  buaidbean  'n 
am  measg  buil  a  b'fhearr  a  dhean- 
amh  de  na  beagan  chothroman  a 
bha  aca.  Agus  bha  cotbroman  aig 
daoine  o  chionn  ceud  bliadhna  anns 
a'  Ghaidhealtachd  nach  'eil  againne 
an  diugh. 

Do  dhuine  aig  a'  bheil  inntinn 
bheo  cha  'n  eil  modh-iunnsachaidh 
is  cumhachdaiche  na  bhi  dol  air 
thurus  do  dhuthchannaibh  coimh- 
each.  Creididh  mi  gu  bheil  an 
diugh  fichead  Gaidheal  a'  dol  air 
thurus  do  bhailtean  mora  na  h-Alba 
ma  choinneamh  an  aon  a  rachadh  air 
an  turns  cheudna  ceud  bliadhna 
roimhe  so.  Ach  tha  mi  cho  dearbhta 
as  gu'n  robh,  do  dhuine  geur,  tuig- 
seach,  aon  turns  anns  an  am  ud  cho 
buannachdail,  airson  cuid  iunnsach- 
aidh  dheth,  agus  a  tha  fichead 
turns  a  nis.  A  dh'aon  ni  bheireadh 
aon  turns  anns  an  am  ud  suas  dlù 
air  f  hichead  uiread  de  thim  agus  a 
bheir  e  an  diugh.  Thigeadh  ort  a 
mhor  cbuid  de'nt-slighe  a  choiseachd. 
Thigeadh  ort  feitheamh  aig  aisig. 
A  dh'aindeoin  meud  do  dheifir,  cha 
bhitheadh  do  cheum  ach  mall.  Dh' 
fhasadh  tu  eolach  air  an  t-slighe  gun 
taing  dhuit.  Agus  bha  cunnart  an 
turuis  mor  gu  leoir  airson  gu'm 
feumadh  tu  a  bhi  an  comhnuidh  air 
d'fhaicill,  deas  gus  an  cunnart  a 
choinneachadh.  Ach  cia  mar  tha 
chuis  an  diugh  ?  Ann  an  la  no  dhà 
air  a  cbuid  is  mo  bheir  bata-na- 
smuid  do'n  bhaile  mhor  thu.  Theid 
thu  o  cheann  gu  ceann  no  o  thaobh 


gu  taobh  de'n  rioghachd  leis  a'  char- 
bad-iaruinn  ann  am  beagan  uairean 
de  thim.  Ged  bhiodh  toil  agad 
dheth,  cha  'n  'eil  moran  cothrom 
agad  air  d'inntinu  a  bheathachadh 
air  an  t-slighe.  Agus  saoilidh  mi 
nach  'eil  neach  a  chunnaic  ar  luchd- 
duthcha  ann  am  bata-smuid  no  an 
carbad-iaruinn  nach  feum  aideachadh 
gur  ann  air  beathachadh  na  h-inn- 
tinn  mar  is  trice  a  bu  lugha  a  bha 
d'an  aire.  Theid  gille  òg  do  Ghlas- 
cho  an  diugh  as  a'  cliearn  is  ioraall- 
aiche  de'n  Ghaidhealtachd  cho  luath 
agus  cho  saor  agus  air  cho  beag 
gnothuich  agus  a  rachadh  a  shean- 
athair  do'n  bhaile-mhargaidh  a  b'- 
f  haisge ;  agus  bheir  e,  mar  is  trice, 
na's  lugha  de  mhaith  dhachaidh. 
Chi  thu  e  gu  trie  a'  cur  seachad  na 
tim  air  an  t-slighe  ag  òl  no  'n  a 
chodal.  Fhad  agus  a  tha  e  anns  a' 
bhaile-mhor  tha  a  cheann  ann  an 
tuainealaich.  Faic  e  leth-bhliadhna 
an  deigh  an  turuis,  agus  nach  eigiu 
gu  minic  aideachadh  ma  ghleidh  e 
air  chuimhne  dad  de  na  dh'iunnsaich 
e,  gur  e  eolas  air  am  b'fhearr  a  bhi 
aineolach. 

A  ris  cha  'n  fhaod  sinn  a  dhi- 
chuimhneachadh  gu'n  robh  moran 
fiosrachaidh  agus  fior-iunnsachaidh 
air  a  thoirt  seachad  o  shean  ann  an 
rann  agus  an  sgeul  o  bheul  gu  beul. 
Chaidh  a'  chleachduin  so  ann  an 
tomhas  mor  a  dhith  ;  ach  cha  'n  eil 
mi  meas  gu'n  d'thainig,  'n  ar  measg- 
ne,  cleachduin  is  fearr  'na  h-aite. 
Their  cuid  gur  e  ha  sgoilean  a  chuir 
as  do'n  chleachduin  so ;  their  cuid 
gur  e  na  ministearan  a  chuir  as  d'i. 
Creididh  mi  gu'n  robh  lamb  aca 
le  cheile  anns  a'  chuis ;  agus  gu'n 
robh  aobhar  no  dhà  eile  ag  oibreach- 
adh  a  chum  na  crich  cheudna.  Co- 
dhiu  dh'f  halbh  i ;  agus  cha  till  i, 
Feudaidh  e  bhi  gu'n  robh  moran 
de'n  eolas  a  ))ha  air  a  thoirt  seachad 
air  an  doigh  so  air  bheag  feum. 
Feudaidh  e  bhi  gu'n  robh  cuid  dheth 


Data  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876.        AN   GAIDHEAL. 


355 


cronail.  Air  blieag  feum  airson  a 
bin  beathachadh  agus  a'  comhdach 
a'  chuirp  gun  teagarah  bha  e  ;  agus 
aidicbear  gu'n  robh  roinn  dheth 
a  dh'fhaodadh  a  bhi,  airson 
foghluim  'us  iunnsachaidh,  na 
b'f  hearr  na  bha  e.  Ach  cha  'n  i  so 
a'  cheist  idir.  Is  i  an  fhior  cheist, 
an  d'thainig  na  b'fhearr  an  aite  na 
cleachduin  1  Is  e  mo  bheachd  gur 
eigiu  aideachadh  thar  cheann  nach 
d'thainig.  Tha  cor  an  t-sluaigh  gun 
teagamh  air  iomadh  doigh  na's  fearr. 
Tha  biadh  na's  pailte  ;  tha  tighean 
na's  blaithe  ;  tha  eudach  na's  riomh- 
aiche ;  tha  tuaireasdail  na's  airde ; 
tha  beatha  'us  ni  an  t-shiaigh  na's 
tearuinte.  Is  mor  na  beannachdan 
so ;  agus  bu  choir  dhuinn  a  bhi  na 
bu  taingeile  air  an  son  na  tha  sinn 
ail"  uairean  deas  gu  bhi.  Ach  is  e 
mo  bheachd  gu'm  faigheamaid  na 
beannachdan  so  ged  nach  rachadh  a' 
chleachduin  a  tha  mi  ag  iunndrain 
a  dhith.  Bha  a'  chleachduin  sin  a' 
beathachadh  agus  ag  iunnsachadh 
na  h-inntinn  ann  an  doigh  ro  shon- 
ruichte.  Do'n  roinn  mhor  de'n 
t-sluagh  cha  d'thug  na  sgoilean 
fathast  seachad  am  foghlum  agus 
an  t-iunnsachadh  a  bha  iad  a  faot- 
ainn  o'u  chleachduin  ud ;  agus  their 
cuid  nach  mo  a  lion  an  eaglais  an 
t-aite  a  dh'f  hag  dith  na  cleachduin 
falamh.  Bha  inntinn  bheo  aig  na 
seanu  daoine  a  gheibheadh  tlachd 
ann  an  seanachas,  an  sgeul,  agus  an 
rann  ;  a  dh'eireadh  os  cionn  nithean 
'us  cuisean  an  tim  's  an  la  's  an  colla 
fein.  Tha  a  leithid  so  de  inntinn 
ri  fhaotainn  'n  ar  measg  an  diugh, 
taing  do'n  Fhreasdal ;  mur  bitheadh 
bu  truagh  da  rireadh  cor  moran 
d'ar  daoine.  Ach  tha  e  coltach 
gu'm  faighteadh  an  tiodhlac  luach- 
mhor  na  bu  trioe  o  shean  am  measg 
an  t-sluaigh  na  gheibhear  an  diugh 
i ;  agus  ma  tha  so  fior,  bha  ar  n-aith- 
richean  'nan  daoine  na  b'f  hoghluimte 
na  tha  an  clann. 


Bha  aon  chothrom  eile  a  dh'ain- 
micheas  mi  aig  na  seann  daoine  nach. 
'eil  againne  a  bha  fior  chumhachdach 
airson  iunnsachadh  an  t-slnaigh. 
Bha  ceangal  'us  eolas  'us  baigh  air  a 
ghleidheadh  suas  eadar  gach  teagh- 
lach  'us  fine  'us  inbhe  nach  faicear  a 
nis.  Cha  'n  'eil  teagamh  's  am  bith 
nach  b'e  an  cairdeas  agus  an  comunn 
dlù  so  eadar  dhaoine  a  bha  cho  deal- 
aichte  ann  an  inbhe,  am  beairteas, 
agus  am  foghlum  a  thug  gluasad 
cho  cuirteil  agus  cainnt  cho  modhail 
agus  cho  blasda  do'n  Ghaidheal  a 
b'isle  staid.  Bu  shochair  mhor 
do'n  t-sluagh  a  bhi  cho  trio 
ann  an  cuideachd  nan  uaislean ; 
agus  cha  bu  mheasaide  idir  na  uais- 
lean, a  bhi  trie  ann  an  cuideachd 
an  tr-sluaigh.  Thainig  atharrachadh 
a  nis  agus,  anns  a'  chuis  so  co-dhiu, 
a  chum  na  cuid  is  measa.  Cha  'n 
'eil  moran  comuinn  eadar  am  bochd 
agus  am  beairteach  an  diugh  ;  agus 
creididh  mi  nach  feairrde  am  bochd 
no  am  beairteach  sin. 

Bha  mar  so  cothrom  no  dha  aig 
na  seann  daoine  air  a  bhi  na  b'f  hogh- 
luimte, a  reir  tomhais  an  latha  fein, 
na  tha  againne.  Cha  robh  an  cor 
air  iomadh  doigh  ach  truagh  ann  an 
coimeas  r'ar  cor-ne ;  ach  bha  cleachd- 
uin no  dha  'nam  measg  air  am  bu 
choir  dhuinne  greim  a  ghleidheadh 
gus  an  cuireamaid  na  b'fhearr  'n  an 
aite. 

Bha  na  cothroman  a  dh'ainmich 
mi  aig  ar  n-aithrichean  iomadh 
bliadhna  mu'n  do  rugadli  Mac- 
Mhaighstir-Alastair,  agus  is  gann  a 
chaidh  iad  gu  leir  a  dhith  'nuair  a 
chaochail  Donnachadh  Ban  Mac-an- 
t-saoir;  ach  bha  aon  ni  gu  son- 
ruichte  ann  an  staid  na  Gaidhealt- 
achd  ri  linn  nan  daoine  so  a  b'aobh- 
ar,  ann  an  tomhas  mor,  a  reir  mo 
bheachd-sa,  do'n  dusgadh  chaith- 
reamach  a  rinn  a'  cheolraidh  Ghaidh- 
ealach  anns  a  cheathrar  Bhard  a 
dh'ainmich  mi.     B'e  sin  an  ni  ris 


S56 


AN   GAIDHEAL.        Dara  Mìos  a' Oheamhraldh,  ISrC. 


an  abair  sinn  aobhar  nan  Stiubhart- 
ach.  Bha  baigh  aig  na  Gaidheil  do 
na  Stiubhartaich  mar  am  fuil  fein. 
An  uair  a  fhuair  an  seathamh 
Seumas  seilbh  air  criin  Shasuinn, 
rinn  Albainn  gu  leir  gairdeachas. 
Ach  an  uair  a  thoisich  aimhreit 
eadar  a  cheud  Tearlach  agus  iochd 
arain,  bha  na  Gaidheil  gu  son- 
ruichte  air  taobh  an  righ.  Is  ann  le'n 
cuid  arm,  ged  bu  mhaith  leinn  a 
dhi-chuimhneachadh,  a  sharuich  an 
dara  Tearlach  Eaglais  na  h-Alba. 
An  uair  a  theich  an  seachdamh 
Seumas  à  Sasunn,  is  ann  an  Eirinn 
agus  an  Gaidhealtachd  na  h-Alba  a 
fhuair  e  cairdean.  Chaidh  a  chaird- 
ean  'us  aobhar  an  lughad  agus  an 
laigead.  Bha  cuid  de  na  Cinn- 
chinnidh  a  bu  chumhachdaiche  anns 
an  tir  'n  a  aghaidh  ;  ach  bha  sluagh 
na  Gaidhealtachd  thar  cheann  air  a 
thaobh.  An  deigha'  bhais  thugiad 
umhlachd  d'a  mhac,  ged  bha  e  'n  a 
fhogarrach  ann  an  tir  chein ;  agus 
an  uair  a  thainig  Tearlach  og  do'n 
rioghachd  ann  an  1745  a  thoirt  a 
mach  crùn  a  shinnsearachd,  dh'- 
eirich  a  mhor  chuid  dhiu  leis.  A 
reir  coltais  bha  an  sluagh  gu  leir 
deas  gu  eirigh  leis  na  'n  eireadh  na 
cinn-chinnidh.  Mar  bha  cuisean 
lean  moran  e  gun  chead  an  cinn- 
chinnidh  a  ghabhail ;  agus  an  uair 
a  bha  e  'n  a  fhogarrach  'n  am  measg, 
le  airgiod-cinn  trom  air,  cha  do 
hhrath  caraid  no  namhaid  e. 

O'n  a  thoisich  aimhreit  eadar  a 
cheud  Tearlach  agus  a'  Pharlamaid 
gu  deigh  blàr  Chuil-fhodair — os 
cionn  ceud  bliadhna  de  thim — bha 
cumhachd  agus  aite  aig  a'  Ghaidh- 
ealtachd  ann  an  riaghladh  na  riogh- 
achd nach  robh  aice  'n  a  dheigh  sin, 
no,  ma  dh'fhaodte,  ceud  bliadhna 
roimhe  sin.  Tha  e  air  aideachadh 
'n  ar  measg-ne  nach  'eil  ni  cho 
freagarrach  airson  tuigse  agus  cliu 
an  t-sluaigh  ardachadh  ri  guth  a 
thoirt  dhoibh  ann  an  riaghladh  na 


rioghachd.  An  uair  a  tha  'n  sluagh 
a'  taghadh  gu  tuigseach  ard-chomh- 
airlichean  na  rioghachd,  tha  iad  na's 
measaile  'n  an  suilean  fein  agus  an 
suilean  dhaoine  eile.  Ach  re  nan 
ceud  bliadhna  a  dh'ainmich  mi  bha 
na  Gaidheil  a  gabhail  os  laimh  cha'n 
6  bhi  taghadh  chomhairlichean  ach 
a'  taghadh  righrean.  Bha  an  Ceann- 
cinnidh  a'  creidsinn  gu'n  robh  e 
ann  an  tomhas  mor  'n  a  chomas-san 
na  Stiubhartaich  a  ghleidheadh  air 
righ-chaithir  Bhreatuinn.  A  thuill- 
eadh  air  so  bha  moran  de  uaislean 
na  Gaidhealtachd  a  gleidheadh  suas 
aig  an  am  so  comunn  r'an  cairdean 
an  Sasunn  agus  anns  an  Fhraing. 
Bha  mar  so  an  solus  a  thoisich  air 
soillseachadh  ann  an  taobh-an-iar  na 
h-Eorpa  da  cheud  bliadhna  roimhe 
so  a'  faighinn  do'n  Ghaidhealtachd 
anns  an  am  so  air  dhà  no  tri  de 
bhealaich.  Agus  ma  ghleidheas 
sinn  air  chuimhne  an  ceangal  dlù  a 
bha  eadar  na  uaislean  agus  an  sluagh, 
tuigidh  sinn  an  t-ardachadh  inntinn 
agus  am  fior  eolas  a  bha  aig  a' 
Ghaidheal  a  b'isle  staid  anns  an  am 
ud  mu  riaghladh  na  riogliachd.  Is 
ann  an  uair  a  bha  na  Gaidheil  a' 
faotainn  an  iunnsachaidh  so  re  dhà 
ghinealach  a  dh'eirich  na  Baird  a 
dh'ainmich  mi,  agus  gheibh  sinn 
dearbhadh  an  iunnsachaidh  'n  an 
saothair.  Bha  dha  dhiu  'n  an 
daoinefoghluimte — Mac-Mhaighstii- 
Alastair  agus  Dughall  Buchannan. 
Ach  bha  dha  eile  dhiu — Donnachadh 
Ban  Mac  an-t-Saoir  agus  Bob  Donn — 
nach  leughadh  focal  de  chanain  's 
am  bith.  Cha  dearbh  an  saothair 
gu'n  robh  an  dithis  so  ann  an  tuigse, 
an  eolas,  agus  ann  am  fior  iunnsach- 
adh  a  bheag  air  deireadh  air  an 
dithis  eile.  Cha  'n  'eil  mi  meas, 
mur  faighteadh  anns  a'  Ghreig  o 
shean  iad,  gu'm  faighteadh  ann  an 
tir  eile  sealgair  agus  buachaille,  gun 
sgoil,  cho  fiosrach  agus  cho  iunns- 
aichte  ri  Donnachadh  Ban  agus  ri 


D&ra  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876.         AN    GAIDHEAL. 


Kob  Donn.  Agus  cha  'n  'eil  mi  smu- 
aineachadh  gu'm  biodh  e  comasach 
gu'm  faighteadh  ann  an  Gaidhealt- 
achd  na  h-Alba  iad  ach  mu'n  am 
anns  an  do  shaothraicli  iad. 

De'n  cheathrar  co  is  airidh,  mar 
Bhard,  air  a'  chliù  is  airde  Ì  A 
reir  mo  bheachd-sa,  is  e  Dugh- 
all  Buchannan  is  airidh  air  an 
urram  so,  an  da  chuid  airson  na 
sgriobh  e  agus  airson  na  dh'f  hag  e 
gun  sgriobhaJh.  Tha  fios  agam  gu 
bheil  a  mhor  chuid  de  m'  luchd- 
duthcha  de  atharrach  barail.  Agus 
tha  mi  faicinn  gu  bheil  Professor 
Blackie,  anns  an  leabhar  urramach 
a  chuir  e  mach  o  chionn  ghoirid  mu 
chanain  agus  mu  litreachas  nan 
Gaidheal  Albannach,  de  atharrach 
barail.  Tha  Professor  Blackie  'n  a 
Bhard  agus  'n  a  bhreitheamh  air 
Bardachd.  Dh'iunnsaich  e  ar  can- 
ain  agus  leugh  e  ar  litreachas  air 
dhoigh  agus  nach  'eil,  ma  dtf- 
fhaodte,  an  diugh  Gaidheal  ann  an 
Albainn  d'an  tig  e  cho  maith  barail 
a  thoirt  seachad  mu  luach  saothrach 
nam  Bard  Gaidhealach.  Cha  bu 
mhaith  leara  a  bhi  'g  ardachadh  cliii 
Dhughaill  Buchannan  airson  gur 
Bard  Spioradail  e.  Ach  cha  mho  a 
bu  mhaith  leam  a  bhi  'g  iskachadh 
a'  chliu  airson  an  aobhair  cheudna. 
Tha  mi  a'  lan-chreidsinn  gur  gann  a 
b'urrainn  Dughall  Buchannan,  ged 
dh'fheuchadh  e  ris,  "  Moladh 
Bheinn-dòrain "  a  dheanamh,  no 
"  Beannachadh  Luinge "  Mhic- 
Mhaighstir  -  Alastair,  no  eadhon 
"Marbhrann  Eoghainn"  no  "Marbh- 
rann  do  thriuir  Sheann  Fhleasg- 
ach"  a  sgriobh  Rob  Donn.  Ach 
tha  mi  cho  dearbhta  nach  b'urrainn 
aon  de'n  triuir  Bhard  so  "  Latha 
Bhreathanais  "  no'n  "  Claigeann  " 
no'u  "  Gaisgeach "  no'n  "  Geamh- 
radh  "  a  dheanamh  ged  dh'fheuch- 
adh iad  ris. 

A  reir  mo  bheachd-sa  tha  Bard- 
achd Dhughaill  Buchannain  a'  toirt 


barr  air  gach  Bardachd  Ghaidheal- 
aich  eile  a  tha  againn — a  mach, 
ma  dh'  fhaodte,  o  Oisean  Mhic- 
Mhuirich  agus  o  Sheann  Dana 
Mhic-a-Ghobhainn— anns  na  feartan 
a  leanas,  am  measg  fheartan  eile  a 
dh'fhaodte  ainmeachadh  : 

1.  Tha  i  so-thuigs'mn.  Cha'n  fhios- 
rach  mi  Bard  ainmeil  Gaidhealach 
ach  Dughall  Buchannan  is  urrainn 
mi  leughadh  o  cheann  gu  ceann  agus 
smuain  a'  Bhaird  a  thogail  's  a 
leantainn  anns  gach  sreath  agus 
anns  gach  rann.  Cha  'n  'eil  mi 
meas  gur  ann  agam  fein  a  tha  choire; 
oir  tha  canain  moran  de  na  Baird 
Ghaidhealach  na's  duthchasaiche 
dhomh  na  tha  canain  Dhughaill 
Buchannain.  Agus  saoilidh  mi  gur 
cliu  agus  nach  coire  do  Dliughall 
Buchannan  gu  bheil  a'  chuis  mar  so. 
Na  'm  biodh  a  smuain  iosal,  faoin, 
lag  cha  bu  chliu  dha  gu'n  rachadh 
aige  air  a'  cur  gu  soilleir  ann  an 
cainnt.  Ach  ann  an  coimeas  r'ar 
Baird  Ghaidhealach  tha  smuain 
Dhughaill  ard,  domhain.  Is  clia 
mhor  dha,  ma  ta,  gu'm  faic  an 
leughadair  an  sealladh  a  bha  fa 
chomhair  an  ughdair  cho  fad  agus  is 
urrainn  do  inntinn  lag,  chumhann 
an  sealladh  a  bha  fa  chomhair  inntinn 
laidir,  fharsuing  a  «huairteachadh. 
Ach  is  gann  is  urrainn  dhomt. 
taobh-duilieig  de  Bhardachd  Mhic- 
an-t-saoir  no  Mhic-Mhaighstir-Alast- 
air  a  leughadh  agus  a  radh  gu  bheil 
brigh  thuigseach  fa  chomhair  m'- 
inntinn  airson  gach  rann  agus 
sreatL  Gu  minic  faodaidh  e  bhi 
gu'n  robh  sealladh  soilleir  aig  a' 
Bhard  'n  a  inntinn  fein  air  an 
smuain  a  tha  e  feuchainu  ri  chur  an 
cainnt ;  ach  is  e  mo  bheachd  nach 
do  shocraich  e  air  uairean  gu  ro 
mhaith  'n  a  inntinn  an  ni  a  bu 
mhiann  leis  a  radh,  agus  air  uairean 
eile  bhiodh«.duilich  leam  a  chreid- 
sinn  gu'n  robh  smuain  idir  aige  fa 
chomhair  na  h-inntinn. 


358 


AN    GAIDHEAL.         Cara  Mìos  a- Gheamhraidh,  1876. 


II.  Tha  smuain  a'  Bhaird,  mar  is 
trice,  ard ;  tha  i  an  comhnuidh  tuigs- 
each.  Bhiodh  e  faoin  a  radh,  agus 
cha  bhiodh  e  fior,  gu  bheil  smuaint- 
ean  Dhughaill  Buchannain  cho  ard 
air  uairean  agus  a  tha  iad  air  uairean 
eile.  Cha  do  sgriobh  e  ach  beagan 
de  rannan  ann  an  coimeas  ri  moran 
d'ar  Baird.  Cha'n  'eil  anns  na 
"  Laoidhean  "  ach  gann  mile-gu-leth 
sreath ;  agus  anns  a  bheagan  so, 
gheibhear  caochladh  mor  ann  am 
fior-chumhachd.  A  reir  mo  bharail- 
sa,  tha  "  Fulangas  Chriosd,"  "  Mor- 
achd  Dhe,"  agus  "  Urnuigh,"  ann 
an  cumhachd  Bardachd  air  deireadh 
air  a  chorr  de  na  Laoidhean  ;  agus 
tha  "An  Gaisgeach,"  "An  Claig- 
eann,"  agus  roinn  mhor  de  "  Latha 
a*  Bhreitheanais  "  air  thoiseach. 
Feudaidh  e  bhi  nach  'eil  Buch- 
annan,  an  uair  is  airde  e,  dad  air 
thoiseach  air  cuid  d'ar  Baird  Ghaidh- 
ealach  ma  thig  e  nios  riu.  Gheibhear 
aig  Rob  Donn  smuain  cho  geur,  agus 
aig  Donnachadh  Ban  agus  aig  Mac- 
mhaighstir-Alastair  cainnt  cho  mais- 
each,  agus  rann  cho  ceolmhor  'us  a 
gheibhear  aig  Dughall  Buchannan  an 
uair  is  fearr  e.  Ach  tha  Dughall 
coimhhonta  seach  na  Baird  so.  Mur 
'eil  e  'g  eirigh  na's  airde,  cha  'n  'eil  e 
tuiteam  cho  iosal.  Cha  'n  'eil  mi  an 
traths'  ag  iomradh  air  na  h-aoirean 
salach  a  rinn  na  Baird  so ;  oir  anns 
a'  cheum  sin  cha  'n  'eil  coimeas  eadar 
iad  fein  agus  Buchannan.  Tha  mi 
meas  gu'n  gabh  e  dearbhadh  anns  na 
h-oidhearpan  a  b'airde  a  thug  iad, 
an  uair  a  bha  an  run  uile  gu  leir 
ionmholta,  gu'n  deachaidh  iad  mar 
Bhaird  cli,  Tha  sean-fhocal  againn 
anns  a'  Ghaidhlig  :  "  Cha  teid  thu 
air  d'each  mor  gu'n  dol  thairis  air." 
Tha  mi  de'n  bheachd  gu'n  do  leum 
Donnachadh  Ban  agus  Mac-Mhaigh- 
stir-Alastair  gu  trie  gun  airde  an 
eich  a  thomhas ;  agus  an  aite  stad 
gu  socrach  air  a  dhruim  gu^n  do 
thuit  iad   anus   a'   chlàbar  air   an 


taobh  eile.  Cha  'n  'eil  mi  ro  chinnt- 
each  gu  bheil  Dughall  Buchannan 
an  comhnuidh  saor  o'n  chron  cheud- 
na.  Saoilidh  mi  gu'm  faighear 
eisempleir  air  a'  pheacadh  so  ann  an 
"  Latha  a'  Bhreathanais "  agus  ma 
dh'fhaodte  anns  a'  "  Chlaigeann  ;" 
ach  cha  'n  'eil  peacadh  Dhughaill  an 
uair  is  truime  e  ach  faoin  ann  an 
coimeas  ri  peacadh  Mhic-Mhaighstir- 
Alastair  ann  am  "  Beannachadh 
Luinge  "  an  uair  a  tha  : 

"  An  f  hairge  uile  is  i  'na  brochan 
Strioplach,  ruaimleach 
Le  fuil  's  le  gaor  nam  blast  lorcach 
'S  droch  dhath  ruadh  orra"  &c. 

no  ri  peacadh  Dhonnachaidh  Bhain 
ann  am  "  Beinn-Dorain  "  agus  ann 
an  iomadh  oran  eile.  Ann  an 
tuigse,  ann  an  ciall,  agus  gu  h-araid 
anns  an  ni  sin  ris  an  abrar  anns  a' 
Bheurla  taste,  bha  Buchannan  ma 
dh'fhaodte,  air  uairean,  an  deigh 
laimh ;  ach  cha  robh  na  Baird  a 
dh'ainmich  mi  r'an  coimeas  ris  anns 
na  feartan  so. 

III.  Tha  co-chordadh  dJigheach  air 
a  ghleidheadh,  mar  is  trice,  eadar  an 
snmahi,  a'  chainnt,  agus  an  rann. 
Tha  mi  meas  gu  bheil  Mac-Mhaigh- 
stir-Alastair,  ann  an  roinn  mhor  d'a 
Bhardachd,  a  toirt  dearbhadh  air 
neart  ann  an  smuain  agus  an  cainnt 
agus  air  ceol  'na  rann  is  gann  a 
gheibhear  ann  an  saothair  aon  eile 
d'ar  Baird  Ghaidhealach.  Agus 
saoilidh  mi  gu  bheil  e  fior  nach  robh 
aon  d'ar  Baird  aig  a'  robh  cumhachd 
Dhonnachaidh  Bhain  ann  a  bhi  cur 
cainnt  fhuaimneach,  bhlasda  ann 
an  roinn  mhilis,  cheolmhor  a  ghabh- 
adh  leughadh  agus  seinn  gun  stad 
gun  mhearachd.  Ach  is  eigin  aid- 
eachadh  ged  dh'uisnich  an  dàBhard 
ainmeil  so  gu  trie  an  cumhachd  uile 
gu  leir  air  dhoigh  ionmholta,  gu'n 
tug  iad  seachad  air  uairean  eile 
ranntachd  gun  toinisg,  mi-sheadh- 
ar, — ann  an  smuain,  an  cainnt 
agus   an  rann.     Cha  Bhardachd  a 


Dara  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876.         AN    GAIDHEAL. 


359- 


bhi  torradh  focal  air  muin  focail,  nach  ruig  inntinn  an  duine  air  an 
mur  'eil  an  smuain  d'a  reir,  cia  air '  t-siorruidheachd  a  bhreitlineachadh 
bith  cho  ceolmhor  agus  a  tha  fuaim  j  ann  an  cainnt  sho  soilleir  agus  cbo 
na  roinne.  Dearbhaidh  an  rann  a '  greadhnadi  agus  a  cbuir  Dughall 
leanas  gu'n  robb  eolas  jNIhic-Mhaigb- 1  Bucbannan  anns  an  rann  so  : 


stir-Alastair  air  a'  Ghaidbbg  far- 
suing,  agus  gu'n  robb  Ian  sgil  aige 
air  deanamh  rann  ;  acb  co  their  gu'n 
dearbh  i  fior  cbumbachd  Bardacbdl 

"  Abhealltainnbhog-bhailceach,  glirianach, 

Lònach,  lianach,  mo  gbraidh, 
Bhainneacb,  fhionn-mheagacb,  uacbdrach, 

Oinbanacb,  loinideach,  cbuachach, 
Gbrutbacb,  shlamanach,  mbiosrach, 

^Nlbiodrach,  mhiosganach,  Ian, 
Uanach,  mheannanach,  mbaoineach, 

Bhocacb,  mhaoiseacb,  Ian  ail !  " 

Gheibhear  roisgeulaich  de'n  t-seorsa 
so  'n  ar  Bardachd  Gbaidhealaicb  i-o 
thric  ;  acb  cba'n  f  baigbear  a  leitbid 
ann  an  Laoidbean  Dbugbaill  Bucb- 
annain.  Acb  tba  mi  meas  gu'n  toir 
Bucbannan  le  aon  fbocal  no  ditbis 
a  smuain  fa  d'cbombair  na's  soilleire 
na  bbeir  cacb  gu  trie  le  ficbead. 
Anns  na  samblaidbean  a  tba  e 
cleacbdadb  a  cbum  a  smuain  a  sboill- 
earacbadb,  bbeir  Bucbannan,  a  reir 
mo  bbeacbd,  barr  air  gacb  Bard 
Gaidbealacb  a  tba  againn.  Tba 
cuid  de  na  samblaidbean  so  a  tba 
nis  'n  an  sean-fbocail.  Tba  cuid 
dhu  air  nacb  toirear  barr  ann  an 
canain  's  am  bith.  Tha  'n  tairn- 
eanach  : 

"  Is  fonn-cbritb  orr  gu  dol  an  greim, 
Mar  cboin  air  eill  ri  am  na  seilg. '" 

Tha  na  reulltan  air  "  uideal  "  anns 
an  speur : 

' '  Marmbeal  air  gheig  ri  h-anradh  garbh , 
A'tuiteam  mar  bbraonaibb  db'uisge  dlù, 
'S  an  gloir  mar  sbuilean  duine  mbab-bb. " 

Gheibhear  na  ficheadan  de'n  t-seorsa 
cbeudna.  Cba'n  fbiosrach  mi  gu'm 
faighteadb  sreath  is  iomlaine  na  i 
so  ann  an  canain  fo'n  gbrein,  an 
smuain,  an  cainnt  no'n  ceol : 

"  Cba  robb  e  òg  is  sean  cba  bhi." 

Cha  do  chuir  duiue  riamh  an  f hirinn 


"  Ged  aireambainn  uile  reuUtan  neimh, 
Gacb  feur  'us  duilleach  riamb  a  db'  fbas, 
Liar  ris  gacb  braon  a  ta  's  a'  cbuan, 
'S  gacb  gaineamb  cbuairteacbas  an  traigh ; 
'S  ged  cbuii-inn  mile  bliadbna  seacb, 
As  letb  gacb  aon  diu  sud  gu  leir, 
Cba  d'imicb  seacb  de'n  t-siorruidbeacbd 

mboir, 
Acb  mar  gu'n  toisichidb  i  'n  de." 

Tiia  mi  meas  gu'n  do  dbearbb  Dugh- 
all Bucbannan  a  cbliu  mar  Bbard, 
agus  gu  sonruicbte  a  thuigse,  leis  an 
rann  agus  leis  na  fuinn  a  tbagb  e 
airson  a  Laoidbean.  Db'ainmicb  mi 
cheana  gun  do  rinn  Donnacbadh 
Ban  mearacbd  an  uair  a  chuir  e 
Cumha  Choire-Cheathaich  ri  fonn 
Flowers  of  Edinburgh.  Gheibhear 
mearacbd  no  dhà  de'n  t-seorsa  clieud- 
na  'n  ar  Bardachd.  Acb  tba  Dugh- 
all Bucbannan,  mar  bu  choir  dha,  a' 
taghadh  rann  shocrach,  throm  airson 
"  Mòrachd  Dbe,"  "  Latha  a'  Bhreith- 
eanais,"  agus  "Urnuigh;"  agus  ag 
atharracbadh  an  fhuinn  ann  am 
"  Fulangas  Chriosd,"  "  An  Claig- 
eann,"  agus  "  An  Geambradh." 
Saoilidh  mi  'n  am  biodb  atharrach 
fonn  aig  a'  "  Bbruadar "  agus  aig  a' 
"Ghaisgeach"  gu'm  b'fbeairrde  an 
gnothuch  e,  Acb  cba  'n  e  mbain  gu 
bheil  Bucbannan  a'  cumadh  fhuinn 
r'a  steigh,  saoilidh  mi  gu  bheil  air 
uairean  fuaim  na  cainnt  a  freagradh 
do'n  smuain.  Gheibhear  eisempleir- 
ean  air  a'  bhuaidh  so  anns  a'  Bhard- 
achd  Gbreugalcb  agus  Eomanaicb. 
Tha  cuimhne  agad  air  rann  cbeol- 
mhor  Mhilton  an  uair  a  tha  e  'labbairt 
mu  neamh,  agus  air  sgread  na  cainnt 
a  tha 'g  innseadh  mu  ifrinn.  Gbeibb 
sinn  ann  an  Oisein  : 

'Tbreagair  an  sonn  mar  tbonn  air  carraig." 

Tha  mi  meas  gu'n  robh  a'  bhuaidh 
cbeudna  ann  am  beachd  Dbugbaill 


360 


AN    GAIDHEAL.         Dara  Mi03  a'  Gheamhraidh,  137«. 


Buchannain  an  uair  a  sgriobh  e  m'un 
Bhreitheamh  : 

''Mar  thuil  nan  gleann  tha  fuaim  a  ghuth ;" 

mu  na  seangain  : 

"  A  null  's  a  nail,  gun  fhois  gun  tamh ; " 

agus  saoilidh  mi  gu  bheil  e  'g  aithris 
air  sèid  ua  natlirach  anns  an  roinn  so : 

"  A  nathraiche  millteach  'a  oillteil  srann 
Cha  bhinn  learn  ceol  'ur  srannraich  ard, 
'S  cha  'n  eisd  o'r  teangadh  ghobhlaich  cliu 
Le  driuchd  a'  phuinnsein  air  a  barr. " 

A  reir  mo  bheachd-sa  bhiodh  cliu 
Dhughaill  Buchannain  mar  Bhard 
na  b'airde  na  tha  i,  agus  bhiodh  a 
chumhachd  a  chum  maith  anns  a' 
Ghaidhealtachd  na  bu  mho  na  tha 
e  na'm  biodh  a  theagasg  anns  na 
Laoidhean  na  b'f harsuinge,  agus 
na'n  seinneadh  e  Orain  cho  maith 
ri  Laoidhean.  Tha  mi  meas  gu'n 
robh  talann  no  dha  aige  a  dh'fhol- 
aich  e  anns  an  talamh.  Ach  cha 
'n  ann  mar  so  a  thuig  e  fein  a 
"  theachdaireachd  ; "  agus  feudaidh 
e  bhi  gur  e  fein  a  thuig  gu  ceart  i. 
Mar  tha  a  chuis,  tha  mi  smuain- 
eachadh  gu'n  do  roghnaich  mo 
luchd-duthcha  gu  ceart  an  uair  a 
chuir  iad  a  "  Laoidhean  "  air  thois- 
each  air  gach  leabhar  Gaidhlig  a  tha 
againn  ach  am  Biobull  'n  a  aonar. 
0  chionn  ghoirid  chuireadh  suas 
ann  an  Raineach  carragh  eireachdail 
mar  chuimhneachan  air  an  duine 
urramach,  agus  bha'n  t-am  dha. 
Ach  is  iad  na  "  Laoidhean "  an 
cuimhneachan  is  fearr  agus  is  buaine. 
An  uair  a  bhitheas  a'  chlach  air 
crionadh  gu  luaithre,  tha  mi  'n 
dochas  gu'm  bi  na  "  Laoidhean  "  a' 
toirt  solais,  misnich,  'us  rabhaidh  do 
Ghaidheil  mar  thug  iad  cheana  re 
dheich  agus  cuig  fichead  bliadhna. 
D.  M'K. 


PIOBAIREACHD  MHIC-A- 

PHEARSAIN. 

Le  EÒGHAN  Mac-Colla. 

Rinneadh  an  t-òran-molaidh  so  do 
DhòmhnuU  Mac-a-Phearsain,  Ard-phiobaire 
Fusilcers  na  h-Alba,  air  do  'n  Reiseamaid 
ainmèil  sin  bhi  air  a  gairm  dhachaidh  bho 
Chanada,  's  a'  bhliadhna  1866. 

Air  Fokn — "  Mac  Griogair  o  Ruadh-struth." 
— Gu  bhi  air  a  sheinn  leath-aithris  air  gach 
Breath. 

Sgeul  gun  iarruidh,  gun  dùil  ris. 
An  sgeul  tir  so  dhùisg  m'  acain. 

Tha  lionn-dubh  mar  throm-lighe 
Air  mo  chridhe-sa  ghlacadh  : 

Mac-a-Phearsain,  ma's  fior  e, 
Tuille  's  tir  so  cha'n  fhaic  sinn  ! 

Null  thar  cuan  nan  tonn  beucach 
Ghluais  an  laoch  a  dh'fhàs  smachdail, — 

Fear  thug  trie  dhomh  o'n  Oinsich 
Bruidhinn  bhòidheach  an  nasguidh. 

Co,  le  seòltachd  an  fhiùrain, 

Nis  a  dhiiisgeas  dhuinn  feachd-cheol  ? 

Co,  'n  uair  b'  fheàrr  leinn  ceòl-cumha. 
Pear,  'nad  dheighidh,  bheh-  tlachd  dhviinii  ? 

Cuine  chuireas  ceòl-dannsuidh 
Caothach  cheann  agus  chas  oirm  ? 

Chaill  sinn  corrag  an  fhilidh 

Anns  gach  binneas  bha  beairteach, — 

Fear  nam  feadana  fuainmeach 
Ann  an  cuairtean  na  Glas-mheur: 

B'e  sud  ceol  gun  a  leithid ! 
Cainnt  gach  cridhe  ni  chlaisteachd, 

B'e  'm  fear  bodhar  a  dh-^isdeadh 
Gun  fhuil  a's  fhèithean  a'  bras-leum. 

Ged  a  b'  ainmeil  Mac-Cruimein 
'S  gann  bha  ribheid  cho  blasda ! 


Fear  mo  chridhe  'm  fear  dàicheil 
Chinn  gu  fàilteachail,  feaxtail! 

Ann  am  Breacan  siol  Chluainidh' 
'S  ioma  gruagach  ghabh  tlachd  dhiot. 

Fear  is  deise  measg  sluaigh  thu 
Ann  ad  shuaicheantas  gaisgeil, — 

Fèile  preasach  mu  d'  shliasaid, 
Goal  a's  ciar  air  deagh  bhreacadh, — • 


Data  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  187 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


361 


Osain  ghekiT  air  trom-chalpa 

Mar  bhreac  tarragheal  nan  cas-shruth,- 

Brògan-fraochain  a's  sporran 

O  bhian  mollach  nan  glas-ghob'r, — 

Crios  le  biodag  gheur,  ghuineach 
'S  da  dhag  ullamh  neo-chneasda, — 

Leug  o  bheannta  nan  IKn-damh 
'BoiBsgeadh  'm  braisde  do  bhreacain, — 

Lus-nam-braoileag  'nad  bhoineid, 
'S  ite  iolair  'an  taic  sud  ! 

Sud  è  'm  fleasgach  a  dh'fhalbli  uainn 
Leis  nadearbh  laoich  'ghabh  tlaclid  ann,- 

Laochraidh  ghasda  nan  cniaidh-bhexun, 
B'e  bhi  buadhach  an  cleachduinn. 

'N  am  toirt  stàilinn  o  thruaillibh, 
B'e  'n  càs  uamhais  am  faicinn. 

Mar  dhubh-dhoirionn  na  fairge 
Coltas  colgach  nam  macan. 

Mar  bheum-sleibh  no  leKm-tuinne 
Sud  am  meadhoin  gach  gleachd  iad ! 

Ga«h  aon  laoch  mar  Cuthchullin, 
H-Tiille  buille  toirt  seachd  as  ! 

Fhir,  'n  am  seasamh  na  Gàidhlig, 
'S  trie  a  db'  ardaich  mo  bheachd  ort. 

Ged  a  rinn  tbu  ur  fàgail — • 

Toil  na  ban-righ  mar  reachd  dhuit, 

Bi'db  mo  chridhe-sa  Ikn  dbiot, 
Gus  an  cairear  fo  lie  mi. 


FREAGRAX  DO  LEISGEULABH 
AIRSON  AN  OIL. 

1.  Their  cuid  gun  d'  thug  am 
Freasdal  deoch  laidir  do  dhaoine 
airson  an  leas,  agus  nach  coir  ciil  a 
chuir  rithe  gu  tur,  ged  a  tha  iomad 
neach  'g  a  h-òl  thair  cuimsè.  Chan 
eU  an  leisgeul  so  fior.  Cha  d'  thug 
Freasdal  alcohol  do  dhaoine  airson 
biadh  na  deoch :  ach  thug  e  ciall 
■duinn,  chum  gun  seachnamaid  gach 
ni  cronail ;  agus  chunnaig  sinn  a 
cheana  gur  ann  diu  sin  alcohol  gun 
teagamh.  Tha  clachan  feumail  air- 
son thaighibh  a's  rathuidibh  mora, 
ach  cha  bhiadh  iad  ;  agus  tha  sàile 


math  airson  iomad  ni,  ach  cha  deoch 
e.  Chruthaich  Dia  gach  puinnsean 
air  thalamh  ;  ach  chan  eil  aon  diu 
freagarrach  airson  biadh  na  deoch. 

A  thaobh  alcohol,  chan  'eil  boinne 
dheth  an  ni  fallain  air  bith  ;  's  ann 
bho  ghroide  amhain  a  gheobhar  e. 
Chan  'eil  ann  ach  siùcar  grod. 
Seargaidh  an  fhion-dhearc,  agus 
grodaidh  an  t-^eorna,  gun  aon  bhoinne 
alcohol  a  thighinn  asda,  mur  buin 
daoine  riutha.  Chan  f  haighear  fion 
goirt  as  an  dearc,  mur  brughar  gu 
meadhon  i,  agus  mur  cumar  am  fion 
milis  car  seal  ann  an  aile  nach  'eil 
aon  chuid  fuar  na  teth,  cha  ghoirtich 
e ;  agus  cha  ghabh  uisge-beatha  toirt 
a  eorna,  mur  deanar  braich  dhe, 
agus  mur  cuirear  beirm  ris  a  bhrailis 
a  thig  aisde.  'S  ann  bho  innleachd 
dhaoine,  agus  chan  ann  bho  'n 
Fhreasdal,  a  thainig  alcohol. 

2.  Tha  fear  ag  òl  airson  leighis,  a 
reir  a  bharail.  Ach  tha  e  am  mear- 
achd.  Ma  tha  feum  air  leigheas,  's 
e  silicar  fallain  gu  mor  is  f  hearr  na 
siiicar  grod.  Cuiridh  e  sin  teas  air 
feadh  a  chuirp  gu  leir,  am  feadh  's 
nach  'eil  e  a  drudhadh  air  an  ean- 
achainn  no  a  losgadh,  mar  a  ni 
alcohol.  Osbarr  tha  e  mòran  ni  's 
saoire  agus  ni  's  taitniche.  Tha 
stuth  eile,  mar  an  ceudna,  a  sgaoileas 
teas  feadh  na  ere,  gun  a  bhi  cronail, 
agus  's  6  sin  sallann.  Ma  tha  t' 
fhuil  am  feum  blàthachadh,  feuch 
ri  beagan  sgadaiu,  no  feoil  air  a 
deagh  shailleadh.  Agus  mur  leoir 
sin,  gabh  im  saillte  leotha,  agus  mo 
ghealladhsa  dhut  gun  cuir  iad  sin 
teas  gu  leoir  a'  t'  fhuil,  mur  deach  i 
thair  leigheas.  Tha  saill  no  reamh- 
rachd  air  bith  a  cur  teas  caoin  agus 
buan  air  feadh  na  fala;  agus  ma 
chuirear  sallann  rithe,  foghnaidh 
sin.* 


*  Bha  creideas  mor  aig  na  Seann  Ghaidhil 
an  cè  's  an  im,  mar  leigheas  ;  agus  bho  sin 
thainig  na  sean-fhacail : 

"Uraireachd  na  bo,  amach  's  a  ataigh. 


362 


AN   GAIDHEAL.         Dara  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876. 


Tlia  cuid  de  lighichibli  a  comhair- 
leachadh  dibhe  air  uairibh,  mar  a 
tha  iad  fhein  cuideachd  ag  òl :  ach 
's  e  cron  is  trice  a  tha  tighinn  as ; 
agus,  mar  a  chithear  iomad  uair,  's  e 
'n  leigbeas  is  miosa  na  'n  galar.  Tha 
na  h-naislain  ag  ionnsachadh  an  oil, 
agus  na  lighichean  'g  a  marbhadh 
fhein  leis  an  dibhe.  Tha  moran 
lighichean  a  nise  air  faighinn  amach 
gun  gabh  gach  tinneas  leigheas  ni  's 
f  hearr  gun  an  t-òl  na  leis ;  agus  tha 
fios  aig  iomad  neach  gun  d'  fhalbh 
an  galarsa  nuair  a  leig  iad  diu  an 
deoch  a  bha  iad  a  gabhail  airson 
leighis.  Agus  tha  cunntas  againn 
air  moran  a  ghiorraich  an  saoghal 
le  bhi  'g  Ò1  mar  leigheas. 

Cha  bu  choir  do  dhuine  a  bhi 
deanamh  sin  a  cheann  gum  bheil  e 
fhein  am  barail  gur  f heaird  e  deoch. 
Oir  bheir  neach  a  tha  deigheil  oirre 
a  chreidsin  air  fhein  ro  ealamh,  gum 
bheil  i  feumail  dha,  nuair,  math  a 
dh'  fhaoidte,  tha  i  'g  a  thoirt  sios 
thun  na  h'  uaighe,  Nuair  a  leigeas 
am  pòiteir  dheth  an  t-òl,  tha  e  deas 
air  a  bhi  crosda,  anfhulangach  car 
seal,  mar  a  thachaireas  leis  gach 
droch  cleachda  eile  ;  ach  ma  sheach- 
nas  e  an  deoch  gu  tur,  falbhaidh  sin 
an  nine  ghearr;  agus  fasaidh  a 
mhothachadh  ni  's  geirè  agus  fhair- 
eachdainn  ni  's  taitniche  na  bha  iad 
a  roinihe,  mar  a  dh'  aithnich  milltean 
gu  'n  leas. 

Tha  e  corr  uair  a  tachairt  gum 
bheil  duine  a  bàsachadli,  an  deigh' 
an  deoch  a  leigeil  dheth  ;  agus  uimè 
sin  their  cuid  gum  bheil  so  cunnart- 
ach  :  ach  's  ann  a  tha  'n  cunnart 
anns  an  deoch  a  leantuinn,  gus  am 
bheil  i  a  losgadh  agus  a  grodadh 
duine,  air  dhoigh'  's  nach  'eil  dol  as 

mur  leighis  sin  an  Gaidheal,  chan  'eil  a 
leigheas  ann  ;  "  agus,  "  Leigheas  air  gach 
tinn,  creamh  a's  im  a  chèitein."  Dh'  fhend- 
amaid  iad  sin  a  leudachadh  's  a'  cheartach- 
adh  mar  so  :  " '  Bheir  siàcar,  sallann  agus 
suit  fior  bhlàs  do  fhuil  gach  neach." 


aige,  mar  a  thachair  do  na  daoine  a 
bhàsaich  air  an  dòigh  ud.  Tha 
anail  bhrèin  a  mhisgeir  a  feuchainn 
gum  bheil  an  t-òl  'g  a  ghrodadh, 
ionan  's  'g  a  losgadh, 

Tha  daoine  euslan  gu  trie  a  dol 
am  feothas,  am  feadh  's  tha  iad  ag 
òl  beagan  dibhe  gu  'n  leigheas  ;  agus 
uime  sin  saoilear  gur  fheaird  iad  i. 
Ach  tha  buaidhean  dibhe,  cho  math 
ri  faireachduinn  moran  euslan,  a 
sheacliainn  i,  a  feuchainn  gur  fhearr 
leigeil  leithe.  Nuair  bha  mise  ag 
ionnsachadh,  an  Oil-thaigh  Dhun- 
eideann,  ghlac  fiabhrus  garg  mi,  o 
bhi  suidheadh  an  caiseart  fhluich. 
Nuair  a  bha  mi  airtaobhan  fheothais, 
thuirt  an  lighich'  gun  robh  e  mar 
chleachda  fion  orduchadh  an  sin, 
ach  gun  comhairlicheadh  esa  uibh- 
ean,  an  aite  an  eorna.  Lean  mi  a 
chomhairle,  agus  thainig  mi  thuige 
ni  b'  ealamh  na  luchd  an  fhiona. 

3.  Tha  cuid  ag  òl  air  sgàth  cridh- 
ealais  a's  fearas-chnideachd,  agus 
chum  nach  abrar  gur  spiocairean 
iad.  Ach  is  milleadh  air  fior  chridh- 
ealas  an  t-òl  :  oir  tha  e  a  toirt 
dhaoine  gu  bhi  deanamh  's  ag  radh 
iomad  ni  mi  fhreagarrach,  feargach, 
a  tha  togail  trod,  agus  math  a  dh' 
fhaodte  caonagan  fuilteach,  mar  is 
trie  a  thachair.  Mar  sin  tha  cuid- 
eachd nach  oil  ni  's  suilbhearra 
agus  ni  's  beusaiche  na  iadsa  a  dh' 
òileas.  Agus  de  gach  sluagh  air 
thalamh,  gu  cinnteach  's  iad  na 
Gaidheil  a  bhiodh  cridheil :  chan 
iadsa  a  dh'  fheumas  deoch  g'  am 
brosnachadh  gu  bhi  suilbhear. 

Tha  cuid  a  bias  dibhe  air  uairibh, 
agus  'g  a  tairgeadh  do  dhaoin'  eile, 
chum  nach  bi  sluagh  a  fanoid  orra, 
agus  ag  radh  gum  bheil  iad  spiocach. 
Ach  mar  a  their  an  seanf  hacal  Sasun- 
nach,  "  Gaireadh  iadsa  a  choisneas." 
Chan  'eil  aobhar  fanoid  aig  daoine 
nuair  a  tha  cuid  de  'n  teachlaichibh 
fhein  a  dol  a  dhith  leis  an  òl,  mar  a 
tha  gu  trie  a  tachairt.    Is  amaideach 


Dara  iIio3  a' GheaBSIirai(Hi,  1876.         AN   GAJDHEAL. 


363 


suim  air  bitli  a  ghabhail  de  thag- 
radh  dhaoine  a  tha  fior  aineolach 
mu  'n  chuis  :  agus  's  iad  sin  amhain  i 
a  choiricheadli  neach  nach  oil  's 
nach  tairg.  Oir  tha  beagan  a  dean- 
amli  cron,  air  doigli  no  dha,  agus  \ 
's  e  sin  a  tha  treoireachadh  dhaoine  . 
gu  mòran. 

Ma  tha  duine  cairdeil  fialaidh  an  ' 
cuisibli  eile,  agus  deas  gu  gnothach 
math  a  dheanamh  d'  a  choimh-  j 
earsnach,  nuair  tha  sin  'n  a  chomas, ' 
chithear  gu  soilleir  nach  spiocair  e, 
agus  gur  e  cairid  a'  's  f  hearr  na  'm  1 
fear  a  choiticheas  deocli  orra.  Ma  | 
sheasas  esa  gu  daingionn  ris  a  choir 
agus  a  dhleasnas,  's  ann  orrasa  a 
gheobh  coire  dha  a  bhios  naire  air 
a  cheann  thall. 

4.  Their  corr  fhear  nach  b'  urr- 
ainn  dàsa  tighinn  beo  air  a  cheaird, 
mur  oileadh  e  boinnè.  Math  a  dh' 
f  haoidte  gur  ann  mar  sin  tha  chuis, 
a  thaobh  ghrudairean,  a's  osdairean. 
Ach  ma  's  ann,  bu  choir  dhaibh  an 
ceaird  no  'n  doighean  a  mhùthadh. 
Tha  mallachd  Dhè  an  cois  nan 
daoine  a  tha  deanamh  's  a  reiceadh 
dibhe.  Tha  cuideigin  de  'n  teagh- 
laichibh  a  dol  a  dhith  leis  a  mhillt- 
eir ;  agus  ma  ni  iad  airgiod,  clia 
Boirbhich  leis.  "  Chan  'eil  tairbhe 
ann  an  ionmhasaibh  aingidheachd."* 
A  tliaobh  an  airgid  a  tha  iad  a 
pàidheadh  do  ionmhas  na  rioghachd, 
tha  daor  cheannach  air.  Tha  eorr 
a's  coig  ceud  mile  misgear  's  na  tri 
rioghachdaibh ;  agus  tha  bàs  aith- 
ghear  a  tighinn  air  corr  a's  coig 
mile  fichead  dliiu  gach  bliana.  Cia 
lion  teaghlach  a  tha  iad  sin  a  cumail 
am  bochdainn  's  an  truaighe  ?  Agus 
ma  tha  firinn  's  a  Bhiobull,  's  e 
piantan  gun  chrich  a  tha  feitheamh 
orra  fhein  gu  leir.  Tha  'n  t-òl  a 
toirt  moran  tuille  call  air  an  riogh- 
achd air  iomad  doigh ;  agus  naji 
sguireadh  e,  bhithedh  coisneadh  ni 

*  Onatk-fhocail.  Caib.  x.,  v.  2. 


b'  f hearr  aig  luchd-oibre  a's  fir- 
ceairde  ;  agus  bliiodh  saoibhreas  na 
tire  gu  mor  air  a  mheudachadh,  am 
feadh  's  a  bhiodh  a  costus  air  a 
laodachadh.  Osbarr  thigeadh  gach 
osdair  air  am  bheil  'feum  beo  gu 
math  air  a  bhi  cumail  fardaich,  biadh 
a's  deoch  ri  'n  aoidhibh,  gu'n  luaidh 
air  alcohol,  mar  tha  moran  diu  a 
deanamh. 

Ma  tha  duine  deanadach,  modh- 
ail,  agus  gun  toir  e  freagra  siobhailt, 
nu?ir  a  choitichear  deoch  air,  coisn- 
idh  e,  an  aite  call  oir  earbar  gnoth- 
ach ris,  a  raoghainn  air  fear  na 
dileig.  A  thaobh  a  bhi  mealladh 
dhaoine  le  dibhe  am  barganaibh  's 
aig  rubainnibh,  chan  'eil  ann  ach 
smior  na  slaidearachd. 

5.  Tha  cuid  ag  òl  o  bhròn  a's 
briste-cridhe.  Ach  's  gearr  's  is 
truagh  an  comhfhurtachd  a  gheobh- 
ar  bho  alcohol,  agus  is  ro  dhaor  a 
phaidhear  air  a  shon.  Chan  'eil  an 
leigheas  ach  a  deanamh  na  cuis  ni 
's  miosa ;  oir  tha  an  corp  's  an  inn- 
tinn  araon  air  an  ciurradh  's  am 
feargnaehadh  ;  agus  tha  duine  ni 's 
neo-f  hoisniche  na  bha  e  an  toiseach. 
Deanadh  daoine  fo  bhròn  a's  iomag- 
uinn  mar  a  tha  an  Slanuighear  ag 
iarraidh  oira,  agus  gheobh  iad  fior 
chomh-fhurtachd  buan.  "  Thigibh 
a'  m'  ionnsuidhse,"  tha  e  ag  radh, 
"  sibhse  uile  a  ta  ri  saothair  agus 
fo  throm  eallaich,  agus  bheir  mise, 
suaimhneas  dhuibh.  Gabhaibh  mo 
,  chuing  oirbh,  agus  fòghlumaibh 
uam  ;  oir  ata  mise  macanta  agus 
[  iriosol  an  cridhe  ;  agus  gheobh  sibh 
j  fois  do  bhur  n-anamaibh.  Oir  ata 
!  mo  chuingse  so-iomchar,  agus  ata 
mo  eallach  eutrom."  * 

Ceadaich,  a  leughadair,  facal  's 
an  dealachadh.  Ma  tha  thu  seach- 
nadh  an  oil  gu  tur,  lean  ri  d' 
chleachda,  agus  na  gabh  ort  cainnt 
na    doighean    luchd    an    oil.     Ma 


Mata,  Caib.  xi.,  v.  28-30. 


364 


AN   GAIDHEAL.  Dara  Mìos  a*  Oheamhraidh,  1876. 


ghabhas,  bithidh  aobbar  aithreach- 
uis  agad.  Ma  tha  tbu  ag  òl  beagan, 
uair  air  'n  uair,  leig  dhiot  e  ;  's  ann 
bho  sin  a  tha  misg  an  t-saoghail  ag 
èiridh.  Is  trie  a  tha  aithrichean 
a's  maithrichean  a  caoidh  gu  goirt 
airson  pòit  a  dh'  ionnsaich  an  clann 
aig  am  bòrd  f  hein.  Thoir  aire  nach 
dit  do  chogais  thu,  ma  thig  aon  de 
d'  chloinn  gu  bhi  trom  air  an  dibhe. 
Tha  gach  neach  a  dh'  òileas  cion- 
tach  ann  a  bhi  cumail  suas  air  droch 
cleachda  o  'm  bheil  an  call  uile  a 
sruthadh,  Ciamar  theid  a  mhisg  a 
chaoidh  air  chlil,  fhad  's  a  bhios 
daoine  ag  òl  deoch  a  mhisgeir  1  Ma 
tha  e  furasd  dhut  deoch  a  sheach- 
nadh,  's  ann  is  mughado  chiont  mur 
dean  thu  sin  ;  agus  cha  ghabh  ain- 
eolas  do  leisgeul.  Ach  chan  aithne 
dhut  neart  an  t-srutha,  fhad  's  a 
thu  dol  leis  :  ni  mugha  's  aithne  dhut 
cumhachd  dibhe  gus  an  leig  thu 
dhiot  i  gu  tur.  Ma  tha  e  dnilich 
dhut  sgur  dhi,  tha  thu  cheana 
deigheil  oirre ;  agus  gu  cinnte  's 
Kiithich  ciil  a  chur  rithe,  mus  an 
dean  i  traill  dhiot,  agus  am  bi  thu 
air  do  ribeadh,  gun  dochas  fuasg- 
kidh.  'S  gaun  gun  cualas  riamh  guth 
air  duine  a  lean  air  beagan,  an 
deigh  dha  fas  titheach  air  dibhe. 
Is  trie  a  tha  'n  deoch  'n  a  ceap- 
tuisleadh  do  dhaoine  a  tha  'g  aid- 
eachadh  a  bhi  'n  an  cloinn  do  Dhia ; 
agus  tha  ministeirean  am  measg  nan 
anacrèideach  ag  radh  nach  eil  ni 
eile  a  's  mugha  a  tha  our  bacadh  air 
an  saothair. 

Mar  is  mugha  a  smuainicheas 
sinn  air  a  chuis,  's  ann  is  soilleire  a 
chi  sinn  gur  e  ar  dleasnus  an  deoch 
a  leigeil  dhinn  gu  leir,  agus  ar  dich- 
ioll  a  dheanamh  air  daoine  eile  a 
thoirt  gu  seachnadh  a  chaoi.  Ann 
an  dochas  nach  bi  mo  shaothair 
airson  do  leas  diomhain,  guidheam 
slan  leat, 

P,  MacGriogair. 


AM  MUILEANN  SABHAIDH. 

Gur  mi  a  tha  'n  trhs'  fo  mhulad, 
S  mi  air  thuireadan  bho  chradh-lot ; 
Fhuair  mi  mo  làmh  air  a  dochunn 
'S  na  lotan  's  na  tosgan  grannda. 
N'am  bu  bhkrd  mi  dheanainn  oran — 
Cha  bhiodh  doigh  air  fuireach  sàmhach  ; 
Ged  chuirteadh  mi  dh'Inbhiraora, 
Dheanainn  aoir  do'n  Mhuileann-Shàbhaidh. 

Chkininn  a'  chuibhle  's  an  acfhuinn, 
'S  gach  treallaich  a  bhuineas  dha  sud  ; 
Chaochail  a'  cheud  fhear  a  dhealbh  iad, 
B'fhearr  dhomh  marbh  e  na  bhi  làthair, 
Mu'n  do  thilr  e  'n  innleachd  oillteil, 
Is  sàmhl'  e  air  an  Lebhiatan 
'N  uair  a  theannas  e  ri  nuallraich, 
Ni  e  fuaim  co  cruaidh  ri  dragon. 

'Nuair  a  th^id  maide  air  a  'bhèuraobh, 
'Sa  th^id  'fhiaclan  an  sàs  ann, 
'Bithidh  mise  le  geinnean  cruaidhe, 
Gam  bualadh  ri  ck\  a'  chàirein. 
Bithidh  fear  eile  'ga  shir  phutadh, 
'S  cha'n  fhurasda  fuireach  lamh  ris. 
'Sann  'bhitheas  e   sgiamhail  mar   uircean, 
Anns  am  biodh  iad  a'  cur  f  àinne. 

Theab  an  la  bhi  brònach  dhòmhsa 

A  dhol  a'n  coir  an  t-sàbhaidh, 

Dh'  fhaodainn   a  bhi  'm  eirbeallach  ri  m' 

bheò, 
Mur  bitheadh  fior  thròcair  co  làidir  ; 
Cha  robh  coire  aig  duine  beò  ris 
Ged  a  chailinn  an  dòm  bho'n  ghàirdean. 
Chaoidh  cha  toir  mi  beum  do'n  mhùilleii:, 
'S  ann  ro  chaoimhneil  rium  'bha  e. 

Dh'fhalbh  e  'na  ruith  thun  an  tighe, 

'Sann  ro  chabhagach  a  bha  e. 

Thoisich  e  ri  glaodhaich  bhrt^idean, 

'S  gu'n  cltiinnt'  eg  èigheach  mu'n  d'ràinìg. 

Fhuair  e  l^ine  chaol  de'n  anart 

Gu  'cur  tarsuinn  air  mo  làimh-sa. 

Cha  robh  e  fada  'ga  stroiceadh  ; 

'S  cha  bheò  a  b'urrainn  a  ckireamh. 

Tharruing  sinn  a'  sin  le  ch^ile, 
A  dh'  iarraidh  l^igh  airson  na  laimhe 
'S  ghabh  sinn  an  t-aiseag  gu  Tomas, 
Maighstir  coir  an  tigh-thàirne. 
'Nuair  a  fhuair  e  fios  air  'n  aobhair 
j  Ghlaodh  e  ris  a'  ghille-stàbuil. 
Dh'  òrduich  e  an  st^ud-eaoh  'sa'n  carbad, 
'Bhi  air  falbh  gu'n  tuilleadh  dàlach. 

Dh'  fhalbh  sinn  a  sin  le  caljhaig, 
'S  rkinig  sinn  baile  na  stàirne  ; 
Grearrasdan  dubh  Inbhirlochaidh, 
'N  t-àite  frògach,  ùdlaidh,  grannda  ! 


Dara  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876.         AN   GATDHEAL. 


365 


Marsantann  "san  dorsan  dùinte  ; 
Tighean  's  an  ctdthaobh  ri  sàile, 
Gur  beag  a  ghabh  mi  thlachd  dheth, 
'S  bha  mi  gu  grad  air  son  'fhàgail. 

Cha  d'fhuair  sinn  an  t-Olladh  aig  baile  ; 

'S  fhan  sinn  tacan  mar  a  bha  sinn  ; 

Cha  robh  e  fada  gu'n  tighinn  ; 

'S  fhiiair  sinn  fios  a  dhol  'na  làthair. 

Bu  neo  shùnndach  a  bha  mise, 

'S  mi  gu'n  fhios  agam  mar  bha  i. 

Bha  mo  smuaintean-sa  gam  chlisgeadli, 

'S  bha  mo  mhisneach  'gam  fhàgail. 

'Nuair  chaidh  na  cuibhrichoan  fhuasgladh, 

'S  ann  ro  dhuaichnidh  a  bha  i  ; 

'S  charaich  mi  'cheist  ris  an  dochtair, 

An  coisneadh  i  'n  t-aran  Ikitheil  ? 

'NuaLr  dh'  ianis  an  duine  coir  dhomh 

Gu'm  bu  dorn  i  a  chinneadh  laidir, 

Bha  mi  toillichte  da  rireadh, 

'S  cha  shòrainn  air  chinnt  a  phaidheadh. 

Gmn  b'e  sin  an  sar  dhuin'  uasal, 
Cha  b'ann  gruamach  rium  a  bha  e, 
Ach  caoimhneil,  iriosal,  truacant', 
Dh'fhidi-inn  e  'san  xiair  air  m'fhiiillinn. 
Mhothuich  mi  gu'n  ghabh  e  truas  rium, 
'Nuair  a  dh'fhuasgail  e'n  lamh  ghekrrta  ; 
Thùm  e  ann  an  uisge  fuar  i, 
'S  rinn  e  fein,  le  shuairce  a  caireamh. 

C'uim'  an  criochnaichinn  an  duan  so  ? 
Gun  luaidh  thoirt  air  ainm  a'  Ghaidheil. 
Tha  e  Chloinn  an  t-Saoir  o'n  Chruachan, 
Aonach  uachdarach  Earraghaidheil. 
Bithean  nach  tais  ri  h-uchd  tuasaid, 
A  choisneadh  bùaidh  anus  na  blàraibh, 
Ged  cham  iad  an  coir  air  SMibhte, 
Cha  b'ann  gun  treuntas  a  bha  iad. 

'S  ged  a  dh'eireadh  dhomh  'bhi  falamh, 
'S  gim  dad  'bhi  agam  gu  'phaigheadh  ; 
Cha  b'eagal  domh  comhl'  rim'  charaid, 
'Se  nach  faiceadh  ann  an  sas  mi. . 
'S  iomadh  ekrlaig  thig  air  duine, 
Ged  'b  urr  iiun,  c'arson  a  dh'aicheadh  1 
'S  buidheach  mi  m'dheadh  bhràthair-C(^Lle, 
Fhreasdail  orm  fein  'sa  chks  ud. 

Fhir  tha  'fuireach  aig  a'  mhuileann, 
'Sa  tha  daonnan  a'm  bun  an  t-sàbhaidh, 
Mo  chomhairle  dhuit  mar  charaid, 
Thu  bhi  'n  earalas  do  lamhan  ; 
Seachainn  air  culag  na  btìst  iad 
'S  ann  aig  tha  dèud  a'  mhic-lamhaich. 
Cha  d'  f  hairich  mi  ni  co  gèur  ris, 
Ach  fuirich  o   fhiacail  taiUeir  !  * 

Le  Ardghabheach  a  mhuinntir 
Mhuille. 


*  Ghearr  tailleir.  ann  an  caonnaig,   ordag 
an  ughdair  gu  dona. 


SUIPJDHE  A'  MHADAIDH- 

EUAIDH, 

xo 

'S  I  'N  ONOm  A  BHEIR  BUAIDH. 

Sgeulachd  a  keir  nos  nan  seann 

SCxEULHACHDAN   GaIDHEALACH. 

(Air  a  leantuinn.) 
Bha  peasan  beag  do  choinean  a 
stigh,  a  bha  ro  chuideil  mòr  as  fein, 
agus  thuirt  an  sionnach  ris  gu  'n 
robh  an  trusdar  coin  'ga  chàineadh 
's  a'  fochaid  air,  's  gum  bu  choir  dha 
dol  as  gabhail  air.  " 'Ne  mise?" 
thuirt  an  coinean,  "  mharbhadh  e 
mi."  "  Na  biodh  eagal  air  bith 
ort,"  thuirt  an  sionnach,  cha  'n  eil 
ann  ach  an  gealtaire  mòr,  teichidh 
e  air  a'  cheud  ionnsuidh  a  bheir  thu 
air,  agus  cuidichidh  mi  fein  leat 
ma's  èiginn.  Abair  thusa  ris  do 
choinneachadh  sa'  choillidhud  shuas 
fo  cheann  uair,  's  gu  'n  toir  thu  dha 
e  airson  a  dhroch  tbeangaidh.  Bidh 
mi  fein  dlùth  do  hiimh,  agus  cha  'n 
fhaic  mi  beud  ort."  Dh'  fhalbh  an 
garrach  leibideach  's  thug  e  diilan, 
siiil  mu'n  t-sròin,  do  'n  chu, 
Ghabh  an  cù  ioghnadh  nach  bu 
bheag,  ach  thuirt  e  o'n  bha  uiread 
fheum  aig  a'  chreutair  air  modh  a 
theagasg  dha,  gu  'n  coinnicheadh  e 
e  mar  a  dh'  iarr  e,  's  gu'n  tugadh  e 
fàsgadh  dha  a  chuireadh  beagan  do'n 
chuidealas  agus  do  'n  pheasanachd 
as  a  choluinn  leibidich.  Chaidh  an 
CÙ  tliun  an  àite  mar  a  gheall,  ach 
'nuair  a  chunnaic  an  coinean  bochd 
nach  d'  thàinig  an  sionnach  air  agh- 
aidh,  ghrad  dh'  fhàihiich  a  chridhe, 
's  theich  e  stigh  do  tholl  far  nach 
ruigeadh  cù  no  gadhar  air.  Cha 
robh  aig  a'  chu  ach  tilleadh  air  ais 
gu  h-aimhealach,  cianail,  a'  boid- 
eachadh  an  tuille  dioghaltais  an 
aghaidh  an  t-sionnaich,  oir  thuig  e 
gu  math  gum  b'  iad  a  chuireidean- 
san  a  bha  air  am  feuchainn  ris  a 
rithist. 


366 


AN   GAIDHEAL.         Dara  MIos  a*  Okeamhraidh,  187fl^ 


Cha  luaithe  bha  an  cù  as  an  rath- 
ad  na  thog  an  sionnach  air  a  dh' 
fhaicinn     na     beithir     sgiathaich. 
'Nuair  chaidh  e  stigh  do  'n  uaimh 
bha  leth-cheud  do  thòrran  òir  agus 
airgid  air  gach  taobh,  agus  cha  'n 
fhac'    e   riabh   a   leithid.     Chuir  e 
mile  fàilte  's  furan  air  a'  bhan-oigh- 
re,  a  bha  ann  an  ait  iomallach  do'n 
uaimh,  far  nach  b'  urrainn  e  faigh- 
inn  dliith  dhi,  agus  mhol  e  i  mar 
nach  biodh  a  leithid  air  an  t-sao- 
ghal.     "  0  !  nam  b'  urrainn  duit  m' 
f  huasgladh  as  an  àite  so,  mo  thoirt 
air  falbh  o'n  bhodach  m'  athair  a 
tha  CO  dona  dhomh,  's  mi  bhiodh 
aim  ad  chomain,  's  bu  leat  mi  fèin 
's  na  bheil  an  sin  de  storas,"  thuirt 
ise.      "  'S   mi   bhiodh    toileach,    a 
ribhinn    mo    chridhe"    tlniirt     an 
sionnach,   "  ach  ciamar   is   urrainn 
domh  a  dheanamh  1 "     Cha  'n  eil 
ach  aon  dòigh  air,  thuirt  ise,  '9  e 
sin  m'  athair  a  chur  'na  chadal  tròm 
's  'nuair  bhios  e  'na  shuain,  teich- 
eadh  ;  's  cha  'n  eil  ni  a  chuireas  'na 
chadal  ceart  e  ach  eanaraich  air  a 
deanamh  defheòil  cait  big  reamhair 
— feuch  thusa  'm  faigh  thu  sin,  agus 
leig  a'  chùis  leamsa  'na  dhèigh  sin." 
"  An    dean   cat  an  tighe   ud   thall 
gnothuch?"    thuirt    easan.     "Cha 
'n  iarruinn  na  b'  fhèarr"  ars'  ise. 
*'  Eo-mhath  ma  tà,  mu  fheasgar  am 
màireach  cuiridh  mise  d'  ar  n-ionn- 
suidh  i,   's  feuch  an  toir  sibh  Ian 
meadair  mhaith  do   'n  bhodach    a 
bheir   air  srann  a  tharruing,"  ars' 
esan.     "  Na  biodh  cùram  ort,"  ars' 
ise,  "  na  fàilnich  thusa  air  do  thaobh 
fein."       "  An    latha    chi    's    nach 
f  haic  !  "    arsa   'n    sionnach,    "  slàn 
leibh    a   mhaighdeann    àluinn !    's 
bliadhna  leam   gus   am   faic   mi   a 
rithist  sibh." 

Chaidh  an  cealgaire  so  do  thigh  a' 
chait  ro-thoilichte  le  'thapachd  fein, 
's  a'  smaoineachadh  nach  biodh 
sionnach  san  dlithaich  co  beairteach 
ris  fein,  agus  dh'  innis  e  sgleò  mòr 


do  'n  chat,  ag  ràdh  nach  robh  nigh- 
ean  idir  aice,  ach  gu  'n  robh  i  fein 
CO  chaoirahneil,  fhialaidh  shuairce  ; 
gu'n  robh  i  ri  cuirm  mhòir  rìomhaich 
aighearaich  ghreadhnaich,  a  thoirt 
seachad  an  ath-oidhche,  's  gu  'n  robh 
ise  ri  bhi  air  tlis  agus  air  toiseach 
nan  aoidhean.  "  An  teid  thu  ann, 
a  ruin  Ì  "  ars'  esan.  "  'S  mi  thèid," 
thuirt  ise,  "  's  cha  'n  ann's  mi  fein 
g'  a  ràdhainn,  cha  'n  eil  mi  'n  dùil 
gum  bi  aona  chàraid  ann  a's  sgiolta, 
's  a's  eireachdaeli  na  thu  fein  's  mi 
fhein,  a  laoigh  mo  chridhe." 

Thàinig  am  feasgar,  bha  'n  cat 
gun  amharus  air  bith  air  na  bha 
'feitheamh  oirre ;  agus  ged  nach  robh 
cogais  an  t-sionnaich  ro  shamhach, 
cha  do  ghabh  e  a  bheag  air  ;  bha  e 
a'  smaoineachadh  gum  b'  fhiach 
beairteas  nighean  na  beathrach- 
sgiathaich  aon  dad  a  b'  urrainn  da 
a  dheanamh  air  a  shon.  Bha  'n 
dithis  brath  falbh  cuideachd  a  dh' 
ionnsuidh  na  cuirme,  na  'm  b'  f  hior, 
ach  'nuair  chunnaic  an  sionnach  an 
cli  san  t-sean  àite,  ghabh  e  a  leis- 
geul,  ag  radhainn  nach  robh  toil 
aige  caonnag  no  aimhreit  a  dhean- 
amh 'na  làthair-se,  ach  ise  dh' 
fhalbh  air  thoiseach  's  ann  an  ùine 
ghoirid  gu  'n  tugadh  esan  a  dheagh 
ghiullachd  do  'n  bheisd  choin,  's  an 
sin  gu'n  leanadh  e  i.  "  Thoir  an 
aire  ort  fein,  a  ghràidh,"  thuirt  ise. 
"  Och,  na  biodh  ciiram  ort,  f  heudail 
's  a  ghràidh,"  ars'  esan,  "  cha  'n 
fhada  sheasas  e  riumsa." 

Dh'  fhalbh  an  cat  ma  tà,  ach  an 
àite  faighinn  a  stigh  do  'n  uaimh  air 
dorus  iosal,  's  ann  a  bha  i  air  a  togail 
suas  ann  an  croidhleig  bhig  gu  uinn- 
eig  a  bha  gu  h-ard  ann  an  aodann 
na  craige — ach  cha  do  chan  i  guth 
'na  aghaidh,  agus  ann  an  sin  fàgaidh 
sinn  i  'n  dràsd. 

Bha  siiil  a'  choin  daonnan  air  an 
tigh  san  robh  a  nàmhaid,  agus  'de 
chunnaic  e  aig  an  am  ach  gu  'n 
'd'fhàg  an  cat  an  dorus  fosgailte  'na 


D»r»  Mios  a'  Gheamhraidh,  1876.        AN   GAIDHEAL, 


367 


deigh,  agus  ghrad-leum  e  a  stigh,  a' 
deauamh   dhetli   gum  biodli  a   nis 
aicheanihail  aige  a  dh'  aindeoin  cò  | 
theireadh  e — ach  cha  robh  an  sionn- 
ach  CO  cearbach  's  a  shaoil  e.     'Nuair 
thuig  e  mar  bha  a'  chUis  thilg  se  e 
fèin  air  a  dbruim,  stiorc  e  a  chasan, 
thionndaidh  e  a  sbùilean,  's  rinn  e 
caoirean    bochd,    direach  mar   gum 
biodb  e  dol  a  tbilgeadh  na  b-analach.  1 
"  Och  !  och  !  a  charaid,"  thuirt  esan 
ris  a'  cbii,  's  e  'g  ospagaich  mar  gum 
bi   h-uile  te   an  te  mu  dheireadh, 
'•  tha  do   leòir  aicheamhail  agad  a 
nis,  tha  mi  'g  iarraidh  mile  maith- 
eanais  ort  airson  a  h-uile  droch  chuir , 
a  rinn  mi  t'aghaidh — abair  gu  bheil 
thu   a'   toirt   maitheanais  domh,  's  j 
bidh  e  'na  f  haochadh  mèr   do  m'  | 
chogais  mu'n  toir  mi  suas  an  deò."    j 

Bha  'n  cli  coir  diombach  ni's 
leoir,  ach  cha  chuireadh  e  fiacaill  air , 
a  nàmhaid  bu  mhiosa  's  e  'na  leithid 
de  chàs,  agus  's  e  thubhairt  e,  "  Na 
cuireadh  sin  cùram  ort,  ach  ciod  is 
urrainn  domh  a  dheanamh  chum  do 
leigheas?  tha  thu  ann  an  iarguin 
mhòir."  "  Och !  tha  mi  'gam  losgadh 
leis  a'  phathadh,"  ars'  esan,  "  nam 
faigheadh  tu  balgam  dibhe  dhomh, 
bhithinn  a  'd  chomain  gu  siorruidii 
— 0  !  'de  so  a  dh'-eirich  dhomh  ? 
'de  so?  'de  so?  Tha  toll  beag — tha 
toll  beag — ach  cha  'n  urrainn  mi 
labhairt  —  tha  toll  beag  thall  san 
oisinn  anns  a'  bheil  uisge — cuir  do 
spòg  ann  agus  fliuch  mo  bhilean  air 
a'  chuid  a's  lugha."  Rinn  an  cù 
coir  mar  so,  ach  cha  luaithe  bha  a 
spòg  san  toll  na  tharruing  an  sionn- 
ach  sreang  air  an  robh  llib-ruithe, 
anns  an  toll ;  cheangail  e  gu  cruaidh 
teann  e  mu  tharuinn  a  bha  sa' 
bhalla,  's  bha  'n  clz  an  sàs  ann  an 
rib  nach  b'  urrainn  da  f  huasgladh. 
"  Beannachd  leat !  "  arsa  'n  sionn- 
ach,  "  cha  bhi  thu  co  ealamh  air  do 
chois  a  chur  an  toll  an  ath  uair." 

An  deigh  do  'n  t-sionnach  feith- 
eamh  sus  an  robh  e  'smuaineachadh 


gum  biodh  an  cat  air  a  deagh 
bhruicheadh,  agus  a  bheithir-sgiath- 
ach  'na  suain,  chaidh  e  thun  na  h- 
uamha  agus  rinn  e  cagar  foil  ris  an 
nighin.  "  Thig  a  nios,  a  ruin " 
thuirt  ise,  "  tha  h-uile  gnothuch 
ceai't,  agus  bidh  sinn  sona  ann  an 
(line  ghoirid."  Leum  an  sionnach 
a  stigh  do  'n  chroidhleig,  tharruinu 
ise  'n  t-sreang — ach  beagan  mun  d' 
ràinig  e  'n  uinneag,  chuir  i  mach  a 
spòg  mhòr,  agus  an  toiseach  shliog 
i  druim  an  t-sionnaich,  an  sin  shliog 
i  'earball,  agus  mun  robh  fhios  aige 
ciod  a  theireadh  e  ris  a'  chniod- 
achadh  so  uile,  thuit  a'  chroidhleag 
gu  làr ;  ach  ma  thuit  cha  do  thuit 
an  sionnach — bha  sreang  gu  cruaidh, 
gramail  teann  mu  'earball,  direach 
mar  a  chuir  esan  mu  chois  a'  choin, 
agus  e'n  crochadh  air  aodann  na 
craige,  gun  chomas  dol  as.  Cha  do 
thaitinn  so  ris  gu  ro  mhaith,  oir  cha 
'n  eil  na  sionnaich  toigheach  air  bhi 
'n  crochadh  le  'n  cinn  fòdhpa ;  ach 
'se  leòn  uile  e  gu  'n  d'  thainig  a' 
bheithir-sgiathach  fein  a  mach,  gu'n 
do  chruinnich  beathaichean  a'  bhaile 
uile  mu  'thimchioll,  agus  gu  'n  d' 
iunis  a'  bheithir  mhòr  dhoibh  mar 
thachair,  agus  an  doigh  anns  an  d' 
thug  i  an  car  as  an  t-sionnach  le 
'chleasan  fein  ;  dh'  innis  i  nach  robh 
mac  no  nighean  aice,  's  gur  h-anu 
oirre  fein  a  bha  'n  sionnach  a'  suir- 
idhe  airson  an  airgid.  Dh'  innis  i 
mar  a  thairg  e  'dheanamh  mu  'n 
chat — "  agus  faicibh  a  nis  c'  ait  a' 
bheU  e,  an  suiridhiche  gasda  le 
'chleasan  's  le  'chuilbheartan,"  arsa 
'bheithir-sgiathach,  's  a  cliathaichean 
air  chrith  le  gàireachdaich. 

Cha  robh  beathach  air  nach  robh 
craos  cam  mu  'n  mhada-ruadh,  agus 
thug  gach  aon  an  greis  fein  air  foch- 
aid  air. 

Thainig  an  cu  an  deigh  an  t-sreang 
a  bhristeadh,  's  cha  b'e  a  ghàù-e  bu 
lugha  no  a  dhiomoladh  a  b'  isle. 
Mu  dheireadh  's  mo  dhih  nuair  a 


368 


AN    GAIDHEAL.         Dara  Mios  a  Gheamhraidh,  1876. 


bha  'n  sionnach  air  a  lèireadh  's  air 
a  leòn  le  'n  sgeigireachd,  chuir  e  a 
chasan-deiridh  am  forcadh  ris  a' 
chraig — t/liug  e  aou  spaghadh  garbh 
le  'uile  iieart,  agus  leum  e  gu  làr 
ach  cha  do  lean  'earball  e ;  dh'  f ban 
sin  an  crocbadh  ris  a'  cbraig. 
Tbeicb  e  co  luatb  's  a  bbeireadb  a 
cbasan  e — tbàr  e  as  a  db-ionnsuidh 
a'  cbliirn  bu  dluitbe. 

A  nis  na'm  biodh  an  t-earball  na 
bu  rigbne,  bbiodb  an  sgeulachd  so 
na  b'  fhaide,  acb  o  nacb  robbj 
sguiridb  sinn  le  beagan  fhacall. 

Ghabb  a'  bbeithir-sgiatbacb  cbòir 
deagb  cburam  de'n  cbat,  dh'  innis  i 
dba  CO  fiachail,  dbileas,  fhirinneaob 
's  a  bha  'n  cù.  Bha  'n  cat,  mun  do 
mhealladh  i  leis  an  t-sionnach,  toil- 
each  air  companach  onorach,  's  cha 
b'  fhada  gus  an  d'  rinn  i  fein  's  an 
GÙ.  a'  bhanais  ;  agus  b'i  sin  a'  bhanais 
ghleadhracb  aighearacb.  B'i  'bheithir- 
sgiathach  fein  a'  mhaighdeann. 
'Nuair  a  dh'  òl  iad  deoch-slàinte 
bean-na-bainnse  thuirt  am  fleasgach, 
*'  A  chuideachd  uile  tha  'm  làthair, 
seachnaibh  goileamas  na  pioghaid, 
gu  sonruichte  sannt  agus  carachd 
an  t-sionnaich  ;  leanaibh  firinn  agus 
onoir,  dilseachd  agus  trèibhdhireas, 
a  chum  gu  'n  òirich  gu  math  dhuibh. 

"  Bheir  firinn  agus  onoir  buaidh 
Air  cuilbheartan  a'  mhadaidh-niaidli." 

Dh'  fhalbh  an  t-àm  san  robh  a 
leithid  so  de  sgeulacbdan  cleachdta 
am  measg  nan  Gàidheal,  agus  ged 
a  dh'  fbaodar  cur-seachad  iiine  's 
fèarr  na  iad  fhaotainn,  their  sinn 
mu  'n  deibhinn  gu  bheil  iad  a' 
teagasg  fhirinnean  feumail  ann  an 
cainnt  shnasmhoir ;  agus  gum  bu 
bhrioghmhor  math  iad  chum  an 
oidhche  gheamhraidh  a  chur  thairis, 
seach  na  naigheachdan  faoine, 
breugach,  tuaileasach,  mirunach,  ris 
a'  bheil  ar  luchd-dùthcha  a  nis  gu 
minig  ag  èisdeachd  'nuair  tha  iad 
air  chèilidh.     Tha  na  pioghaidean. 


a'  fas  na's  lionmhoire  bho'n  a  sguir 
na  sgeulacbdan ;  tha  iad  anabh- 
arrach  lionmhor  air  feadh  na 
Gàidhealtachd — lucbd-trusaidh  agus 
luchd-sgaoilidh  gach  sgeòil  f  haoin  ; 
ach  nitear  am  beatha  le  iomadh  aon 
a  tha  fada  'n  aghaidh  seann  sgeul- 
acbdan agusdànana  Gàidhealtachd, 
ach  a  tha  anabarrach  deigheil  air 
sgainneal  diithcha. — Cuairtear. 


SLGIXNTEAEACHD. 

{Collectanea  de  Rehus  Alhanicis.) 
Daihit  mc  Mailcoluim  mc  Sionn- 
aig  mc  Singin  mc  Mailcolm  mcCineta 
mc  Mailcolm  mc  Domnaill  mc  Con- 
saitin  mo  Cineta  mc  Aidfin  mc  Dom- 
angart  mc  Domnaill  brec  mc  Each- 
ach  buighe  mc  Aidan  mc  Gabhran 
mc  Doman  guirt  mc  Fergusa  mc 
Eire  mc  Eachach  muinreamhair  mc 
Aengusa  mc  Feilime  mc  Seancormac 
mc  Cruitenithe  mc  Finnfeiche  mc 
Aicircirr  mc  Eachach  an  trid  mc 
Fiadach  mc  Eathach  riada  .i.  Cairpre 
ri  fata  mc  Connaire  caeimb  mc  Mog- 
alama  mc  Luigeach  allaig  mc  Cairpri 
mc  Daire  dommair  mc  Cairpri  fir- 
maora  mc  Conair  moir  mc  Eirsgeoil  mc 
Eogan  \uc  lair  mc  Aillil  mc  Deagadh 
mc  Sin  ic  Rosin  mc  .  .  .  ic  Rotbr 
mc  Earmail  mc  Maine  mc  Fergusa 
mc  Feradaigh  mc  Oiliol  arron  mc 
Fiacha  firmara  mc  Aongusa  tuir- 
geach,  &c. 

*.  .  .  ^mc  Maelsnactan  mc  Luaigach 
laech  mc  Gillacomgain  mc  Maoil- 
brigde  mc  Ruaidri  mc  Domnaill  mc 
Morgan  mc  Donaill  mc  Catmaeil  mc 
Euadri  me  Aircellach  mc  Fearchair 
fata  mc  Fearadaigh  mc  Fergusa  mc 
Sneachtain  mc  Colman  mc  Buadan 
mc  Eachach  mc  Maredaig  mc  Loairn 
moir  mc  Eire  mc  Eachach  muinreamh- 
air. 

Macbiad^  mc  Finnleic  mc  Ruaidri 
mc.  Domnaill  mc  Morgain. 


Dara  Mioi  a'  Gheamhraidh, 


AN  GAIDHEAL. 


369 


Genelach  mc  Neachtain. — ■  Muiris 
mc  Maelcolm  mc  Muiris  ic  Maelcolm 
mcGibuin  mcFearchair  ic  Gillacrist^ 
ic  Donaill  ic  Neachtain  ic  Isog  ic 
Gillamart  ic  Aengusa  ic  Imaired  ic 
Neachtain  oig  ic  Neachtain  ic  Neact- 
ain  moir  ic  Donaill  duin  ic  Fearchair 
fata  ic  Fearadaig  ic  Fergusa  ic  Neach- 
tain ic  Colman  ic  Buadan  ic  Eathach 
ic  Muiredaig  ic  Loairn  ic  Eire  ic 
Eoch.  muinreamhair. 

*Do  genelach  clann  an  Toisig  anso  A. 
CI  anil  Gillacatan. — Uilliamagus  Don- 
aill da  mic  Uilliam  ic  Fearchair  ic 
Uilliam  ic  Gillamitil  ic  Fearchair  ic 
Disiab  ic  Gillacrist  ic  Aigh  cobtach 
ic  Eogan  ic  .  .  .  ic  ic  Niell  Lochlan 
ic  Suibne  ic  Disiab  ic  Leoid  ic  Tsead 
ic  Fearchair  ic  Gillachrist  ic  Maelco- 
laim  ic  Donaill  renabarta  in  Caim- 
gilla  ic  Muircba  ic  Suibne  ic  Tead  ic 
Neachtan  ic  Gillacatan  ofiul  clann 
Gillacatan  ic  Gallbrait  ic  Diarmada 
renabarta  an  fear  leigin  ic  Ere  ic 
Dlait  ic  Fearchair  fata  ic  Fearadaig. 
{R  a  leantainn.) 


SOP  AS  GACH  SEIB. 

Tha  aghaidhnean  nan  uile  dhaoine  fior 
ciod  aam  bith  mar  a  tha  'n  lamhan. 

Tha  sinn  gu  trie  a'  dol  o  ghràdh  gu 
gloirmhiann  ;  ach  's  ainneamh  leinn  tilleadh 
o  ghloirmhiann  gu  gràdh. 

Cha  n'  urrainn  neach  nach  robh  riamh 
an  cunnart  a  bhi  cinnteach  gu  bheil  misneach 
aige. 

A'  neach  nach  fhaigh  toileachadh  ann 
fhèin  cha  ruig  e  leas  a  dhol  ga  iarraidh  an 
neach  eile. 

Ma  gheibh  thu  fearann  anns  nach  cinn 
luibh  gheibh  thu  cridhe  anns  nach  cinn 
mearachd. 

Nuair  tha  sinn  ag  aideachadh  lochdan 
beaga  tha  sinn  a'  cumail  a  mach  nach'  eil 
feadhainn  mhora  againn  n'  an  aideachadh. 

Nuair  a  tha  na  suilean  beachdachadh  air 
cusparaibh  peacach  tha  iad  a  dh'  easbhuidh 
gleiduidh  Dhè. 


Cha  bu  choir  do  dhuine  gu  bràth  naire 
bhi  air  airson  aideachadh  gun  deachaidh  e 
mearachd.  Tha  'n  duilie  dh'  aidicheas  a 
mhearachdan  a'  nochdadh  gu  bheil  e  'n 
diugh  ni's  glice  na  bha  e'n  d^. 

Tha  eadardhealachadh  mòr  eadar  cumh 
achd  inatiun  agus  beothalachd  inntinn, 
agus  tha  e  ro  fheumail  an  dealachadh  so  a 
chumail  's  an  t-sealladh.  Is  e  cumhachd 
inntinn  an  comas  a  th'  againn  air  bhi 
'smuaineachadh,  air  a  bhi  'faireachduinn, 
air  a  bhi  beachdachadh,  ciod  sam  bith  cho 
beag  's  a  dh'  fheudas  an  comas  sin  a  bhi. 
Is  e  gniomh  a  bhi  'cur  cumhachd  ann  an 
cleachdadh.  Tha  beothalachd  a'  ciallach- 
adh  an  ealamhachd,  beag  no  mòr  's  mar 
dh'  fheudas  e  bhi,  leis  am  bheil  an  gniomh 
air  a  dheanamh. 

Is  e  soirbheachadh  beannachd  an  t-Seann 
Tiomnaidh,  's  e  àmhghar  beannachd  an 
Tiomnaidh  Nuaidh  a  tha  giùlan  a'  bhean- 
nachaidh  a's  mo  thugainn  agus  a'  toirt 
dhuinn  an  taisbeanaidh  a's  soilleire  air 
deadh-ghean  Dhè.  Eadhon  's  an  t-Seann 
Tiomnadh  ma  dh'  eisdeas  sinn  ri  clàrsaich 
Dhaibhidh  cluinnidh  sinn  an  t-òran-bròin 
cho  trie  ris  an  òran-ghkirdeachais  ;  sharth- 
raich  peann  an  Spioraid  Naoimh  ni  's  mo 
ann  a  bhi  dealbhadh  àmhghairean  lob  na 
sonasan  Sholaimh.  Tha  eagail  agus  ana- 
bias  'nan  dlù  chompanaich  do  shoirljheach- 
adh  ;  agus  tha  comhfhurtachd  agus  dòchas 
an  còmhnuidh  dlùth  do  amhghair. 

Chuir  baintighearn'  uasal  a  seirbhiseach 
Eireannach  a  dh'  iarraidh  trusgain  uir 
sioda,  a  bha  'ga  dheanamh  air  a  son  le 
banalaiche  araidh.  "A  nis,  Mhorgain," 
ars'  a'  bhantighearna  ris,  "gabh  curam  ro 
mhor  dhe'n  trusgan,  agus  ma  thig  an 
t-uisge,  feuch  gu'n  gabh  thu  carbad,  oir  b' 
fhearr  leara  gu  mor  carbad  a  phaigheadh, 
na  mo  thrusgan  a  fhliuchadh.  An  uair  a 
thainig  jNIorgan,  agus  a  shin  e  an  trusgan 
da  Bhan-mhaighstir,  bha  e  gu  buileach  gun 
fheum,  agus  ceart  co  bog,  fliuch  'sa  dhean- 
adh  uisge  e!"  "Ciod  so,  a  Mhorgain,"  a 
deir  i  ris  ann  an  corruich,  "  ciod  so,  fhir 
gun  naire,  mhill  thu  gu  tur  mo  thrusgan 
maiseach,  agus  tha  e  gun  fheum  sam  bith, 
Nach  dubhairt  mi  riut,  a  bhi  cinnteach, 
n'an  sileadh  e,  carbad  a  ghabhail?"  "Ague 
nach  mise  a  rinn  sin,  a  bhaintigheam' 
uasal;  ach  am  bheil  duil  agad  gni'm  biodh 
do  sheirbhiseach-sa  co  beag  naire  agus 
modh,  's  gu'n  suidheadh  e  ann  an  taobh 
Btigh  a'  charbaid,  an  t-ait  a  ta  air  a  shon- 
rachadh  air  son  nan  uaislean?  Cha  dean- 
ainn  idir  e,  ach  shuidh  mi  air  an  taobh  a 
mach  maille  ris  a'  charbadair,  agus  Ochan ! 
fhuair  an  trusgan  agus  mi  fein  ar  teann- 
ehath  dhe'n  uisge." 

24 


370 


AN   GAIDHEAL,         Dara  Mìos  a' Oheamhraidh,  ISTS. 


NA'M  FAIGHINN  GILLE  R'A  CHEANNACH. 

Gleus  a  las.  Mall. 


§ 


t^m^- 


a 


:Mi.,Si     li  :li  :ti., d    r  :r  :  R.,in  f  f :  m  :r.,d    ti:m:M,.,Si 


^ 


^^^ 


f^-pc 


-ri~g 


^1^1 


d=l: 


li  :  ti,d        r 

:  m  :  R.,d 

ti  :  Si  :  li 

t.:l.       II 

f^-^J 

Ji=±__^:_ 

-r-— -"^-r-t- 

t^^v-r^^ 

^f^ 

:L,.,li     1  :  1  :  s.,f    m  :  r.d  :  R.m     s:!  :  s.ni4     r:m:Mi„£ 


^^^^m 


:t=q= 


=3=r 


^=s 


li  :  li  :  ti.d  r  :  m  :  E.d 


ti  :  Si  :  li     I     ta  :  l^      |! 


FoNN — "  Gaol  am  Bèutanach  sùghor." 


Na'm  faighinn  gille  r'a  cheannach 
A  blieireadh  beannaclid  gu  Màiri, 
'S  mo  shoiridh  le  caoiueas 
A  dh-f  hios  na  maidhinn'  a  cliràidh 

mi ! 
Ged  nach  d'  thug  mi  dhut  faidhr- 

ean, 
Ann  am  foill  dhut  cha  d'  fhàs  mi ; 
'S  mura  math  learn  thu  fallain, 
Nara  mheal  mi  mo  shlàinte  ! 

'S  e  d'  f  huran  a  leòn  mi, 

A  dh'  fhàg  am  bron  so  air  m'  aigne ; 

A  thromaich  m'  inntinn  fo  èislean  ; 

Cha  dean  mi  èirigh  le  gradadh  : 

Tha  mo  chridhe  neo-shunndach  ; 

Tha  mi  briiite  fo  m'  aisnean ; 

Aig   a   mheud  's  'thug    mi   'ghaol 

dut, 
'S  nach  faod  sinn  'bhi  tachairt. 


Ged  'chum  mi  'm  falach  an  sgèula, 
Tha  mi  'n  dèigh,  o  cheann  treis',  orfc, 
Aig  a  mheud  's  'thug  mi  'ghaol  dut, 
Tha  m'  aodunn  air  preasadh  ; 
Dh'fhas  glaise  na  m'  ghruaidhean; — 
'S  bochd  a'  bhuaidh  th'  air  an  t-seirc 

sin 
A  chaochail  mo  shnuagh  dhiom, 
Mar  dhuine  truagh  'thig  à  teasaich ! 

Mura  faigh  mi  do  bhuannachd, 

B'  fhearr  gu'm  buailteadh  mi  thairis ; 

Gu'n  cuirteadh  fo  lie  mi 

Ann  an  ciste  chaoil  dhainginn  ! 

Ma  ni  thu  mo  thrèigsinn, 

B'  fhearr  gu'n  èugainn,  's  nach  mair- 

inn  ! — 
Aig  a  mheud  's  thug  mi  'spèis  dhut 
Cha  bhi  m'  èibhneas  air  thalamh  ! 

AlLEIN  DUGHALLACH, 


THE     Gì^^EL, 


ENGLISH  DEPARTMENT. 


Vol  V 


DECEMBER  1876. 


No.  60. 


LANGUAGE  AND  LITERATURE 

OF  THE 

SCOTTISH  HIGHLANDS.* 

The  remarkable  work  recently 
published  by  Professor  Blackie  on 
the  Language  and  Literature  of  the 
Scottish  Highlands  ought  to  be 
judged,  if  judged  at  all,  in  the  pages 
of  the  Gael,  by  rules  different  from 
those  which  a  critic  is  bound  to  ob- 
serve in  ordinary  cases.  In  the  first 
place,  the  purpose  of  the  book  is  an 
"  attempt  to  break  down  the  middle 
wall  of  partition  which  the  author 
has  found  to  exist  fencing  off  the 
most  cultivated  minds  in  England 
and  in  the  Lowlands  of  Scotland 
from  the  intellectual  life  and  moral 
aspirations  of  the  Scottish  High- 
landers." The  contributors  to  this 
Magazine  have  given  their  labours 
from  equally  disinterested  motives  ; 
and,  in  the  English  department 
especially,  the  aim  has  been  to  do 
something  to  secure  the  end  for 
which  the  accomplished  professor 
wrote  the  present  volume.  In  the 
second  place,  Professor  Blackie  has 
been,  and,  we  hope,  will  long  con- 
tinue to  be,  one  of  the  most  valued 
contributors  to  the  Gael.     Not  only 


up  with  the  literature  of  the  Scot- 
tish Highlands.  So  that  in  passing 
judgment  upon  the  purpose  of  this 
work,  we  are  in  a  measure  passing 
judgment  upon  ourselves ;  for  our 
purpose  is  in  part  the  same.  Again, 
if  we  attempt  to  decide  how  the 
learned  author  has  executed  his 
generous  purpose,  we  shall  be  com- 
pelled to  adopt  a  course  which  for 
many  reasons  ought  to  be  avoided — 
viz.,  to  sit  in  judgment  upon  the 
literary  merits  of  a  portion  of  the 
contents  of  our  own  pages,  and  upon 
one  of  our  contributors,  when,  among 
other  matters,  he  reviews  our  own 
labours.  But  whether  regarded  from 
the  point  of  view  of  its  subject  or  its 
authorship,  the  volume  before  us  is 
so  important,  and  gives  such  empha- 
tic and  eloquent  utterance  to  one  of 
the  many  phases  in  which  Celtic 
scholarship  presents  itself  in  these 
days,  as  that  our  readers  would 
justly  consider  that  we  adhered  too 
strictly  to  the  conventional  rules  of 
journalistic  etiquette  if  a  lengthened 
notice  of  the  book  did  not  appear  in 
our  columns. 

The  present  volume  contains  the 
most  complete  and  systematic  ac^ 
count  that  has  ever  been  given  to 
the  English  reader  of  the  Language 


so,  but  a  portion  of  the  contents  of  ^^^  Literature  of  the  Scottish  High- 
the  present  work  appeared  from  L^^^^  j^  -^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^i^l^i^  ^^^ 
time  to  time  m  our  pages,  while  the  h^g^  hundred  years,  and  especially 
Gael  has^^neces^sarily  been  noticed  m\  ^-^^^-^  ^^^      ^^^^^  ^^^^         ^  ^^^_ 


book,  four-fifths  of  which  is  taken 


*  The  Language  and  Literature  of  the 
Scx)ttish  Highlands.  By  John  Stuart 
Blackie,  Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Edinburgh.  Edinburgh  :  Edmon- 
Btone  &. Douglas.     1876. 


ber  of  essays  and  lectures,  together 
with  a  few  more  or  less  elaborate 
treatises,  have  appeared  in  English, 
a  portion  at  least  of  the  contents  of 
which  has  been  devoted  to  an  ex- 
position of  the  principles  of  Scottish 


372 


THE  GAEL. 


December, 


Gaelic.  It  is  also  the  case  that,  in 
addition  to  the  many  translations  of 
Ossian's  poems,  and  to  the  English 
version  which  accompanied  Camp- 
bell's West  Highland  Tales,  nume- 
rous specimens  of  Gaelic  lyric  poetry 
have  been  more  or  less  successfully 
rendered  into  English,  and  published 
from  time  to  time.  But  until  now 
we  have  not  had  in  one  volume  a 
scientific  account  of  the  language 
written  by  a  philologist  of  eminence, 
and  at  the  same  time  numerous 
selections,  translated  by  a  man  singu- 
larly well  qualified  for  the  task,  of 
the  literature  which  constituted  the 
intellectual  ^«ò?ì/mw  of  Scottish  High- 
landers dunng  tlie  last  four  or  five 
hundred  years,  and  the  whole  ac- 
companied by  a  continuous  narra- 
tive, partly  biographical,  partly 
critical,  written  with  all  the  vigour 
and  all  the  fervour  of  Professor 
Blackie's  vigorous  and  fervid  mind 

The  title  of  the  book  indicates 
with  sufficient  clearness  the  contents 
of  it.  It  is  divided  into  five  chap- 
ters, one  of  which  deals  with  the 
language,  the  remaining  four  with 
the  literatufe,  of  the  Scottish  High- 
lands. •  Taking  the  language  of 
the  Scottish  Highlands  as  exhi- 
bited in  published  books  from  the 
Book  of  the  Dean  of  Lismore  down- 
wards, and  as  pronounced  by  the 
living  generation  of  Gaelic-speaking 
men  and  women,  what  evidence  does 
it  show  to  the  philologist  of  its  origin, 
history,  and  development?  and  again 
what  are  its  capabilities  and  what 
its  defects,  "  as  an  organ  of  intellec- 
tual expression,  and  as  a  means  of 
producing  an  sesthetical  eflPect "  ? 
We  can  only  indicate  in  a  general 
way  the  author's  answer  to  these 
two  questions.  "  The  Gaelic  [Cel- 
tic] language  is  one  of  the  oldest  and 
least  mongrel  types  of  the  great 
Aryan  family  of  speech,  which  has 
entered  so  largely  into  history  as  the 


organ  of  the  highest  forms  of  human 
civilisation  both  in  the  east  and 
west."  The  Celtic  genius  survives 
in  France ;  and  "in  the  great  living 
machine  which  we  call  society  in 
Scotland,  it  is  the  Saxon  who  sup- 
plies the  iron  and  the  wood — steam 
comes  from  the  Celt."  But  "  for  the 
Celtic  languages  it  is  difficult  even 
for  the  most  sanguine  to  predict  a 
brilliant  future.  ...  As  master  of 
his  own  peculiar  type  of  Aryan 
speech,  the  Celt  has  maintained  him- 
self, in  rather  a  sorry  fashion,  only 
in  Ireland,  the  north-western  half  of 
Scotland,  in  Brittany,  and  in  Wales; 
and  the  literature  which  he  has 
handed  down,  whether  in  the  Hiber- 
nian, the  Gaelic,  or  the  Cymric  form, 
though  naturally  dear  to  those  who 
speak  it,  and  of  no  common  signific- 
ance in  reference  to  the  early  history 
of  the  British  Isles,  with  certain 
specific  attractions  also  for  the  eye 
of  the  philologer,  is  neither  of  suffi- 
cient extent  nor  of  intrinsic  value 
enough  to  exert  any  sensible  influ- 
ence on  the  great  tidal  currents  of 
European  culture." 

Before  proceeding  to  compare 
Scottish  Gaelic,  taken  for  the  time 
as  representing  the  Celtic  branch, 
with  the  other  members  of  the  Aryan 
family,  it  is  necessary  to  distinguish 
between  the  language  proper  and 
the  additions  made  to  it  from  ex- 
ternal sources.  Our  author  finds 
that  within  historic  times  Scottish 
Gaelic  has  been  to  a  considerable 
extent  modified  and  corrupted  by 
three  separate  influences — the  Latin, 
the  Norse,  and  the  English.  The 
political  influence  of  the  Romans 
over  the  Gaelic-speaking  population 
of  North  Britain  was  scarcely  ever 
perceptible.  But  the  intellectual 
influence  exercised,  after  the  decline 
of  the  Roman  power,  from  Rome 
through  the  Church  was  very  great. 
Accordingly  the  loan-words,  as  they 


December,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


373' 


are  called,  from  Latin  to  Gaelic  are 
mainly  ecclesiastical,  with  a  few 
military  terms.  Professor  Blackie 
gives  a  list  of  fifty-eight  Latin  loan- 
words. The  list  might  no  doubt  be 
increased.  But  the  author  adds 
truly  :  "  On  some  of  these  words,  as 
luireach  for  instance,  a  doubt  might 
be  raised  whether  it  did  not  rather 
form  part  of  the  original  stock  of 
both  languages ;  but  with  regard  to 
the  great  body  of  them,  no  person  j 
accustomed  to  deal  with  such  ques- ' 
dons  can  for  a  moment  doubt."  The 
Norse  influence  on  our  language,  like 
the  manifestation  of  the  Scandinavian 
power  in  Scotland,  is  different  from 
the  Latin.  The  Norsemen  were 
sailors ;  and  they  held  possession  of 
the  north-western  seaboard  of  Scot- 
land and  of  the  Isles  with  little  in- 
terruption for  four  hundred  years. 
Their  influence  survives  in  the  topo- 
graphy of  that  part  of  the  country, 
and  in  a  large  number  of  the  nauti- 
cal terms  used  in  Gaelic  to  the  pre- 
sent day.  Tlie  English  influence  on 
the  language  is  different  from  the 
other  two.  It  has  been  undoubtedly 
great,  although  we  believe  that  Pro- 
fessor Blackie  has  overstated  the  ex- 
tent of  it,  and  it  is  destined  to  be- 
come all-powerful  in  the  future ;  but, 
hitherto,  in  our  written  literature 
and  topography,  strange  to  say,  it  has 
scarcely  been  more  perceptible  than 
the  Latin  and  Scandinavian.  The 
cause  is  not  far  to  seek.  The  Saxon 
did  not  conquer  the  Gael  intellec- 
tually as  the  Irish  ecclesiastics  with 
their  Latin  literature  did  ;  nor  did 
he  politically  subdue  and  colonise 
the  purely  Gaelic  area  as  the  Norse- 
man did.  The  Saxon  was  content 
to  obtain  a  permanent  footing  on  the 
richer  portions  of  Scottish  soil. 
Through  time  he  impressed  his  own 
language  and  institutions  on  these 
richer  portions,  and  gradually  ex- 
tended his  influence  until  his  language 


and  institutions  became  the  ruling 
language  and  institutions  of  the  land. 
He  allowed  the  Gael  undisturbed 
possession  of  his  hills,  his  speech, 
and  his  peculiar  mode  of  govern- 
ment, as  long  as  the  latter  was  con- 
tent with  these.  But  the  Gael  sel- 
dom remained  very  long  a  peace- 
able neighbour ;  and  from  time  to 
time  as  he  felt  himself  able  for  the 
task,  the  Saxon  used  sterner  mea- 
sures than  the  slow  and  subtle  influ- 
ences of  social  and  political  ascend- 
ancy to  introduce  his  own  speech  and 
mode  of  civilisation  into  the  North. 
This  peculiarity  of  the  Saxon  rule,, 
combined  with  the  inherent  conser- 
vatism of  the  Celt,  will  alone  ex- 
plain the  otherwise  inexplicable  fact 
that  Gaelic  has  existed  in  the  High- 
lands of  Scotland,  though  unacknow- 
ledged in  the  government  of  the- 
country,  for  nearly  a  thousand  years;, 
and  has  not  only  retired  before  the 
dominant  tongue  with  almost  imper- 
ceptible steps,  but  has  scarcely  been 
more  sensibly  influenced  by  the  Eng- 
lish language  than  by  either  Latin 
or  Scandinavian. 

But  when  peoples  meet  and  when 
languages  meet,  the  influence  ex- 
erted is  not  all  on  one  side.  It 
would  be  interesting  to  trace  the 
influence,  if  any,  wliich  Gaelic  ex- 
erted on  Latin,  on  Norse,  and  on 
English.  Within  historic  times, 
the  addition  to  the  Latin  vocabu- 
lary from  Celtic  sources  is  percep- 
tible though  slight — from  Scottish 
Gaelic  there  has  been  no  addition. 
In  pre-historic  times,  however,  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  the  influence 
has  been  great.  The  extent  of  the 
Celtic  element  in  Latin  has  not  yet 
perhaps  been  fully  determined.  Pro- 
fessor Blackie  has  clearly  shown  that, 
quite  apart  from  the  loan-words, 
Gaelic  is  far  more  nearly  related  to 
Latin  than  it  is  to  any  other  mem- 
ber  of    the   Aryan   family.      May 


374 


THE  GAEL. 


December,  187C. 


the  kinship  not  be  accounted  for, 
if  it  can  be  proved,  as  Professor 
Newman  and  others  have  already 
almost  proved,  that  of  the  various 
tribes  which  composed  the  Koman 
race  and  the  Latin  tongue,  one  or 
more  spoke  a  Celtic  dialect?  The 
influence  of  Gaelic  upon  Norse  has 
not,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  been 
traced.  It  could  not  have  been  great. 
An  Irish  colony  emigrated  to  Ice- 
land, and  their  influence  on  the 
topography  and  literature  of  that 
country  is  still  traceable.  But 
although  many  Scandinavian  sea- 
rovers  who  would  have  learned 
Scottish  Gaelic  returned  to  their 
own  country,  and  perhaps  added  a 
few  Gaelic  words  to  the  language, 
the  number  of  such  words  could 
not  have  been  large,  for  this  reason 
among  others,  that  these  men  were 
sailors,  and  that  Scottish  Gaelic 
was,  and  is,  peculiarly  weak  in 
nautical  terms.  The  influence  of 
Gaelic  upon  the  English  language 
is,  on  the  other  hand,  patent  to  the 
most  cursory  observer.  The  num- 
ber of  Gaelic  words  that  have  been 
adopted  into  English  since  the  be- 
ginning of  the  present  century 
would  astonish  the  ordinary  reader. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  accept  all  the 
conclusions  of  some  writers  in  order 
to  show  that  the  number  of  words  in- 
troduced hundreds  of  years  ago  was 
very  great  indeed.  It  may  seem  a 
startling  statement,  but  we  would  be 
surprised  to  find  that  a  much  greater 
number  of  English  words  could  be 
found  in  a  page  of  Gaelic  prose  or 
poetry,  than  of  Gaelic  words  in  a 
corresponding  page  of  English  prose 
or  poetry.  It  is  no  doubt  true 
that  if  our  written  literature  was 
more  varied  in  its  character  than  it 
is,  this  would  probably  not  have 
been  the  case ;  and  we  do  not  at  all 
claim  it  as.  a  merit  that  our  Gaelic 
authors  have  borrowed  so. sparingly 


from  English.  If  we  had  more 
Gaelic  prose  than  we  have,  our 
writers  would  be  compelled  to  bor- 
row English  words  and  phrases  oftener 
than  they  did.  But  our  best  writers, 
prose  and  verse,  were  rigid  purists 
in  their  diction  and  idiom.  Our  fore- 
fathers made  no  scruple  of  "convey- 
ing "  the  cattle  of  the  Saxon  to  the 
hills  ;  but  they  religiously  respect- 
ed his  language.  In  the  matter  of 
vocables,  as  indeed  in  most  other 
matters,  the  Saxon  is  the  cateran  of 
the  world.  This  ultra-purism,  and 
especially  the  extreme  jealousy  of 
English  influence,  injuriously  aff'ected 
the  little  literature  we  have,  and  in- 
juriously aff'ects  it  still.  Woe  to  the 
Gaelic  writer  who  attempts  to  borrow 
a  word,  a  phrase,  or  an  idiom  from 
any  language,  especially  from  English. 
His  ideas  may  be  worth  listening  to 
or  they  may  not ;  but  they  will  not 
be  listened  to,  unless  presented  in 
tartan  of  the  genuine  pattern.  We 
have  often  thought  that  the  Celt 
suff"ered  in  the  race  of  nations  by  not 
being  content  occasionally  to  accept 
a  secondary  place.  First  or  nowhere 
is  his  motto.  An  excellent  motto 
when  translated  "  do  or  die,"  A 
mischievous  motto  if  translated  as 
the  Celt  has  sometimes  translated  it, 
"  rather  than  risk  losing  the  first 
place  I  prefer  not  to  enter  the  lists," 
This  spirit  is  nowhere  more  manifest 
than  in  the  history  of  Gaelic  litera- 
ture.. Jealousy  of  external  influence 
has  not  only  shut  out  from  our  litera- 
ture many  great  and  much-needed 
truths,  but  it  impoverished  the 
language.  Words  disappear  from 
the  most  carefully  cherished  vocab- 
ulary. If  there  are  no  additions, 
the  vocables,  especially  the  root- 
words,  decrease  in  time.  It  happen- 
ed so  in  Gaelic.  Few  dictionaries 
present  the  same  disproportion  be- 
tween derivative  and  root-words  as 
the   Gaelic   dictionary.     The   same 


December,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


375 


spirit  has  worked  perhaps  more 
mischievously  in  another  way.  It 
has  created  an  ideal  style  of  pure, 
unadulterated  Gaelic,  in  which  a 
would-be  writer  must  be  proficient 
before  he  attempts  to  write.  We 
believe  there  are  many  men  who 
could  and  would,  at  the  present  fav- 
ourable juncture,  address  their  fellow- 
countrymen  to  good  purpose,  if  there 
were  not  continually  present  to  their 
mental  vision  the  image  of  some 
shadowy  critic  stalking  through  the 
mist,  like  one  of  Ossian's  heroes,  and 
holding  in  his  hand  a  dingy  scroll, 
purporting  to  be  the  only  genuine 
patent  for  writing  good  Gaelic, 
which  was  bequeathed  to  him  by 
an  ancestor  still  more  shadowy,  with 
an  injunction  to  use  the  document 
only  for  the  purpose  of  silencing 
for  ever  any  person  who  presumes 
to  write  Gaelic  prose. 

An  examination  of  the  numerals, 
pronouns,  and  particles,  shows  the 
closer  relationship  of  Gaelic  to 
Latin,  than  to  the  other  Aryan 
languages ;  and  the  same  conclu- 
sion is  reached  after  an  examina- 
tion of  the  root-words  :  '•  I  have 
gone  through  Armstrong's  Gaelic 
Dictionary  very  carefully,  twice, 
arranging  all  the  roots  alphabetic- 
ally in  columns,  and  placing  in  a 
line  parallel  to  each  column  of  Gaelic 
roots,  the  real  or  probable  corre- 
sponding roots  in  Greek,  Latin,  Ger- 
man, English,  and  Scotch.  My  list 
includes  about  eight  hundred  words, 
and  from  a  rough  comparison  with 
another  list  which  I  made,  I  should 
say  it  leaves  two-thirds  of  the  simple 
vocabulary  of  the  language  uncon- 
nected with  any  known  form  of  Ar- 
yan Speech.  .  .  .  The  general  re- 
sult which  my  analysis  affords  is  this, 
that  of  the  four  Aryan  languages, 
with  Avhich  I  compare  it,  the  Gaelic 
presents  the  strongest  affinity  with 
the  Latin,  after  that  with  the  Ger- 


man, and  the  Teutonic  element  of 
the  English,  including  Scotch — least 
of  all  with  the  Greek."  A  similarly 
careful  and  systematic  examination 
of  the  flexional  terminations  of  the 
language  shows  in  Avhat  respects  it 
agrees  with,  and  in  what  respects  it 
ditfers  from  the  Aryan  tongues ; 
while  the  philological  characteristics 
of  it  are  further  illustrated  by  a 
comparison  of  the  roots  with  similar 
roots  in  the  Aryan  tongues  above 
named,  with  the  view  to  show  the 
laws  of  letter-change  which  obtain 
in  the  Gaelic  branch  of  the  Celtic 
tongue. 

"  As  an  organ  of  intellectual  ex- 
pression, the  Gaelic  is  a  language  of 
grand  capabilities,  but  of  very  stun- 
ted attainments.  ...  As  a  means 
of  producing  an  sesthetical  effect, 
there  is  much  more  to  be  said  for 
the  GaeHc.  .  .  .  It  is  a  soft,  vocalic, 
and  mellifluous  language."  The  ch 
though  a  soft  sound  "is  not  pleasant 
to  an  ear  studious  of  euphony;"  and 
"  occurs  so  frequently  in  Gaelic  as  to 
amount  to  a  Tnannerism.  ...  In  the 
enunciation  of  the  liquids  the  Gaelic 
possesses  a  peculiar  virtue  unknown 
to  English  ;  "  while  in  vocalic  depth 
and  musical  sweetness  German  alone 
can  compare  with  it.  Still,  "  iWth 
regard  to  Gaelic,  as  to  French,"  the 
Professor's  opinion  is  "that  they  are 
both  over-refinements,  and  therefore 
corruptions  and  degradations  of  the 
Latin  language."  It  is  somewhat 
difficult  to  see  how  an  original  lan- 
guage, as  Professor  Blackie  has  so 
conclusively  shown  Gaelic  to  be,  can 
be  a  corruption  or  degradation  of 
another.  His  meaning  probably  is 
that  Gaelic  is  an  over-refinement  of 
its  own  prototjrpe,  as  French  is  of 
Latin.  This  is  true.  We  have 
gained  in  "vocalic  sweetness;"  and 
we  have  lost  "  in  masculine  vigour 
and  equestrian  tramp."  A  lan- 
guage whose  only  permanent  litera- 


376 


THE  GAEL. 


December,  1870. 


ture  is  lyric  poetry,  necessarily 
and  with  accelerated  velocity  smooths 
over  medial  consonants,  and  drops 
altogether  final  consonants.  But  we 
are  of  opinion  that  here  Professor 
Blackie  has  overstated  the  extent  of 
the  "  degradation."  To  the  phon- 
etic transcript  which  he  gives  of  the 
opening  lines  of  "  Fingal,"  on  p.  63, 
no  Gaelic  reader  would  conform. 
^'Shuidh"  cannot  perhaps  be  repre- 
sented phonetically  to  the  English 
reader  any  more  than  "that"  can 
be  represented  to  the  Gaelic  reader. 
At  any  rate  hooi  does  not  represent 
it.  Nor  does  hooairi  represent  Chu- 
ain.  We  have  modified,  not  dropped, 
many  of  our  final  consonants.  The 
reader  who  pronounces  Stuadh  as 
stua,  huaidh  as  hua,  crodh  as  cro, 
lagh  as  la,  grievously  "degrades" 
the  already  degraded  sounds. 


Turning  now  from  the  physiog- 
nomy of  the  Gaelic  language,  our 
author  describes  and  exemplifies 
the  published  literature  of  the 
Scottish  Gael,  commencing  with 
the  book  of  the  Dean  of  Lismore, 
and  continuing  down  to  the  present 
hour.  This  portion  of  the  work  is 
divided  into  four  chapters^  and  is 
meant  to  be  illustrative  rather 
than  exhaustive  of  the  subject. 
The  first  of  these  embraces  "the 
bardic  or  minstrel  literature  of  the 
mediaeval  period,  commencing  at 
some  indefinite  period  in  the  border- 
land betwixt  heathenism  and 
Christianity,  and  stretching  out  to 
the  era  of  the  Reformation,  or  a 
century  or  so  before  it;"  the  second 
includes  "  the  succession  of  Celtic 
poets  of  more  or  less  notable  origin- 
ality who  flourished  between  the  end 
of  the  sixteenth  and  the  end  of  the 
eighteenth  centuries  ;"  the  subject  of 
the  third  is  "  the  remarkable  epiph- 
any of  the  Celtic  muse  on  the  great 


European  stage,  under  the  auspices 
of  James  MacPherson,  in  the  year 
1762;"  while  the  fourth  treats  of 
"  the  condition  of  Celtic  literature 
in  the  Highlands,  from  the  sub- 
sidence of  the  great  Ossianic  excite- 
ment, produced  by  Macpherson, 
down  to  the  present  hour." 

When  viewed  as  a  whole,  perhaps 
the  two  most  noticeable  facts 
connected  with  Gaelic  literature 
are  the  meagre  character  of  its 
contents  and  the  extraordinary  dis- 
proportion between  poetry  and 
prose.  The  two  ,  facts  are  in 
themselves  quite  distinct ;  but  they 
proceed  from  the  same  or  similar 
causes,  and  are  amenable  to  the 
same  explanation.  That  the  Scot- 
tish Highlanders  were  and  are  a 
literary  people — that  is  to  say,  that 
they  are  keenly  alive  to  the  pleasure 
derived  from  the  manner  in  which 
an  idea  is  expressed  as  distinct  from 
the  intrinsic  worth  of  the  idea  it- 
self, and  that  their  thoughts  habit- 
ually dwell  upon  ideas  and  imagery 
derived  from  song  and  story — is  a 
proposition  that  can  be  proved  in  a 
variety  of  ways.  The  delicate  ear 
of  Professor  Blackie  detected  the 
beauty  and  wealth  of  our  vowel 
sounds.  It  would  not  be  difficult 
to  show  that  the  same  beauty  per- 
vades the  written  literature  and  the 
spoken  language  of  the  Highlander 
in  a  marked  degree.  It  is  conspi- 
cuous in  his  vocabulary  in  the 
secondary  meaning  as  well  as  in  the 
sound  of  words.  It  is  conspicuous 
in  his  favourite  figures  and  similes. 
It  is  conspicuous  in  his  idioms,  in 
which  his  language  is  peculiarly 
rich,—  a  feature  which  indicates  not 
only  an  active  mind  but  a  lively 
sense  of  the  artistic  in  linguistic  ex- 
pression. Again,  it  is  doubtful 
whether,  even  at  the  present  day,  a 
peasantry  can  be  found  in  any  part 
of  Britain    who   can    repeat    from 


December,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


377 


memory  an  equal  quantity  of  prose 
and  poetry  to  that  which  the  High- 
land peasantry  can  repeat.  Further, 
it  has  been  remarked  by  the  most 
competent  observers  that  no  peasan- 
try in  Europe  speak  with  the  grace 
and  correctness  of  language  of  the 
Highland  peasant,  so  that  the  fami- 
liar saying  that  "  no  one  can  speak 
ungrammatically  in  Gaelic"  is  not 
altogether  so  absurd  as  it  looks. 

Why  then  is  Highland  literature 
so  meagre  as  it  is  ]  Professor 
Blackie  again  and  again  gives  a  part 
at  least  of  the  answer.  The  lan- 
guage was  and  is  systematically 
ignored  in  the  education  of  the 
people.  The  neglect  of  Gaelic 
teaching  in  schools  injuriously 
affected  the  Highland  character  in 
various  ways.  It  is  partly  the  cause 
partly  the  effect  of  our  scanty  liter- 
ature, but  not  by  any  means  the 
sole  cause.  The  bulk  of  the  people 
began  to  read  in  the  South  but  very 
lately.  Among  the  many  additions 
which  the  working  man  has  made 
to  his  luxuries  Avithin  the  last  thirty 
years,  the  most  significant  are  the 
newspaper  and  the  periodical.  The 
bulk  of  the  Highland  people  have 
not  yet  commenced  to  read.  Since 
Charles  Stuart's  time  the  Highland 
population  did  not  at  any  time  ex- 
ceed half  a  million.  A  large  pro- 
portion of  these,  no  doubt,  were 
gentlemen  and  readers,  but  not  a 
sufficiently  large  number  to  form  a 
reading  community.  Even  these 
unfortunately  were  not  Gaelic 
readers.  The  common  people  were 
too  poor  to  buy  books  even  if  they 
could  read  them.  Again,  the  prac- 
tice of  recitation  and  story-telling 
supplied  in  a  manner  the  place  of 
reading  and  effectually  secured  that 
the  literature  of  the  people  con- 
sisted exclusively  of  poetry  and 
tales.  To-day  the  case  is  different. 
It  has  now  become  common  to  spend 


a  portion  of  one's  income  upon 
books.  The  excellent  practice  of 
story-telling  has  all  but  ceased. 
The  people  can  be  reached  only  by 
books ;  and,  for  some  time  to  come, 
can  be  reached  to  purpose  only  by 
Gaelic  books. 

But  scanty  and  meagre  as  our 
literature  is  in  comparison  with  what 
we  would  wish  it  to  be,  we  can  pre- 
sent a  much  larger  list  of  books  than 
our  southern  neighbours  are  aware  of. 
Some  of  these  are  of  real  merit. 
For  a  full  account  of  Gaelic  books, 
published  previously  to  1832,  Reid's 
Biblioiheca Scoto-Celtica— an  excellent 
work  of  which  a  new  edition  is  much 
wanted — must  be  consulted.  In 
this  respect  the  Scottish  Gael  differs 
favourably  from  his  Irish  brother, 
who  has  no  modern  literature.  One 
great  value  of  Professor  Blackie's 
work  in  our  eyes  is  that  he  con- 
siders our  literature  of  the  last  two 
or  three  centuries  worthy  of  serious 
study.  There  has  been  of  late 
years  a  growing  tendency  to  make 
Celtic  studies  synonymous  with  anti- 
quarian researches,  and  to  look  upon 
the  Celt  as  at  best  an  interesting 
relic.  It  is  a  noble  feature  in  the 
character  of  a  people  to  revere  the 
past.  But  we  are  too  apt  to 
measure  our  reverence  for  an  ances- 
tor not  by  his  worth  but  by  his  an- 
tiquity. The  Gaelic  proverb  :  "  Is 
gorm  na  cnuic  tha  fada  uainn," 
holds  good  in  time  as  well  as  in 
place.  But  surely  the  value  of  a 
fact  ought  to  be  estimated  by  its 
effect  upon  the  world  and  not  merely 
by  its  age.  In  the  South  the  present 
engrosses  the  attention  in  a  reprehen- 
sible degree.  With  us  the  mistake 
—  for  it  is  equally  a  mistake — is  the 
other  way.  M'Donald  and  M'ln- 
tyre  will  not  be  studied  by  the  pre- 
sent fashionable  school  of  Celtic 
scholars,  until  they  attain  a  certain 
age — until  the   aroma  of  antiquity 


378 


THE  GAEL. 


December,  1876. 


surrounds  them.  But  Gaelic  liter- 
ature, like  Highland  grouse  and 
even  Highland  whisky,  will  not  keep 
beyond  a  certain  time.  Its  intrinsic 
merit,  whether  in  idea  or  expression, 
is  not  of  world-wide  interest.  Its 
value  consists  chiefly  in  the  fact  that 
it  has  been,  the  mental  food  of  a 
large  portion  of  the  population  of 
Scotland  for  hundreds  of  years. 

Professor  Blackie  gives  us  a  very 
readable  chapter  on  the  book  of  the 
Dean  of  Lismore  and  its  contents, 
accompanying  his  accounfe  with 
translations  into  verse  of  five  or 
six  of  the  most  characteristic 
pieces  in  that  curious  collection  of 
mediseval  Gaelic  literature.  The 
chapter  on  "  MacPhersou  and  the 
Ossianic  question "  is  undoubtedly 
interesting,  as  expressing  the  ma- 
tured opinion  of  one  of  the  few 
Saxons  who  have  qualified  them- 
selves to  judge  of  the  merits  of  that 
work  of  mystery.  The  account  of  the 
Ossianic  controversy  is.  singularly 
clear ^nd  eminently  judicious.  The 
original  and  valuable  coutribution  of 
Professor  Blackie  to  the  discussion 
appeared  in  the  Celtic  Magazine 
for  August  and  September  1876. 
While  summing  up  substantially  in 
favour  of  the  antiquity  of  these 
poems,  and  while  not  without  a 
certain  admiration  for  Ossian,  espe- 
cially "  its  sustained  tone  of  sombre 
sympathy  with  some  of  the  most 
sublime  aspects  of  nature  in  the 
Highlands,  and  not  less  the  com- 
bination of  heroic,  manliness  and 
delicate  sensibility  in  the  poetical 
personages,"  he  unhesitatingly  "  pre- 
fers the  simple  natural  grace  of 
Duncan  Ban  M'Intyre's  cheerful 
muse  to  the  sombre  and  somewhat 
stilted  sublimity  of  the  author  of 
Mngal,  whoever  he  may  be." 

But  to  the  Professor's  own  mind, 
and  his  readers  will  agree  with  him, 
the  two  moat  valuable  of  these  four 


chapters  are  the  second  and  fifth — 
nearly  two-thirds  of  the  whole  book 
— in  which  an  interesting  account  is 
given  of  the  leading  Gaelic  authors 
whose  productions  have  been  widely 
known  among  the  people  from  the 
sixteenth  century  to  the  present  day, 
along  with  numerous  specimens  of 
their  works,  happily  translated.  la 
this  field  Professor  Blackie  had  but 
one  predecessor  of  importance — Mr. 
Pattison — whose  early  death  was  a 
great  loss  to  Gaelic  literature.  Mr, 
Pattison  wrote  for  Heddermick's 
Miscellany  a  series  of  articles  on  the 
popular  poetry  of  the  Highlands, 
accompanied  with  translations  of  sev- 
eral pieces  which  showed  great  merit. 
These  papers  were  published  after 
the  author's  death  in  a  volume  which 
has  been  for  some  years  out  of  print. 
Professor  Blackie  gives  specimens  of 
the  works  of  about  a  score  of  Gaelic 
poets,  with  an  interesting  account  of 
their  lives  and  of  those  of  a  dozen 
more  of  lesser  note.  In  this  list 
three  at  least  stand  out  with  well- 
marked  individuality  in  front  of 
the  rest,  and  the  notices  of  them 
and  extracts  from  them  are  accord- 
ingly more  detailed  and  elaborate. 
They  are  MfDonald,  Buchannan, 
and  MTntyre.  The  excellent 
translation  of  "The  Skull,"  one 
of  Buchannan's  poems,  already  ap- 
peared in  our  pages  (see  Gael,  No, 
50).  In  this  volume  Professor 
Blackie  has  attempted  a  more  difii- 
cult  feat  than  the  translation  of  "  The 
Skull" — viz.,  an  English  version 
of  M'Donald's  "  Birlmn,"  and  of 
MTntyre's  "Beinn-doraiu"— the  two 
ablest  efforts,  as  is  generally  sup- 
posed, of  the  modern  Gaelic  muse. 
Mr.  Pattison  had  previously  given 
a  translation  of  the  "Birlinn;"  but^ 
unless  we  accept  the  statement  which 
recently  appeared  in  some  news- 
papers, that  the  present  prime  mini- 
ster, has  executed  a.  translation  of 


December,  1876. 


THE  GAEL. 


379 


"Beiun-dorain,"  we  believe  Professor  poet,  it  would  be  absurd  to  attempt 
Blackie's  is  the  first  English  version  |  to  deny,  after  he  has  run  the  gaunt- 
ever  made  of  the  great  "  venatorial  i  let  of  a  century  of  criticism.  He 
pibroch "  of  M'lntyre.  In  these  |  had  command  of  a  happy  Gaelic 
translations,  Professor  Blackie  "  has  j  vocabulary  which  no  Gaelic  poet — 
endeavoured  to  follow  the  spirited  i  not  even  M'Donald — could  equal, 
freedom  of  Dryden  and  our  old  j  He  had  an  infallible  ear  for  rhythm, 
masters,  rather  than  the  curious  He  had  great  powers  of  versification, 
literalness  which  has  been  lately  j  and  a  most  tenacious  memory.  He 
fashionable."  The  "Birlinn"  of ;  knew  a  great  deal  of  the  old  litera- 
M'Donald  is  an  account  of  a  sea-  i  ture  of  lais   race.     Like  M'Donald 


voyage  from  South  Uist  to  Ireland 
in  the  "birHnn"  or  barge  of  Clan- 
ranald  on  a  wild  spring  day.  The 
poem  in  many  respects — in  its  gra- 
phic  description   of  the   boat   and 


and  Buchannan,  he  had  a  genuine 
admiration  of  the  scenery  of  his 
country.  His  heart  was  in  hunting 
and  fishing,  the  favourite  pastimes 
of  his  countrvmen.     But  when  Pro- 


crew,  and  of  the  aspects  of  sea  and  ;  fessor    Blackie    says  :    "  If  not    so 

bright  as  Burns,  he  is  better  rounded 
and  more  harmonious,  and  more 
sweetly  at  peace  with  himself,  with 
nature,  and  with  God,"  we  feel  that 
neither  his  published  poetry,  nor  the 
facts  of  his  life,  can  sustain  this 
judgment.  M'lntyre  would  not  be 
at  war  with  any  one  if  he  could 
help  it,  unless,  perhaps,  with  a 
tailor  or  piper  or  a  scurrilous 
Englishman  who  was  as  safe  from 
Duncan's  coarse  invective  as  Dun- 
can was  from  his  ribald  wit.  Still 
Duncan  Ban  was  a  great  poet; 
and  "  Beinn-dorain  "  is  a  great 
poem.  We  do  not  hesitate  to  say 
that,  in  our  judgment,  Professor 
Blackie's  English  version  of  this 
poem  can  favourably  compare  with 
the  most  successful  efforts  ever  made 
in  poetical  translation.  He  has  per- 
fectly caught  the  spirit  of  his  author; 
and,  where  desirable,  he  adheres 
pretty  closely  to  the  letter.  The 
following  beautiful  lines  descriptive 
of  a  mountain  stream — 


sify — is  unequalled  in  Gaelic ;  but 
the  description  of  the  storm  which 
opens  so  eloquently  and  musically 
degenerates  unto  utter  rant  before 
it  closes.  As  a  specinLen  of  the 
energy  of  the  author  and  the  spirit 
of  the  translator,  take  the  follow- 
ing :— 

"  Let  no  man  be  faint  or  soft-hearted. 
Look  hard  in  the  face  of  the  storm, 
While  plank  may  with  plank  hang  together, 
And  rib  to  his  rib  shall  be  firm ; 
Though  the  good  ship  may  reel  and  may 

stagger, 
While  a  pin  or  a  nail  shall  be  tight, 
Though  the  big  wave  be  bristling  around 

her, 
Let  him  look  and  not  blench  at  the  sight. 
In  the  stormy  contention  of  billows, 
Who  stands  or  who  wisely  shaU  bend. 
Will  see  the  proud  crest  of  the  ocean 
Lie  tame  at  his  feet  ia  the  end." 


Duncan  Ban  M'lntyre  is,  of  all 
Gaelic  poets.  Professor  Blackie's 
favourite,  as  he  is  the  favourite  of 
the  great  majority  of  Highlanders. 
And  "  Beinn-dorain,"  which  Pro- 
fessor Blackie  presents  to-  us  entire 
in.  this  volume,  is  always  held  to  be 
M'IntjTe's  master-piece.  We  are 
inclined  to  think  that  the  Profes- 
sor's admiration  for  the  game- 
keeper-poet is  too  high.  That 
M'lntyre  was  a  poet,  and  a  great 


Bu  ghlan  uachdar  na  Unne 
Gu  neo-bhuaireasach  mills 
Tigh'n  'na  chuairteig  o'n  ghrinneal 
Air  slinnein  Bheinn-dorain, 

Professor    Blackie   has    exquisitely 
rendered. — 


380 


THE  GAEL. 


December,  1876. 


With  no  alimy  dregs  to  trouble 
The  brightness  of  its  bubb'e, 
As  it  threads  its  silver  way 
From  the  granite  shoulders  gray 
Of  Ben  Dorain. 

But  when  M'Intyre  goes  on  to  de- 
scribe the  "fridh-choirean  creagach" 
in  the  following  unmeaning  jargon — 

Gu  stobanach,  stacanach, 
Slocanach,  laganach, 
Cnocanach,  cnapanach, 
Caiteauach,  romach  ; 
Pasganach,  badanach 
Bachlagach,  boidheach,  &c. 

Professor  Blackie  wisely  breaks  with 
him,  retaining  only  so  much  of  the 
ring  of  M'Intyre's  couplets  as  ap- 
pears in  the  following  spirited 
lines — 

Through  a  country  rough  and  shaggy, 
So  jaggy  and  so  knaggy, 
Full  of  hummocks  and  of  hunches, 
Full  of  stumps  and  tufts  and  bunches. 
Full  of  bushes  and  of  rushes. 
In  the  glen,  &c. 

No  poet,  we  venture  to  say,  was 
ever  done  greater  justice  to  by  a 
translator  than  M'Intyre  has  re- 
ceived at  Professor  Blackie's  hands. 
Whatever  Duncan  Ban  may  be,  this 
version  of  "Beinn-dorain"  proves  in- 
contestably  what  we  knew  before,  that 
Professor  Blackie  is  no  mean  poet. 

Several  songs,  some  of  them  by 
nameless  authors,  are  beautifully 
rendered.  We  think  the  Professor 
has  been  peculiarly  happy  in  "Mary 
Laghach  "  and  Ross's  famous  drink- 
ing-song "  Mac-na-bracha,"  so  un- 
like the  usual  strain  of  that  sweet 
and  plaintive  bard.  Gaelic  prose 
comes  in  for  a  due  share  of  notice. 
With  two  notable  exceptions,  the 
few  original  works  that  exist  in 
Gaelic   prose  are  of  very   average 


merit.  These  two  are  the  Ilighland 
Tales,  published  by  J.  F.  Campbell, 
and  the  contributions  of  the  elder 
Dr.  Norman  Macleod  to  various 
Gaelic  periodicals  conducted  by 
himself,  and  recently  published  in  a 
well-known  volume  entitled  •'  Caraid 
nan  Gaidheal."  Of  all  Gaelic  auth- 
ors, Macleod,  with  the  doubtful 
exception  even  of  M'Intyre,  holds, 
and  deservedly  holds,  the  highest 
place  in  Professor  Blackie's  regard. 
He  says  truly  that  this  prose 
author  "  shines  above  the  rest  as 
the  moon  among  the  lesser  lights  f 
and  we  do  not  know  that  his  eulogy 
upon  the  "  Emigrant  Ship,"  of 
which  he  gives  an  admirable  trans- 
lation, is  at  all  exaggerated  Avhen 
he  says  that  "  for  graceful  simplicity 
and  profound  pathos  (it)  is  second 
to  nothing  that  I  know  in  any  lan- 
guage, unless  indeed  it  be  the 
account  of  the  death  of  Socrates  in 
Plato's  Phcedo,  and  some  well-known 
chapters  in  the  Gospel  of  St.  John." 
We  hope  that  this  noble  attempt 
vv^hich  the  author  has  made  "  to 
break  down  the  middle  wall  of  par- 
tition that  has  hitherto  separated 
the  Lowlands  of  Scotland  and  the 
whole  of  Saxon  England  from  the 
soul  of  the  Highlands,"  will  be  suc- 
cessful. We  can  at  least  say,  that 
if  the  Avail  can  be  broken  by  any 
right  arm  it  will  be  broken  by 
that  right  arm  of  his.  Among  us 
Highlanders,  the  generous-hearted 
man  will  henceforward  be  known 
as  the  man  "  who  loveth  our 
nation,  and  who  hath  built  us  a 
synagogue  ;  "  and  not  the  least  con- 
spicuous pillar  in  that  remarkable 
edifice  is  this  magnificent  work  on 
"  The  language  and  literature  of  the 
Scottish  Highlands." 


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